Heather Mills made a name for herself as a model and came to greater public attention when, in 1993, she was hit by a police motorcycle while crossing the road. The accident resulted in Heather having her leg amputated but she continued to model – setting an example to those whose bodies may not conform to stereotypical standards of beauty.
However, these days she is best known for her work within the vegan community. It was actually Heather’s accident that started her journey into veganism. After complications with her leg, including an unabating infection which seemed untreatable, she sought alternative therapy as a last resort. After eliminating meat and dairy from her diet, and treating her wound with natural remedies, the stubborn infection miraculously cleared up.
At the institute, meat and dairy was immediately taken off the menu and was replaced with a whole food, vegan, raw food diet and natural therapies.
Enzyme rich wheatgrass shots and garlic poultices were applied to my wound, and in just a matter of a few weeks my radical change in diet and associated plant-based remedies had cleared up my infection entirely.
This new vegan diet and way of living literally transformed me.1Mills, H. 2017. Discovering Veganism [online] Available: https://www.heathermills.org/veganism [Accessed 4 March 2022].
Heather Mills also credits her ex-husband Paul McCartney for helping her see the benefits of a vegan and vegetarian lifestyle. In a 2005 edition of Viva!life she stated: “It’s only since I met Paul [McCartney] that I really got to understand how vegetarianism not only benefits your health massively but also makes a huge difference to the planet, to animals, and to feeding the world.”
Since this realisation, Mills has dedicated herself to advancing the vegan and plant-based movement. In 2005 she became a patron of Viva! and has even gone undercover on a pig farm with Viva!’s founder and director, Juliet Gellatley to expose the cruel use of the farrowing crate. And in 2007, she launched Viva!’s environment campaign, HOT!, warning of the climate catastrophe caused by animal agriculture… 15 years later and we’re still fighting for the environment.
In 2009, Heather Mills launched a plant-based cafe called VBites, and the same year purchased and rebranded the vegan food company Redwood as VBites so she could expand her range of meat and dairy alternatives. According to her website: “VBites is now sold in 24 countries and includes faux cheeses, faux meats, fish products and over 103 other products to make the transitional period easy to adopt a fully plant-based diet.”
The startling truth is that animals farmed for meat and dairy are now one of the greatest threats to the planet… They are at the heart of almost all the world’s environmental catastrophes. Viva! has been saying this for years and now the UN has confirmed it with a report so detailed that it can’t be ignored – except by government. It remains silent and continues to pour huge subsidies into meat and dairy farming.2Benjamin, A. 2007. Heather Mills launches HOT! campaign. Guardian [online] Available: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2007/nov/19/climatechange.ethicalliving [Accessed 4 March 2022].
References
References
- 1Mills, H. 2017. Discovering Veganism [online] Available: https://www.heathermills.org/veganism [Accessed 4 March 2022].
- 2Benjamin, A. 2007. Heather Mills launches HOT! campaign. Guardian [online] Available: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2007/nov/19/climatechange.ethicalliving [Accessed 4 March 2022].