Through dynamic presentations, attendees learn about the benefits of a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle.
Through dynamic presentations, attendees learn about the benefits of a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle.

The WHOLE Conference (the Why and How Of Life-promoting Eating) was organized in 2013 by David Lowe, M.D., a member of the Camarillo church. Lowe created the conference from a simple desire to educate people about the benefits of a whole-food, plant-based (WFPB) diet.

“The first year, we couldn’t even give the tickets away,” said Lowe, laughing as he recalled the conference’s humble beginnings. “We had maybe 80 people attend, most of whom were church members we had to convince to come.”

Since then the conference has grown significantly, with more than 425 attendees last year; the majority of whom were not Adventist.

“The idea of changing your own health-related outcomes simply by changing what you eat is foreign to most people,” said Lowe. “We’re working to change that mindset by educating people and empowering them to take back their own health.”

Chef/educator Lisa Rice at The Whole Conference, Camarillo CA, | February 17, 2019. Photo by David RIce | IG: @peopleplatesandplanet

Familiar with the positive effects of vegetarianism, Lowe began doing more research into the benefits of a WFPB diet after reading The China Study. In 2017, he became board certified in lifestyle medicine—the use of evidence-based lifestyle therapeutic approaches, such as a plant-predominant diet, regular physical activity, adequate sleep, and stress management, to treat, reverse, and prevent chronic disease. He now travels throughout Southern California sharing his expertise.

“The knowledge about the ability to prevent and reverse disease through a whole-food, plant-based diet could have a tremendous impact on the way health is trending in America,” said Lowe. “We started the WHOLE Conference to spread the word—it’s great news, and everyone should have access to this valuable information!”

The WHOLE Conference typically features nationally and internationally known speakers throughout the day as well as professional chef demos and much more. The annual one-day conference has selected its keynote speaker for 2020: Michael Greger, M.D., founder of NutritionFacts.org and author of New York Times bestseller How Not to Die. This fall, tickets will be on sale ($99-$159) for the 2020 WHOLE Conference, which will be held Sunday, Feb. 16, in Camarillo. For more information, visit wholeconference.org.