Research shows that there could be hope for America’s health crisis.
Despite roughly 100 million Americans with diabetes and prediabetes and 70% of the American population being overweight or obese, researchers say much of this can be prevented if Americans are willing to simply change their diets.
Hundreds of studies published in peer-reviewed journals over the years indicate that a “whole food plant based diet” will prevent the onset of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, and other diseases, including cancer. According to a study published in The Journal of Family Practice, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn of the Cleveland Clinic suggests that patients with coronary artery disease who eat whole food plant-based diets have approximately a 30-fold decrease in cardiovascular incidents, such as strokes, heart attacks, and heart surgery, when compared to patients treated with conventional treatments.
Part of these conclusions are taken from the fact that in certain parts of the world, including Central Africa, rural China, and parts of New Guinea and Mexico, the inhabitants of these areas don’t experience any of the above-mentioned diseases until they migrate to America and eat a standard American diet.
The native diets of these people include the whole grain plant-based diet. This diet is rich in fruits and vegetables and has little-to-no intake of dairy or processed meat. It is low in refined sugar and bleached flour.
The typical American diet, on the other hand, is heavily criticized by researchers. In 1910, the average American consumed approximately five pounds of processed sugar per year—but that number rose to 190 pounds per person in 2010. The consumption of fat for the average American went from four pounds in 1910 to 74 pounds in 2010. Furthermore, the average amount of fruits and veggies consumed dramatically decreased from 131 pounds in 1910 to just 11 pounds by 2010.
Over 60% of the current American diet is said to include processed foods, with 12% plant-based and only half that is not processed. In a post written for the Midland Reporter-Telegram, cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Staton Awtrey claims education is imperative, and making simple changes in diet and lifestyle will prevent or reverse the symptoms of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other illnesses.
With the expectation that one-third of U.S. residents born at the beginning of this millennium will be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at some point in their lives, paired with the alarming high obesity rates, researchers agree America can’t afford not to address this problem and focus on prevention-based solutions, such as a plant-based diet.
According to Dr. Staton, “Skip the drugs, keep your money, eat delicious leafy green vegetables…and as an added bonus, actually become healthy.”
Sources for Today’s Article:
Centofanti, D., “A plant-based diet could save your life,” Fox 2 Detroit web site, October 2, 2015; http://www.fox2detroit.com/healthworks-sponsored-by-henry-ford-health-system/28616294-story.