Queens Woman Reverses Chronic Illness With Plant-Based Diet
MOHAMED FARGHALY
mfarghaly@queensledger.com
As chronic diseases rise across New York and the nation, a Queens woman says a low-cost nutrition program helped her reverse serious health problems and find a new path to wellness.
When Flushing resident Sherika Sterling received bloodwork showing she was prediabetic with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and fatty liver disease, she thought her family history of illness had caught up with her. “I just thought, as you get older, it’s natural for you to experience chronic pain and chronic illnesses,” Sterling said. But last fall, she joined Plant Powered Metro New York’s (PPMNY) Jumpstart program — and within weeks, her health began to change.
Sterling said she no longer suffers from the persistent knee pain that once made mornings unbearable. Her latest bloodwork shows healthy levels for blood sugar, cholesterol and liver enzymes, and she has shed 15 pounds since adopting the whole food, plant-based diet promoted by the program. “It’s not something you have to live with,” she said of chronic disease. “Your future self will thank you for the changes you make.”
PPMNY, a New York-based nonprofit, runs several Jumpstart cohorts each year to teach participants how to prepare affordable plant-based meals, understand the health science behind diet-related illness and find community support through mentorship and group activities. Registration is now open for three virtual cohorts this fall — two in English and one in Spanish — with a sliding scale fee starting at $150.
Health experts say the program arrives at a critical time. More than 40% of premature deaths in New York City are linked to chronic disease, according to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, with Black and Latino New Yorkers facing disproportionate risks. Research shows whole food, plant-based diets can prevent, treat and even reverse conditions like diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.
Since completing the program, Sterling has become a volunteer with PPMNY to help others explore the same lifestyle changes. “I can only speak for myself and the evidence in my own life, but I would encourage anyone on the fence to give it a try,” she said.
Sterling, who joined the Afro-Caribbean cohort of Jumpstart, said the cultural context was critical in helping her adapt. “Afro-Caribbean people tend to have certain similar health issues, so we would meet weekly and talk through the challenges of adapting to plant-based nutrition,” she said. “We even had a WhatsApp group to share recipes and keep each other motivated.”
The program also encouraged participants to explore new foods. Sterling recalled a trip to a local farmers market where participants received Health Bucks — vouchers to buy fruits or vegetables they had never tried before. “I ended up buying a type of plum, which I’d never had before,” she said with a laugh. “It sounds simple, but it was delicious, and it made trying something new exciting.”
Beyond health improvements, Sterling said the sense of community was one of the most powerful parts of the program. Cohorts held potlucks where participants brought plant-based dishes, dinners at local vegan restaurants, and even movie nights to foster connection. “It was encouraging to be around people who had been plant-based for 10 or 30 years,” she said. “Hearing why they made the transition was inspiring. It made me feel like I wasn’t alone in this.”
The results have been tangible. Sterling said she allegedly lost 15 pounds during the 21-day program — more than she had ever been able to lose in past attempts — and noticed unexpected benefits like clearer skin. “I used to get painful pimples every month like clockwork,” she said. “After changing my diet, my skin cleared up, and that gave me even more motivation to stick with it.”
While she admits she was skeptical at first about giving up meat and dairy, she now embraces plant-based cooking, often making large batches of vegetable soup with kale, spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and other seasonal vegetables that she freezes into 20 portions at a time. “Every time I make it, it’s different, and it’s always fun,” she said. “It’s affordable and it keeps me excited about food.”
Sterling also addresses a common concern — whether a plant-based diet provides enough nutrients. “I love kale and spinach, which are packed with calcium and vitamins,” she said. “I also supplement with vitamins B and D. Everything I need, I can get through whole foods and a little supplementation.”
New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reports that chronic diseases remain the leading cause of premature death across the city, disproportionately impacting communities of color in neighborhoods like the South Bronx, Central Brooklyn and Harlem. In 2021, more than 40% of premature deaths were linked to conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.
PPMNY says its Jumpstart program, evaluated in partnership with SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, has consistently shown improvements in nutrition knowledge, energy levels, BMI and overall health outcomes. Ninety-eight percent of participants said they would recommend the program to others.
For Sterling, the transformation went beyond the numbers. After completing the program, she became a volunteer with PPMNY to help others. “I feel like what you put in is what you get out,” she said. “If you put good, nutritious things into your body, you’re going to get good outcomes. I would encourage anyone with a history of chronic disease in their family — or anyone already struggling — to give it a try. It’s not the end of the world. Chronic pain and illness don’t have to be your destiny.”
Jumpstart sessions begin in September and October. More information is available at www.plantpoweredmetrony.org/jumpstarts.
