It’s been 30 years since Linda Middlesworth got the wakeup call that all of us fear receiving. Just 43, Linda’s doctor informed her that she had thyroid cancer that would require immediate treatment. In a state of shock and disbelief Linda was left questioning how she could yet again be hearing that dreaded cancer word–a few years prior she was diagnosed with the early stages of breast cancer.

Rather than focusing on how to manage or treat the cancer Linda became fixated on understanding what was causing cancer in the first place.

One afternoon while on a walk with a friend Linda found the answer to the cause of her cancer in the solution to what would ultimately stop cancer in it’s tracks–her diet.

“You can get rid of all of that,” Linda’s friend calmly shared with her. “The cancer, the extra weight. Just read Dr. McDougal’s book, you will get rid of all of that.”

The book Linda’s friend was referencing was Dr. John McDougall‘s 12 Days to Dynamic Health, a guide to transforming your health through whole foods plant based eating. Despite watching what she ate and engaging in intense physical activity as an aerobics instructor, Linda still found herself 50lbs overweight. The idea that the food she was putting into her body may be impacting her weight was hardly a new concept. However, the notion that the food she was putting into her body may be also a potential cause, and a potential solution, to her cancer diagnosis was a revelation that had hardly occurred to her.

30 years later and 50 lbs lighter, Linda is the founder of The Sacramento Vegan Society, a frequent national speaker, and most importantly cancer free. With a local health coaching business, Linda Middlesworth is dedicating her life to paying forward the gift of health she received from a plant based lifestyle. At 73 years old this aerobics instructor and PETA’s Sexiest Vegan Over 50 proves that seeing is believing when it comes to the proof of the long term health benefits of a plant based whole foods diet.