Diets to Reverse Disease

According to most health experts, if everyone in the planet followed the standard Western diet of cholesterol-rich fast-food fare like burgers fries, steaks, chicken sandwiches and milk shakes, more than half of the people on earth would likely develop heart disease.

And when it comes to treating heart disease, majority of doctors still promote the use of drugs, or other invasive and expensive medical procedures, as well as heart surgery.

However, a number of studies have already determined that heart disease can actually be prevented, by switching to a diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables, and lower processed foods or animal products.    

Low-Fat, Vegetable-Rich Diets Can Reverse Heart Disease

According to a study published in the American Journal of Cardiology, low-fat, vegetable-rich diets were known to reduce bad LDL cholesterol levels by as much as 16 percent. A high-nutrient and vegetable-based diet was also known to have reduced bad cholesterol levels by as much as 33 percent. The study suggests that if humans improve the low-fat vegetarian diet, and make it more nutrient-dense, by eating more beans, seeds and greens, they could reverse heart disease much faster (Source: WebMD).

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What Are High-Nutrient Vegetable-Based Diets?

A high-nutrient, vegetable-based diet is generally guided by the ratio of micro-nutrients to calories in foods. This diet is also called a ‘nutritiarian diet”.  It also means that 90 percent of calories are sourced from nutrient-rich plant foods such as beans, vegetable, fruits, seeds and nuts. And to provide optimal levels of “protective” micro-nutrients, the diet must also be mostly vegetable, and not grain-based.  This is because vegetables and beans are more superior to grains and white potato, especially when it comes to “nutrition density” (Source: The Huffington Post). 

Don’t forget The Nuts and Seeds

A nutrition-dense vegetable based diet must also include a large segment of healthy fats from seeds and nuts. Most health experts agree that nuts and seeds are essential for improved cardiovascular health. Nuts and seeds also have protective properties against coronary heart disease.

However, despite all of the positive data shown on “healthy fats”, many doctors and dietitians still press for “low-fat” diets. While adding certain fats, like saturated fats, are considered unhealthy, seeds and nuts which are sources of natural fats have been known to provide positive cardiovascular benefits.  The moderate intake of nuts and seeds can even help encourage weight loss, not weight gain. (Source: T. Collin Campbell Foundation )

Despite all the wealth of information with regard to organic, plant-based diets, and their contribution to the fight against heart disease, many doctors still opt for drugs and surgical procedures as the standard treatment form for coronary artery disease and high cholesterol.

Remember that most of the patients who had undergone stent and bypass procedures have not eradicated the cause of their disease, and many still continue to experience progressive disability, and die from premature deaths. If you want to live healthy, and steer clear of expensive heart surgery, then better switch to eating more fruits, nuts, seeds and veggies now. 

Photo Credit:

"Veggie Pizza " by Ginnerobot/ Flickr