NBA Star Turned Vegan Gourmet Shares Healthy Dishes
John Salley, 4-time NBA champ, vegan, and cannabis advocate, joins The Doctors to sample some delicious and satisfying vegan fare.
“I ate the common Western diet until I was 27 years old,” says John. That was the age when he discovered that his cholesterol was 274.
Even though he was a young man and an elite athlete, John knew he had to make some changes in the way he ate to save his health. “I realized how toxic that really was.” In 2008, he became a vegan.
Watch: Veganism for Weight Loss?
Now John proudly shows off the extensive organic garden where he grows much of his own food – as well as cannabis. “I decided to be self-sufficient as much as possible,” he explains, showing off his beds of strawberries and his Meyer lemon trees.
“It’s so funny – my mother is going to see this!” he laughs. His mom gardened in a Brooklyn vacant lot when he was growing up and he wasn’t interested in helping, but now he sends her pictures and says “Look at my arugula!”
Now John and his partner Shannon own a vegan meal delivery service called Floret Vegan Kitchen, with lots of raw and nutrient-packed options. He’s brought some dishes to share with The Doctors.
They sample squash stuffed with quinoa, black rice, and veggies. They also enjoy walnut-crumbled tacos and other vegan treats. Plastic Surgeon Dr. Andrew Ordon and Breast Surgeon Dr. Kristi Funk agree that everything is delicious.
ER Physician Dr. Travis Stork loves how fiber-rich the food is. His new book "The Lose Your Belly Diet" has lots of information about the many benefits of fiber. He invites John to return and cohost an episode of The Doctors in the future.
