How It All Started: April 3, 2006
It was a sunny afternoon, and I drove to one of my work sites in downtown Wellington.
I felt a bit of discomfort in my chest while climbing the stairs. I figured it might be acidity from the whisky I had last night. I came downstairs, went to a pharmacy, and bought an antacid tablet. I waited a few minutes, but the pain intensified. I went back to the pharmacy to get a stronger one, but this time, the lady at the counter firmly recommended that I see my GP.
I drove back to my suburb, Karori, and went to see my GP. The doctor on duty ran a few routine tests, but her facial expression only made me more uneasy. Then, she walked toward the door and said she was calling an ambulance. I was shocked—although I was in pain, it didn’t seem like anything serious.
I pushed back, but the doctor didn’t budge—’Either you do what I say, or you’re risking your health,’ she warned.
As I waited for the ambulance, the pain unexpectedly disappeared. The ambulance arrived, and I explained to the paramedics that the doctor had already left and that I was no longer in pain. One of them replied that they had to follow the doctor’s instructions and that I needed to go with them. A sense of guilt crept in—I knew that many of these ambulance drivers were volunteers. On the way, the paramedics asked the standard questions—how long I’d been in pain, whether I had taken Viagra, and so on. I remember one of them admitting he felt a bit embarrassed asking, but he explained it was part of the required protocol.
Not Quite Dying, Not Quite Living: A Night in the ICU:
It was first experience at the emergency section of the hospital. I felt a bit awkward as two paramedics carried me on the stretcher, even though I was no longer in pain.
When I arrived at the ICU, the nurse said she had to run a blood test to confirm if it was truly a heart attack. She conducted the blood test and advised me to relax while we awaited the results.
The nurse returned with the test results and confirmed it had definitely been a heart attack. However, the doctors were puzzled by the sudden disappearance of the pain. Since the shift had changed, she said the next doctor would arrive at 1:00 AM, and only then would a decision be made about the next steps. She kindly brought me a sandwich.
The doctor arrived and explained that they needed to determine the cause of the pain’s sudden disappearance, which could be done through an angiogram. However, since my condition didn’t require urgent intervention, the procedure would be postponed for a few days. Still, they couldn’t allow me to leave the hospital, so I was transferred to a non-emergency ward.
I spent two or three uneventful days in that non-emergency ward—it felt especially dull, given that it was in the pre-smartphone era.
Finally, the angiogram was done, and the doctors concluded that I was incredibly lucky—the heart attack hadn’t caused serious damage. The blockage was in a terminal artery that wasn’t supplying blood to any other part of the heart. As a result, when it got blocked, it died off quietly, and the pain vanished with it. I was discharged from the hospital and advised to see my GP after leaving.
A Simple Appointment, A Shocking Revelation:
I felt completely fine when I went to see my GP. He gave me general advice about losing weight and lowering my cholesterol, stressing that I might not be this lucky next time. He prescribed daily pills for blood pressure and cholesterol. I innocently asked when I could stop taking them, and the GP replied, ‘Unfortunately, you’ll need to take them for the rest of your life.’ I was genuinely shocked. How could a medication be necessary for life, yet never truly cure the illness? But I continued taking the pills as instructed. Although my cholesterol never decreased and my blood pressure never returned to the normal range, the doctor always insisted that it was the medication keeping things from getting worse.
What I Accidentally Learned About Heart Health, Ten Years Later:
I was browsing through YouTube videos when I stumbled upon one featuring Bill Clinton’s nutritionist, who was discussing the former president’s post-presidency health struggles—including issues with his heart and cholesterol. The nutritionist outlined several aspects of a new lifestyle that had transformed Clinton’s health. Inspired by that video (which I unfortunately haven’t been able to find again), I went on to create my own food-related lifestyle and it worked too.
So why am I writing about this now? Not long ago, a friend I hadn’t spoken to in ages gave me a call. We were casually catching up, sharing old stories, when—without any real reason—the conversation drifted toward our health. That’s when I found myself opening up about my journey: my experience with modern medicine, the pills I no more take, and the food habits I’ve built over the years. It wasn’t planned, but it felt strangely meaningful.
It struck me that I’d never really thought to share my journey with health and nutrition. But something about that recent conversation made me feel it’s time—and that’s what led me to write this post.
To be Your Own Doctor, Before We Choose What to Eat, Let’s Choose What Not to Eat:
Let’s explore what causes cholesterol imbalance—it’s actually quite simple. Foods derived from animals tend to contribute to cholesterol issues, while plant-based foods do not raise cholesterol levels. So food to quit are:
1. Milk, cheese, butter etc. (i.e. any dairy products)
2. Any type of meat.
3. Eggs
When I say ‘quit,’ I mean removing these items from your daily routine. There’s nothing wrong with indulging occasionally—say, on a Sunday brunch out.
Stick to this approach, and chances are you’ve already tackled 90% of your cholesterol problems.
Time to Reset: Building Better Food Habits:
Your breakfast platter should look something like this: chop any type of seasonal fruits you like. Eat only raw fruits until you’re no longer hungry. Believe me, it might seem difficult at first, but once you get used to it, no other breakfast will compare.
- Do not take tea / coffee with milk. If you can’t avoid milk, replace it with almond milk.
- Do not include bread in your breakfast.
- Add a variety of nuts and seeds—for example, almonds, chestnuts, chia seeds, and flaxseeds.
This breakfast should follow with raw vegetables or slightly steamed vegetables with black pepper, fresh turmeric etc.
Squeeze a lime and garnish with grated ginger & garlic, coriander, mint, seeds, nuts etc.
After this meal you are free to eat anything of your liking except bread, and the food that comes from animals. I have already discussed this in the beginning.
The only exception among animal-based foods is fish—especially tuna and salmon. They’re rich in omega-3 and don’t require deep frying.
I’d also like to share a word of caution about sugar levels and triglycerides—they tend to remain high if you consume alcohol regularly. If giving it up completely isn’t possible, consider switching to gin—it worked for me.
And how long did it take for things to turn around? Honestly, I’m not sure. I began in July, and by the time I went for a blood test in December, the transformation felt nothing short of magical.
In conclusion, rather than relying solely on hospitals and a largely corrupt pharmaceutical industry, learn to be your own doctor to lead a healthier and happier life.
Disclaimer: I am neither a nutritionist nor a medical professional, and this should not be taken as medical advice. I’m simply sharing my personal experience, which may not work for everyone. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider for any medical concerns.