Brooklyn Borough President Releases Plant-Based Health Book

BROOKLYN, NY — Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams has your newest quarantine-read.

The BP and mayoral hopeful has written a new book detailing his journey from a diabetes diagnosis to a healthy, plant-based lifestyle.

The health book-meets cookbook —"Healthy at Last: A Plant-Based Approach to Preventing and Reversing Diabetes and Other Chronic Illnesses" — officially hit stores, and Amazon, on Tuesday.

"I wrote this book to help the millions of folks out there who are still being told they have to be sick for the rest of their lives," Adams told Patch. "Now that the book is finally out, I can reflect on how far I have come, but also how much work still must be done to ensure others share in my health success."

Adams, who became borough president in 2014, changed his diet in 2016 after waking up with severe vision loss brought on by his diagnosis with Type 2 Diabetes.

The now 60-year-old had been a "connoisseur of the fast-food dollar menu" throughout his 22 years with the NYPD and his seven years serving as a state senator.

But within three months of adopting a plant-based diet he lost 35 pounds, lowered his cholesterol by 30 points, restored his vision and reversed his diabetes.

"When I was diagnosed with severe Type 2 Diabetes, I was told I would have it for the rest of my life," he said. "But I was able to completely reverse this disease by simply changing my diet."

With "Healthy at Last," Adams hopes to not only share his journey but uncover the problem of chronic disease in the African American community.

Nearly half of all Black adults suffer from some form of cardiovascular disease and almost 5 million are living with diabetes.

The book includes an exploration of the history of soul food in the Black community and ideas for reimagining the cuisine with healthy alternatives. It also features recipes from 50 celebrities and experts, including Paul McCartney, Queen Afua, Jenné Claiborne, Bryant Jennings, Charity Morgan and Moby.

"[Adams] is on a mission to revolutionize the health of not just the borough of Brooklyn, but of African Americans across the country," the book description reads.