ANN ARBOR, MI -- Former University of Michigan football player Marc Ramirez has been inspiring others with his story of reversing type-2 diabetes by going vegan and eliminating all animal products from his diet.

Ramirez, a former offensive lineman who played under legendary coach Bo Schembechler, will share his story of weight loss and improved health during a free nutrition seminar next Saturday, May 21, in the Ann Arbor area.

The event runs from 4-6 p.m. at the Bill Crispin Chevrolet dealership at 7112 E. Michigan Ave. in Pittsfield Township, just south of Ann Arbor.

The seminar is being organized by Chickpea and Bean Inc., a nonprofit organization that Ramirez and his wife started to help others learn about the benefits of a whole-food, plant-based diet.

Ramirez will discuss how he eliminated all five of his medications in two months for type-2 diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and how he has been medication-free for more than four years.

"We are just trying to continue to educate any and everybody who's willing to listen, who's sick of being sick," Ramirez said in a March interview.

"We are seeing time and time again, as people come to these meetings, because we've been having them for a little over a year now, people losing weight, getting off medications, feeling better, and that's what energizes my wife and I to continue down this path."

The seminar also will feature nutritional advice from local medical doctor Robert Breakey and Swaroop Bhojani, a former U-M cancer researcher with two restaurants in Ann Arbor, Hut-K Chaats and Back2Roots Bistro.

Admission is free and there will be free food samples. Bikram Yoga Ann Arbor and Bill Crispin Chevrolet are co-sponsoring the event.

Register online by Friday to attend.

Ryan Stanton covers the city beat for The Ann Arbor News. Reach him at ryanstanton@mlive.com.