The Power of Plant Based Nutrition and Supplements

I shared a post the other day on the new guidelines from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology.  I wanted to elaborate on the dietary recommendations- “Adults should eat more plant-based foods such as vegetables, fruits,nuts, legumes and whole grains, and choose fish, lean vegetable or lean animal proteins. Minimize processed meat and sweetened drinks.”  Once again, plant based nutrition is being encouraged!  Their guidelines are similar to a Mediterranean diet.  Studies continue to show that this healthy way of eating is beneficial in heart disease, cancer, diabetes and many other chronic diseases.  Good nutrition can prevent some chronic diseases AND reverse them.

Here are some alarming statistics!

• Obesity continues to increase in adults and adolescents.  Almost 40% of our country is obese.
• 75% of healthcare costs go toward treating obesity related diseases:
  • Type 2 DM
  • Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
  • HTN
  • Cancer (especially breast, endometrial, colon, glassblower, prostate and kidney)
  • Heart Disease
  • Dementia
  • Lipid disorders
• The global healthcare costs of obesity is now $2 trillion annually!!! Smoking is $2.1 trillion!!!
• At least 30 million Americans have diabetes and the incidence of Type 2 rising in children.
• About 1 million Americans has a heart attack annually.
• 20-50% of adults have metabolic syndrome, and at least 10% are children.
• Every 39 seconds an adult dies from a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular disease.
• Nearly 68 million people have high blood pressure.
• 71 million adults have high cholesterol.
• Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States BUT cancer will soon surpass that?
• Did you know that breast cancer can be prevented with good nutrition?

PLANT BASED DIETS show the most promising results in preventing these chronic diseases.  I encourage everyone to fill their day with colorful fruits and vegetables and follow a Mediterranean way of living. The only issue is that our fruits and vegetables DO NOT contain all of the great nutrition they used to because of soil depletion, over farming, chemicals, pesticides and environment toxins.  Did you know that you need to consume 80 cups of spinach today to get what 1 cup provided 50 years ago?!?!  Are you going to consume 80 cups of spinach everyday??? Why do you think more and more people are getting cancer and other chronic diseases?  People are living longer but they are living with disease and pain.  Our food isn’t what it used to be and our bodies are being burdened by a toxic environment.  This means we need to work a little harder to bridge the gap!

SO WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS?  We can bridge this gap of nutritional deficiencies by taking plant based nutritional products.  If you could eat high quality chia seeds everyday, take organic sulfur and a high quality MVI daily that could possibly decrease your risk of chronic illness wouldn’t you?  If you could possibly come off of a blood pressure medication or ADHD medication by supplementing your diet with a few plant based products wouldn’t you?  If you could improve your entire household’s nutrition and health wouldn’t you? I hope your answer is yes!  I have seen the results personally and in thousands of families!  My joint pain, sleep hygiene and gut health have improved tremendously.  My dog’s allergies are improving on Mila (high quality chia seeds) and organic sulfur.  I have seen people lose weight and keep it off.  I have seen people’s depression and anxiety improve.  This is REAL. This nutrition works! I feel the best way to optimize your nutrition, is to:

• Consume a plant based diet with lean proteins and healthy fats.
• Bridge the nutritional gap with plant based supplements.
• Cook at home as much as possible.
• Choose fresh foods and avoid processed foods and fast foods.
• Avoid refined carbohydrates and sugar.
• Drink water all day long.
• Exercise daily- every step counts!
• Practice mind body therapies to improve stress management and sleep hygiene.

*** Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, March 17, 2015 and June 16, 2018. Web 04 July 2016; US Department and Human Services; American Diabetes Association, March 22, 2018; National Center for Health Statistics (US), 2010; “high blood pressure and cholesterol” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Feb 1, 2011; The surgeon General’s call to action to prevent and decrease overweight and obesity, 2001.