A Wake-Up Call for Mr. Hicks

J. Morris Hicks is a whole food plant-based (WFPB) writer, speaker and activist. I am on his email list and I receive daily bite-sized blog articles. A recent bite-sized blog contained this alarming title “I almost died last week”. Mr. Hicks nearly died from a Saddle Pulmonary Embolism.  Even though he experienced serious shortness of breath, he waited five days before driving himself to an emergency room.

What does this have to do with a WFPB diet?

Although following a WFPB diet did not prevent Mr. Hicks from developing a pulmonary embolism, one of his physicians believes that his great cardiovascular health may have prevented a deadly heart attack as his heart had to work hard to pump blood around the huge clot in his lungs.  His overall health persuaded his doctors to forego an invasive and dangerous surgical procedure.  He is being treated with anti-coagulants that will help his clot to dissolve over time.

Here are Mr. Hicks’ own words:

“This experience has been a wake-up call for me. Since 2002, I had been thinking that all I needed to do was eat a diet of mostly whole plants and that my body would take care of itself. Now I know that I also need to get into a never-ending habit of preventing future clots by keeping my body in motion several hours a day–for the rest of my life.”

Sitting is the New Smoking

None of us are fully protected from the dangers of extended sitting. Regular exercisers are still at risk if they sit for extended periods of time on a regular basis.  So even if you are a Runner, Cross-Fitter, or Orange Theorist,  take frequent breaks from sitting. Go for a short walk, do some calisthenics, or even some stretching.  Just get up on your feet!

It’s important to eat a WFPB diet and to exercise regularly, but being a chronic sitter is almost as bad as being a chronic smoker.

Stay Healthy and Strong