One of the most damaging beliefs about aging is that declining health is simply something we have to accept.
We may expect less energy, more medications, increasing weight, chronic disease, and a gradual loss of vitality as the years pass. But lifestyle can play an enormous role in how we experience our later years, and a whole food, plant-based diet can be a powerful part of changing that trajectory.
In this episode of Plant Based Eating for Health, Kathleen Gage talks with Donald Fries and Beverly Bow, co-founders of Healthy World Sedona, about increasing not just lifespan, but health span, the years we are able to live with energy, independence, purpose, and vitality.
And Beverly is living proof that change does not have to begin when you are young. She transitioned to plant-based eating at age 60.
From the Standard American Diet to Plant-Powered Living
Don and Bev came to plant-based living through very different paths.
Don grew up on a farm in Colorado and began questioning his diet in the mid-1980s. After discovering Dr. John McDougall’s book The McDougall Plan, what he learned made so much sense to him that he changed his diet almost overnight. Decades later, he says his weight remains close to what it was in high school and his vigor can feel much like it did in his 20s.
Beverly’s transformation came much later.
Her first husband developed Type 1 diabetes at age 12 and eventually died at 59 from complications of the disease. For years, Beverly believed the diet they followed was healthy. Her own professional background was in healthcare, where evidence-based practice mattered greatly to her.
Then she met Don.
When she learned how passionately he believed in plant-based nutrition, she decided to investigate the science herself. She read The China Study and even asked the chief medical officer at the hospital where she worked to read it and tell her what was wrong with it.
His response? He couldn’t find anything wrong with it.
At 60, Beverly changed the way she ate. What initially began as a health decision eventually became something much bigger, including a deeper awareness of animals and the impact of our food choices.
Health Span Matters More Than Simply Living Longer
Living a long life is one thing. Being able to truly live during those years is another.
Don and Bev emphasize the importance of health span, not simply lifespan. Their approach looks beyond food alone to the different factors that contribute to a healthy life, including whole food, plant-based nutrition, exercise, restorative sleep, stress reduction, and community.
The goal is not simply to add more birthdays. It is to remain active, engaged, independent, connected, and vital for as many of those years as possible.
Why Community Can Make the Difference
Knowing what to do and actually doing it consistently are two very different things.
One of the biggest challenges people face when transitioning to a plant-based lifestyle is feeling as though they are doing it alone. Friends and family may not understand the change. A spouse may continue eating differently. Social situations can become difficult.
That is why community is central to the work Don and Bev are doing.
Through Healthy World Sedona, they co-founded the Healthy World Vitality Plan, a virtual learning community designed to provide both education and ongoing support for people who want to adopt and maintain a healthier lifestyle.
Inside the Healthy World Vitality Plan
One of the core programs is an 11-week experience called Vitality Voyages.
Rather than putting hundreds of people into a large online class, the groups are intentionally kept small, generally 10 to 12 participants with a coach.
Participants learn about nutrition, movement, restorative sleep, stress reduction, and building community. They also have an opportunity to talk openly, ask questions, share struggles, exchange recipes, and learn from one another.
Over time, participants become what Don and Bev call peer coaches. The group provides both support and accountability, two things that can make lifestyle changes much easier to maintain.
The program also includes ongoing Lunch and Learns, Food for Life classes, and Vitality Circle gatherings, giving members continued opportunities to learn and stay connected.
Learn more and register at: https://hwvitality.com/
Start by Putting More Plants on Your Plate
For someone who feels overwhelmed by the idea of changing everything at once, Beverly offers wonderfully practical advice.
Start adding more plants.
Instead of focusing entirely on what you need to eliminate, begin filling more of your plate with whole plant foods. Explore the produce section. Take a favorite comfort food and find a plant-based version. Experiment with recipes. Make the process interesting rather than approaching it as a long list of restrictions.
As Beverly explains, when we constantly tell ourselves, “I have to do this” or “I have to give this up,” resistance can quickly follow.
Approaching change with curiosity can create an entirely different experience.
Whole Food Plant-Based Is Not the Same as Processed Vegan Food
Another important part of the conversation is the distinction between eating vegan foods and eating a predominantly whole food, plant-based diet.
A food can be vegan and still be highly processed.
Don and Bev discuss limiting oils and focusing on whole plant foods rather than assuming every product carrying a vegan label is automatically a healthy choice. At the same time, they recognize that transitioning is a learning process and that some processed plant-based foods can help people move toward healthier choices.
The goal is progress and learning, not perfection.
Health, Animals and the Planet
What began as a health journey eventually became much broader for both Don and Bev.
Healthy World Sedona is built around three interconnected pillars: human health, planetary health, and animal health and welfare.
For Beverly, one of the unexpected gifts of changing her diet has been the peace that comes from knowing her food choices are no longer contributing to animal suffering. She also sees changing what we put on our plates as something individuals can do every day to reduce their environmental impact.
That makes this conversation about much more than food. It is about how we want to live, how we want to age, and the impact our everyday choices have on ourselves and the world around us.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn About
- Why getting older does not mean giving up on improving your health
- Beverly’s decision to adopt a plant-based diet at age 60
- Don’s transition to plant-based eating in the 1980s
- The difference between lifespan and health span
- Why community and accountability matter when changing your lifestyle
- The five lifestyle areas taught through the Healthy World Vitality Plan
- How the 11-week Vitality Voyages work
- Simple ways to begin adding more whole plant foods to your diet
- Why oil and highly processed vegan foods can interfere with health goals
- The connection between food choices, animals, and the environment
- Why lasting change does not have to happen perfectly or overnight
- How to make plant-based living enjoyable, practical, and sustainable
Connect with Donald Fries and Beverly Bow
Learn more about the Healthy World Vitality Plan at hwvitality.com.
The next Vitality Voyages begin the week of September 8, and Don and Bev also discuss an orientation open house on September 1 for people who want to learn more before joining.
Learn more about their nonprofit work through Healthy World Sedona at healthyworldsedona.com.
As Don and Bev remind us throughout this conversation, vitality does not have an expiration date. Whether you are 40, 60, 70, or beyond, the choices you make today can influence how you experience the years ahead.
About Don and Bev
Don has a BS from Colorado State University and MBA from University of Washington. He has a certificate in plant-based nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and eCornell. Previously he served the State of Oregon in legislative and fiscal policy management related to health and human services, at both the state and federal levels.
Bev has a BA from the University of Oregon and an MAT from Reed College. She has a certificate in plant-based nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and eCornell. Previously she worked for Salem Health, a healthcare system in Oregon, in senior positions in Quality & Process Improvement, and in Human Resources Management.
Don and Bev live in Sedona, Arizona where they continue their work in promoting a plant-based lifestyle through the Healthy World Vitality Plan, and enjoy gardening, hiking, travel, and a wonderful community of friends.
About Kathleen Gage
Kathleen Gage is a multifaceted professional, renowned as the founder of Vegan Visibility. With certifications in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Plant-Based Nutrition from eCornell University, she’s a seasoned business consultant, keynote speaker, and marketing strategist.
Kathleen’s impact extends to hosting the Vegan Visibility Virtual Summit, a niche event supporting vegan and plant-based entrepreneurs with top-tier training from industry experts. Since establishing her business in 1994, she’s navigated economic challenges across various sectors, including high-tech, healthcare, and publishing.
Her influential voice resonates through popular podcasts like “Vegan Visibility” and “Plant Based Eating for Health,” where she advocates for a sustainable, compassionate world and provides guidance to thousands globally. Moreover, as an award-winning speaker and past president of Utah’s National Speakers Association chapter, Kathleen excels in crafting effective marketing strategies.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Kathleen resides in Central Oregon, where she champions animal rescue and enjoys outdoor activities. Her commitment to creating a more compassionate and sustainable world shines through in both her personal and professional pursuits. Kathleen recently joined the Board of Directors for Blue Barn Farm and Sanctuary in Creswell, Oregon.