How to age well: 6kg lighter and mistaken for someone over 10 years younger, she feels the benefits of a whole food, plant-based diet

Connie Wong is 54 but is taken for 40. She credits her switch 6 years ago to the ‘perfect anti-ageing diet’, one free of processed foods, meat, eggs and dairy

After adopting a whole food, plant-based diet, she lost weight, no longer felt constipated or run down, had a better complexion and got over illness faster

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Removing animal-based and processed foods from her diet has had multiple health benefits for Connie Wong (above).
Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Published: 6:15pm, 15 Jan 2023

It’s Veganuary – the month to celebrate the whole food, plant-based (WFPB) diet that has been linked to a range of positive health effects, from a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers and diabetes, to weight loss, a stronger immune system, and the slowing of cognitive decline.

Connie Wong Wai-ling can vouch for some of these benefits. Six years ago, she embarked on the 21-day Health Kickstart programme developed by the Happy Plantarian, a WFPB nutrition consultancy in Hong Kong.

During this time, she gave up her diet of animal-based and processed foods for one that is heavy on fruit, vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds.

And she’s never felt better.

Connie Wong Wai-ling switched to a wholefood, plant-based diet, and feels much healthier for it. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

“Before making the switch, I experienced a myriad of health issues,” says the 54-year-old merchandising manager, who suffered from constipation and inexplicable stomach infections.

“I also fell sick easily, was overweight and struggled to lose the extra kilos, and felt run down all the time.”