– Eat More Plants –

“Let Food Be Thy Medicine.”

— Hippocrates

Our culture currently consumes an excessive amount of fast food, meats, and other animal products such as dairy, eggs, etc. The United States is known to be one of the unhealthiest nations, with the highest number of unhealthy individuals. The prevalence of chronic disease in the United States has increased significantly over the years, to the point where it has reached epidemic proportions. Each year new illnesses arise, and more people are becoming ill. Doctors and physicians will often prescribe medications to these individuals, only masking the symptoms and not addressing the root cause of the patients problems. What doctors and most medical professionals will not tell you is that our food is usually the culprit and is making us sick. 

Most Americans live off of fast food and opt for quick processed foods which lack most vitamins and minerals. The lack of essential nutrients, high amounts of fat, sugar, sodium, preservatives, unhealthy additives, and lack of healthy fiber can cause a wide range of detrimental health conditions. In addition to this, the excessive amount of fat, sugar, and toxic additives in these foods are severely inflammatory, can wreak havoc on the gut microbiome, irritate the intestinal walls, and over time can overburden the liver, gallbladder, and kidneys slowing down the body’s natural detoxification process, metabolic functions, and weaken the immune system. In order to achieve optimal health, these unhealthy, toxic, foods must be eliminated from one’s diet. 

Meat and animal products are often promoted and encouraged by medical doctors and nutritionists who follow the “MyPlate” guidelines. Most claim that these foods are essential for protein, vitamin B12, and minerals such as iron and calcium. American’s consume these products daily and due to medical claims, many may fear to cut these food groups out. However, what most medical professionals fail to mention are the inflammatory and toxic effects that meat and animal products have on our bodies. The World Cancer Prevention guidelines state to reduce red meat and eat more plants due to the carcinogenic properties found in meat. However, why should we wait until we are diagnosed with cancer to cut these toxic foods out? 

Meat and animal products (dairy, eggs, etc.) are highly inflammatory, highly acidic in nature, and are very hard for our bodies to process and fully digest. Meat products contain high amounts of saturated fat which can lead to heart disease, cancer, liver problems, and other chronic health conditions if consumed in excessive amounts. Animal products are also known to contain some degree of antibiotics, steroids, hormones, heavy metals, pesticides, preservatives, and more. Similar to fast foods, these toxic ingredients have harmful effects on the digestive system, immune system, liver, kidney, and gallbladder. To debunk the whole “meat and animal products are the only source of protein” myth, protein is found in almost all plant-based foods. There are several documentaries out now such as “The Game Changers” presented by Arnold Schwarzenegger, that prove that you can gain lean, healthy muscle on a plant-based diet and maintain a healthy body weight.  

So, what DO you eat on a plant-based diet?

Anything that grows from the ground, is unprocessed, organically grown without the use of chemicals/ pesticides, and is not grown in genetically modified soil or with modified seeds. Fruits and vegetables are essential for good health and a strong immune system. They contain high amounts of easy-to-digest vitamins and minerals, high amounts of fiber, phytonutrients, and organic, naturally-occurring compounds that fight disease, kill off pathogens, support the bodies processes, aid in detoxification, and more. While following the plant-based diet (or any diet really), one should be sure to take vitamin B12 in supplemental form to ensure that they are getting enough. Aside from that, plants contain everything the body needs in order to function and heal.

The body was designed to heal on its own, without the use of medical interventions. I did not truly believe this fact until I experienced it firsthand. I was at rock bottom when I first discovered the plant-based diet. I felt as if I tried everything with no luck or success. Over the course of two years, consuming fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the day, taking herbal remedies, and pumping my body with fresh juices, I have completely reversed all of my previous health conditions and now feel healthier and better than ever.