Two years ago, I attended a conference in Atlanta that was held by Benji Kurtz. Much like myself, Kurtz had taken up the whole food, plant-based way of eating at about the same time I did, in 2013. His weight at that time had reached as high as 265 pounds at a height of 5 foot 5 inches.

At the time, he thought of himself as being healthy and having what he then considered to be a healthy diet that consisted primarily of fish and chicken. But after watching the video Forks Over Knives, Kurtz decided to give plant-based eating a try.

Since then, Kurtz has lost almost half his weight, getting down to a weight of 146 pounds. He was so inspired that he wanted to get the word out to others so that they might enjoy similar success.

He created the Food = Medicine conference, and I attended its first year back in 2015. Since then, the name of his organization, and the conference name itself, has changed to “Remedy.” And the conference has been given in both Toronto and Atlanta.

This year, it is coming to Hilton Head Island and will be held at the Sonesta Resort Nov. 9-12. This Remedy Beach Retreat conference is an excellent event to attend for those wanting to lose weight and for those wanting to learn healthier eating habits.

It will include a lineup of top-notch speakers, gourmet plant-based meals and opportunities for enjoying some time at the beach, pool or spa.

I found it amazing just how many delicious foods you can eat without diminishing your chances of losing weight.

There is a lineup of food and fitness stars speaking at Remedy, including: John Pierre, personal trainer for Ellen DeGeneres and Pamela Anderson; Matt Frazier, a vegan ultramarathon runner; Dr. T. Colin Campbell, author of The China Study and Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University; Jason Wrobel, host of the Cooking Channel’s How to Live to 100 series; and Dr. Joel Kahn, cardiologist and restaurateur.

This is an opportunity for Hilton Head and Bluffton area residents to participate in an event that could benefit their health for life. I signed up for it earlier this year, and I’m excited to participate again.

For more information about Remedy on Hilton Head, visit www.remedy events.org/hh-17-page.

J Lanning Smith is a local freelance writer focused on the whole food, plant-based way of eating.