Why Go Whole Food Plant Based?
Changing how you eat does take a strong commitment whether you’re thinking of Paleo, Keto, carnivore or Whole Food Plant Based (WFPB). When it comes to WFPB most people get hung up on the idea of giving up meat or dairy. It is a big change from the standard American diet. The question has to be asked: is it worth giving up meat? Cheese? Sugary treats and your favorite crunchy snacks? If this is a question you’ve wanted an answer to, then let me give that answer to you right now. Yes, it most definitely is, and here are six reasons why.
Reason One: A WFPB diet will lower your cholesterol and your risk of heart disease.
According to “Eat to Live” by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Coronary Artery Disease and heart attacks are the number one killer of American men and women. And they are almost 100 percent avoidable with a WFPB diet. This can be seen in the “China Study,” A study of various populations of Chinese citizens in the 1980s. Within this study, according to its authors, T. Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell II, virtually no heart attacks were seen in populations that consumed a life-long vegetarian diet rich in natural plant foods and with no more than 10% of calories coming from animal products. Animal proteins have a significant effect on raising cholesterol levels while plant proteins lower it. Even if low-fat animal products are all that is consumed, cholesterol levels are only mildly affected. If you want to see the more dramatic effects on your cholesterol, according to Dr. Fuhrman, you must go all the way in eliminating animal foods. A WFPB diet does just this.
Reason Two: A WFPB diet will greatly decrease your risk of getting cancer.
Cancer is the number two killer of Americans today. This too can be attributed to the large amounts of animal products found in the standard American diet. According to T Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell, as the amounts of animal foods in the diet increase, even in tiny increments, so does the occurrence of cancers and these occurrences are in direct proportion to the amount of animal products eaten. And you can’t just leave this at red meat’s doorstep. The consumption of chicken and fish also has a role to play in the occurrence of colon cancer, according to Joel Fuhrman. Since a WFPB diet eliminates all, or nearly all, animal foods from the diet, the risk of getting cancer is almost zero.
Reason Three: A WFPB diet can reverse insulin resistance and Type II Diabetes.
38 million Americans suffer from Diabetes and 90–95% of these Americans have type II, according to the Center for Disease Control. Type II Diabetes can be a precursor to a whole slew of nasty ailments including atherosclerosis, Kidney Damage, blindness, nerve damage in the legs and the list goes on, according to Dr. Fuhrman. And here’s the kicker. It, too, can be reversed by a WFPB diet. It’s the high amounts of fat consumed in the Standard American Diet (SAD) that creates the insulin resistance that leads to Type II Diabetes. High fat consumption leads to weight gain. “Fat on the body blocks the uptake of insulin into the cells,” says Dr Fuhrman. He goes on to explain that the pancreas then must work harder to produce more insulin and it eventually wears out. As the pancreas slows down, blood sugar rises, and, voila! You have Type II Diabetes. When following a WFPB diet, most sources of fat, including animal products and oil, are eliminated and you lose weight. Your blood sugar goes down and the insulin resistance, and thus your Type II Diabetes is reversed.
There are also benefits to going WFPB in the case of Type I Diabetes. This condition cannot be totally reversed, but the need for insulin can be cut in half, according to Dr. Fuhrman.
Reason Four: A WFPB Diet is an effective weight loss tool.
So many Americans are fighting the battle of the bulge and are on the hunt for the perfect weight loss solution. Well, you’ve found it. There is no healthier way to get those inches off your waistline than going WFPB. This diet rids you of the most calorie-dense foods. It’s the meats, cheeses, oils and processed foods that give you the worst bang for your calorie buck. According to “Eat To Live,” Fat is an appetite stimulant, and oil and animal fat are easily and rapidly stored by the body. So you can only eat small amounts of these calorie-dense foods before you’ve reached the point of overindulgence.
According to Fuhrman, “Appetite is controlled by fiber, nutrient density, and caloric density.” It’s the fruits and the veggies that will be able to fill you up with the least amount of calories and the most nutrients. A WFPB diet focuses on exactly these foods. Your meals will be made up of fruits, vegetables and legumes along with some unprocessed starches like brown rice and quinoa or whole grain pasta. So take away the high-density foods, replace them with the high-nutrient and high-fiber foods and you’ve got an equation for weight loss.
Reason Five: A WFPB diet will heal your gut
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Diverticulitis and Crohn’s Disease are some of the most common diseases that affect our digestive tract. It is believed that the start of many of these conditions is Leaky Gut. According to Will Bulsiewicz M.D., author of “Fiber Fueled,” Our gut is filled with colonies of microbes. Some are beneficial. Many are not. Now the beneficial microbes keep the bad microbes in check and keep them from causing problems. As long as the good and bad colonies of microbes are kept in balance our immune system remains properly developed. Enter the SAD diet.
The SAD diet, which is eaten by so many Americans, is full of sugars and refined carbohydrates. Americans consume 152 pounds of sugar and 120 pounds of grains, mostly refined ones, says Fuhrman. It’s these sugars and refined grains that are devoid of the fiber that feeds these bad microbes and allow them to grow, take over and wreak havoc. On top of that, all of the chemical preservatives, additives and colorants found in processed foods further decrease the microbial diversity of our guts and cause inflammation. Artificial sweeteners, animal proteins and unhealthy fats further contribute to this inflammation. Put all of this together and you have a gut that functions poorly.
Switching to a WFPB diet full of fiber-rich, nutrient-dense foods and devoid of all of the foods that did the damage in the first place restores the balance and takes control away from the bad microbes. This allows your gut to heal and to function properly once again.
Reason Six: A WFPB diet can aid the fight against autoimmune conditions
Asthma, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus and Multiple Sclerosis are just a few of the many autoimmune diseases that are known to have detrimental effects on the lives of those they touch. For some, a WFPB diet can be curative. For others, it will at least get you off medication according to “Eat to Live”. The more advanced the disease, the less likely the patient is to respond. According to Fuhrman. Along with following the WFPB diet, those hoping to improve an autoimmune condition should also go gluten free, low protein, and maintain a normal weight. Your fatty acid balance — omega 3 to omega 6 ratio, arachidonic acid and DHA levels should also be checked periodically. If not on immunosuppressants, you may try an elimination diet to uncover food sensitivities, Fuhrman says. The majority of patients benefit even if it just means getting off the traditional medications which are usually toxic and not without side effects.
Conclusion
And there you have it. Convinced yet? You should be. Eating WFPB is a diet that is completely backed by science. Eating fresh, unadulterated fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, and legumes not only makes for delicious meals but will also result in a healthy cholesterol level, a healthy gut and possibly even an entirely disease-free and great-looking new you. Can you say that about the Standard American Diet? I don’t think so.
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Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or a medical professional. The information provided on the site is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor before making dietary changes or using any advice given here.