A Vegan Diet Can Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease

by Diane Bass

Native Foods Cafe Contributor

 

Dr. Sanjay Gupta recently presented a report on CNN called, “The Last Heart Attack”.  Dr. Gupta spoke with Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn who wrote the book, “Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease”. This book explains, with irrefutable scientific evidence, how we can end the heart disease epidemic in this country forever by changing what we eat.  Dr. Esselstyn says we should eat whole grains, beans, yellow, red and green veggies and fruit.  The Dr. convincingly argues that a plant-based, oil-free diet can not only prevent and stop the progression of heart disease, but also reverse its effects.  This book is based on a 20 year study.  As part of his research Dr. Esselstyn studied different cultures. He found that people on Central Africa, Papau New Guinea Highlands and the Tara-humari Indians in Mexico who eat plant based diets have no heart disease. None!   Dr. Esselstyn believes that if you change your diet, you can become heart attack proof.  He claims that heart disease is a food born illness.  He says, “we won’t end this epidemic with surgery, stents and medication because we’re not treating the illness.”  Dr. Terry Mason, Chief Medical officer at Cook County Hospital agrees. He says, “We have eaten ourselves into a problem and we can eat ourselves out of it.”  Pier review journals reporting on the results of a handful of Dr. Esselsyn’s patients who were on his diet and cholesterol lowering medication show that after five years they had no heart attacks and no coronary events of any kind.  Three quarters of his patients saw blockages grow smaller.  Attached is a photograph of the same artery before and after changing the patients’ diet.  A plant based diet actually reverses heart disease!

Keep your blood clean by eating vegan food at Native Foods Cafe!  It's all about balance though... have some greens with those fries.

The blood of people who eat high meat, high cholesterol diet actually looks different from someone on a plant based diet.   The first photo shows healthy blood.  The bottom half of the vial  contains blood cells. The top half is plasma which contains water and electrolytes.  

The second photo shows unhealthy blood. The plasma is cloudy because it is laden with heart clogging fat and cholesterol.  These photographs are quite shocking and should convince anyone to change their diet! 

Dr. Dean Ornish of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute believes that the more people change their diet and lifestyle the more they improve in direct proportion.  He told Dr. Gupta, “Once people begin making these changes most people find they feel so much better so quickly it reframes the reason for making these changes from fear of dying to joy of living and joy is what is sustainable.” Amen! 

 

Diane won our "Blogging with Chef Tanya" Facebook contest with this blog! Congrats Diane.... and thanks!

 

Comments

[Chef Tanya]

Thanks Diane for your contribution, it is great. Hey everyone we need to get that CNN interview with Dr. Gupta viral...start now!!! Tweet and FB a friend.

Diane which restaurant do you visit the most?

Thanks again!!!

[Linda Abelson]

Gosh, I wish you would address the problem of excess sodium in many vegan recipes and prepared meals. This continues to be a deadly issue for high-risk coronary disease folks, and everyone gets terribly defensive when the issue is presented.

Thanks.

[Linda Abelson]

PS -- I've been a vegetarian since 1984 and vegan for about two years. Coronary disease is rampant in my family so I am hyper-aware of this issue. The gluten-free craze, which does not seem to have much benefit to anyone without celiac disease, is the worst offender...just check the sodium count on the most innocuous-seeming items, which are three times the price of their glutinous counterparts. You will be shocked. Also, the current labeling does not take into account recent recommendations to lower the daily sodium intake to 1500 from 2500 mg's...just saying.

[Native Foods]

Hi Linda- The sodium content is a big issue in all foods in my opinion. I am almost always shocked at the amount in frozen "healthy meals" at the grocery store. We do use salt, and a bunch of other delicious seasonings, so your best bet is to order all sauces and dressings on the side to control your own intake. Thanks for weighing in on the subject and we are working on nutritional info for y'all! - Holladay

[Get a flat stomach]

I was a high meat eater and ate foods high in saturated fat. As of 6 month i am slowly converting to a vegan lifestyle and i must admit it is feeling great. Thanks for sharing this site and hopefully we all will make healthier eating choices.