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Health benefits of a wholefoods plant-based diet

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 2:56 am
by Ben
There appears to be a growing body of clinical evidence of the health promoting benefits of a wholefoods plant-based (vegan) diet. Last night I watched the documentary "Forks over knives":

FORKS OVER KNIVES examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting our present menu of animal-based and processed foods. The major storyline in the film traces the personal journeys of a pair of pioneering yet under-appreciated researchers, Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn.
Highly recommended!

Re: Health benefits of a wholefoods plant-based diet

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 11:53 am
by Jhana4
You can watch this documentary on hulu.com for free ( legally )
http://www.hulu.com/watch/279734

Re: Health benefits of a wholefoods plant-based diet

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 1:41 pm
by Derek
For those of you who appreciate papers from peer-reviewed journals, here's a couple from Dr. David Jenkins of the University of Toronto:

David J. A. Jenkins, MD; Julia M. W. Wong, RD; Cyril W. C. Kendall, PhD; Amin Esfahani, MSc; Vivian W. Y. Ng, RD; Tracy C. K. Leong, BASc; Dorothea A. Faulkner, PhD; Ed Vidgen, BSc; Kathryn A. Greaves, PhD; Gregory Paul, PhD; William Singer, MD. "The Effect of a Plant-Based Low-Carbohydrate ('Eco-Atkins') Diet on Body Weight and Blood Lipid Concentrations in Hyperlipidemic Subjects." Arch. Intern. Med., 2009, vol. 169, no. 11, pp. 1046-1054.

http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article ... eid=415074

Jenkins DJ, Kendall CW, Popovich DG, Vidgen E, Mehling CC, Vuksan V, Ransom TP, Rao AV, Rosenberg-Zand R, Tariq N, Corey P, Jones PJ, Raeini M, Story JA, Furumoto EJ, Illingworth DR, Pappu AS, Connelly PW. "Effect of a very-high-fiber vegetable, fruit, and nut diet on serum lipids and colonic function." Metabolism, 2001 April, vol. 50, no. 4, pp. 494-503.

http://www.vegsource.com/nuts/jenkins.pdf

Re: Health benefits of a wholefoods plant-based diet

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 12:00 am
by Mkoll
Friends,

Thank you for the link, Ben. That is a well done documentary and I would also recommend Food, Inc. for those interested in the industrial side of food in addition to nutrition as well. You can rent it online for a few dollars.

In terms of peer reviewed studies, here is a website I have found very informative. It is run by an MD who cites peer-reviewed sources in all of his claims. He advocates a plant-based, whole foods diet with a few select supplements essential to health.

I think that eating what gives one energy rather than tiredness and what one feels good about rather than guilty is important. Food definitely affects one's practice according to the suttas because monks only eat within a prescribed time.

:anjali:

James

Re: Health benefits of a wholefoods plant-based diet

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 12:04 am
by Ben
Mkoll wrote:Friends,

Thank you for the link, Ben. That is a well done documentary and I would also recommend Food, Inc. for those interested in the industrial side of food in addition to nutrition as well. You can rent it online for a few dollars.

In terms of peer reviewed studies, here is a website I have found very informative. It is run by an MD who cites peer-reviewed sources in all of his claims. He advocates a plant-based, whole foods diet with a few select supplements essential to health.

I think that eating what gives one energy rather than tiredness and what one feels good about rather than guilty is important. Food definitely affects one's practice according to the suttas because monks only eat within a prescribed time.

:anjali:

James
Thanks James.
Nutritionfacts.org is actually my 'go to' source for information on nutrition.
It is a fantastic public service.
kind regards,

Ben

Re: Health benefits of a wholefoods plant-based diet

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 2:22 pm
by mirco



Now, then I want to take up the cudgels for Wolf-Dieter Storl.
His work convinced me of the natural need of a wholefoods plant-based diet.

:bow:

Re: Health benefits of a wholefoods plant-based diet

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 2:38 pm
by sphairos
In order to be a healthy vegetarian you should always be in contact with your doctors - "it is the position of the American Dietetic Association":

"It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes.
...
The variability of dietary practices among vegetarians makes individual assessment of dietary adequacy essential. In addition to assessing dietary adequacy, food and nutrition professionals can also play key roles in educating vegetarians about sources of specific nutrients, food purchase and preparation, and dietary modifications to meet their needs."

http://www.eatright.org/About/Content.aspx?id=8357

Re: Health benefits of a wholefoods plant-based diet

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 4:03 pm
by Justsit
Actually, the ADA article mentions consulting food and dietetic professionals - nothing about "doctors." In the US most family doctors know very little about nutrition in general, and even less about how to eat healthily as a vegetarian or vegan. If you are going to spend $ on diet counseling, you will be better off seeing a dietitian or nutritionist, preferably one who is already vegetarian him/herself.

If you eat a balanced vegetarian diet with a variety of REAL foods, avoid the usual culprits, you should be fine. Do your research and use common sense.

Re: Health benefits of a wholefoods plant-based diet

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 5:05 pm
by sphairos
Dieticians and nutritionist are health care professionals. All health care professionals - at least formally - are doctors/physicians (with an exception to less qualified personnel, like nurses). In most of the world a dietician is in the first place a doctor/physician.

Re: Health benefits of a wholefoods plant-based diet

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 5:14 pm
by Justsit
sphairos wrote:Dieticians and nutritionist are health care professionals. All health care professionals - at least formally - are doctors/physicians (with an exception to less qualified personnel, like nurses). In most of the world a dietician is in the first place a doctor/physician.
Great, I learned something new!
Definitely not the case in USA.

Re: Health benefits of a wholefoods plant-based diet

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 5:20 pm
by sphairos
Justsit wrote:
sphairos wrote:Dieticians and nutritionist are health care professionals. All health care professionals - at least formally - are doctors/physicians (with an exception to less qualified personnel, like nurses). In most of the world a dietician is in the first place a doctor/physician.
Great, I learned something new!
Definitely not the case in USA.
Interesting, didn't know that. Anyway: then you should always be in contact with your health care providers.

Re: Health benefits of a wholefoods plant-based diet

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 7:50 pm
by mirco
sphairos wrote:Dieticians and nutritionist are health care professionals. All health care professionals - at least formally - are doctors/physicians (with an exception to less qualified personnel, like nurses). In most of the world a dietician is in the first place a doctor/physician.
Which in the first place qualifies almost all of them not to know a thing about what is healthy.

Re: Health benefits of a wholefoods plant-based diet

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 8:52 pm
by sphairos
mirco wrote:
sphairos wrote:Dieticians and nutritionist are health care professionals. All health care professionals - at least formally - are doctors/physicians (with an exception to less qualified personnel, like nurses). In most of the world a dietician is in the first place a doctor/physician.
Which in the first place qualifies almost all of them not to know a thing about what is healthy.
Of course, of course :D

Re: Health benefits of a wholefoods plant-based diet

Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 3:30 am
by Ben
sphairos wrote:In order to be a healthy vegetarian you should always be in contact with your doctors - "it is the position of the American Dietetic Association":

"It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes.
...
The variability of dietary practices among vegetarians makes individual assessment of dietary adequacy essential. In addition to assessing dietary adequacy, food and nutrition professionals can also play key roles in educating vegetarians about sources of specific nutrients, food purchase and preparation, and dietary modifications to meet their needs."

http://www.eatright.org/About/Content.aspx?id=8357
Ironic, really.

http://nutritionfacts.org/video/uprooti ... -of-death/

http://nutritionfacts.org/video/fast-fo ... t-lipitor/

Re: Health benefits of a wholefoods plant-based diet

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 11:10 am
by dagon
Hi Ben and All

I hope that you don’t mind me drifting the thread a bit.

What is your take on the raw food/cooked food debate; benefits and otherwise in relation to vegetarian and vegan diets.

Metta
paul