In this day and age many people immediately turn to medications in order to solve health issues. Tony Hillery, however, took a different route. He is the founder of Harlem Grown, an independent, non-profit organization that transforms abandoned community gardens and lots into vibrant urban farms in partnership with local public schools and the community. While he has spent the past two years teaching children about healthy lifestyles through Harlem Grown, in the Summer of 2025 Tony realized that his own health was not very good as he found out he had high blood pressure and high cholesterol. He chose to change his lifestyle rather than rely on medicines to improve his health. In this article, Tony explains how his vegan diet brought down his blood pressure quickly. With 30 pounds lost and his blood pressure and cholesterol normal, he surprised his family and even his doctor!
Q: When you decided not to take medications to lower your blood pressure and cholesterol what did you do instead?
A: I went on a total vegan [healthopedia-new] diet. Before I was diagnosed with pre-hypertension I had thought that all the restaurants and fast food that surround us in our NYC neighborhoods was a normal American diet. But certain things happened in my life that made me realize I should have less meat and more vegetables on my plate. I think that meat and dairy are part of the health problems that we have. So that’s why I chose to become a vegan rather than a vegetarian. The vegan diet does not include meat or dairy. Now my wife and I grocery shop at Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe’s. The vegetables there are a little more expensive, but you can buy everything you need there to follow a vegan diet--like breads and pastries that are made without eggs or milk, and coconut ice cream made without dairy. I find that it’s a little more expensive to buy organic, natural, fresh vegetables and non-dairy grocery items, but the health benefits are definitely worth it.
Q: How long was it before you started noticing changes after you began your vegan diet?
A: Maybe six to eight weeks. I started noticing that my energy levels were better. I was sleeping better. And then the weight just started to fall off. My pants were sagging! The weight loss made my joints feel better. Now when the weather is nice I can ride my bike to work. The diet wasn’t hard to do. My friends and family started noticing the changes in my body about three months after I began the diet. Once you set your mind to it and start doing it, it just becomes a normal part of your life. I went back to my doctor three months after I began the diet and she was as amazed with my success as I was. My blood pressure is normal, my cholesterol is normal. I lost 31 pounds and 2.5 pant sizes!