What Doctors Won’t Tell Us About Nutrition: A Simple and Honest Look at Food and Health
We've been given a lot of food advice throughout our lives, most of which we've never questioned. We've been told that meat provides protein, and eggs are a complete health food. But what if the majority of this information was incorrect or incomplete? In this article, I'll address some of the misunderstandings that are providing us incorrect information about our plant-based diet.
The Conventional Medical Paradigm
Let's start with a shocking fact: most medical practitioners have little nutrition training. In medical colleges, only a few hours—sometimes a single lecture—are dedicated to what should be a key component of illness prevention. Most modern medicine focuses on treating symptoms rather than determining the causes of sickness. We are given prescriptions, scheduled for procedures, or urged to monitor our conditions—but no one actually helps us prevent or reverse them through lifestyle and food. This leaves a space that we must fill by taking ownership of our own health path.
Why Plant-Based?
Many of us assume that animal products are necessary, and that ailments such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes are simply a natural part of aging. However, when we begin to investigate the science and examine what occurs within our bodies when we eat differently, we might discover an entirely different image. Plant-based diets not only prevent disease, but they can even reverse it. People have spontaneously decreased their blood pressure, regulated their blood sugar, dropped weight, and even reversed heart disease without taking any prescription, simply by changing what they eat.
When we consume meals heavy in saturated fat, such as red meat, processed meat, cheese, and fried foods, our bodies experience chronic low-grade inflammation. Over time, this leads to more serious issues such as high blood pressure, clogged arteries, and insulin resistance. However, eating largely whole, plant-based meals such as vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds helps to reduce inflammation. Our blood flows more freely, our insulin functions more efficiently, and our energy levels rise without the crash and burn of processed foods.
Heart disease, the world's leading cause of death, is not necessarily irreversible. Dr. Dean Ornish and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn have demonstrated that a low-fat, plant-based diet can cure plaque development in the arteries. That means the disease can not only cease developing, but also begin to recover. This does not come from medication, but from eating plant-based foods. It's empowering and almost unbelievable, but the data is clear.
Then there's type 2 diabetes, which most people believe is a life sentence. However, it is a disease caused by fat interfering with how insulin works, not only a result of sugar consumption. When we avoid animal fats and processed oils, our insulin receptors begin to function correctly again. Glucose can enter our cells and be used for energy rather than remaining in the bloodstream. People have completely reversed diabetes with a plant-based diet, eliminating meds they thought they'd need for life.
Weight loss is another natural advantage. Unlike diets that instruct us to track calories or eat small portions, a whole-food plant-based diet keeps us full while keeping our calorie consumption modest. We are not starving or denying ourselves; instead, we are eating colorful, fulfilling meals that provide us with profound nourishment. Our desires alter throughout time, as do our taste buds. We no longer crave junk food since eating what nature gives makes us feel happy and energized.
Getting Started
For those of us who are just getting started, it may feel overwhelming. However, it doesn't have to be complicated. We can start by preparing one plant-based meal every day, such as adding more beans to our meals. As we see the results—clearer skin, better digestion, and better sleep—we'll be compelled to keep going. There are many of excellent plant-based recipes available online, and we don't have to be a chef to enjoy this lifestyle. It's not about perfection, but about growth.
Of course, we might encounter opposition. Family members may be concerned about where we receive our protein. Friends could tease us. But now that we know the reality, we can safely respond: beans, lentils, quinoa, seeds, and veggies are high in protein. Furthermore, they are free of the cholesterol, unhealthy fat, etc. present in animal products. And let's not forget fiber, which nearly everyone lacks but plants supply in abundance. It feeds our beneficial gut flora, aids digestion, regulates hormones, and even strengthens our immune system.
As we progress on this path, we recognize that our doctors may not be completely on board at first—not because they don't care, but because the system hasn't given them the tools to see food as medicine. That is why it is our responsibility to bring our doctors along with us, in a gentle and courteous manner. When we declare, "I'd like to try a plant-based diet and see how it affects my blood pressure," we're actively participating in our healing. We may even encourage our healthcare practitioners to learn more.
Conclusion
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