Food Gives Life
Food Gives Life
Joy Stepinski, MSN, RN-BC
February 13, 2023
Diet is said to be the largest predictor of health and premature death. Yet every day, Americans are bombarded with fast food restaurants, brilliantly colored processed food packaging, and an ever-growing food industry that knows the tricks of marketing. The consequence is shown in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics: 6 in 10 American experience chronic disease, 1 in 3 deaths are caused by cardiovascular disease, 1 in 4 deaths are caused by cancer, and 74% of Americans are either overweight or obese [1]
Eating well has generally not been an established part of learning. Even nurses and medical doctors receive very limited training in their respective education. A plethora of diet options seems to be available at one’s fingertips, many without successful longterm results. Many debate whether skim milk is better than whole milk, or chicken is better than beef. A large focus on calorie-counting, protein intake, and calcium needs ensues. Yet, the broad impact of food upon health is truly overlooked.
Delving into the literature, the role of diet becomes clear: a low-fat plant-based diet (consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes) shows positive outcomes to achieve optimal health.
Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic, has published documented research. A 2014 study investigated the effect of plant-based nutrition on coronary artery disease (CAD). Of the 198 participants, there was an adherence rate of 89% to the recommended diet (177 subjects), which focused on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, and avoided oils, dairy, meat, and high fat plant foods. The results showed that of 112 people reporting angina at baseline, 104 (93%) described improvement or resolution during the follow-up period. Angina is a symptom of CAD, a type of chest pain experienced due to reduced blood flow to the heart. Coronary artery disease is considered to be the leading cause of death among Americans.
In a separate study [3], Pischke and coauthors investigated the effect of depression in people with high coronary risk factors upon enrollment to the Multisite Cardiac Lifestyle Intervention Program (MCLIP). The MCLIP was shown to be effective by Dr. Dean Ornish, and consisted of diet and other lifestyle changes. Of 921 participants, 341 reported depression at baseline. The outcomes showed that 73% became nondepressed after three months of intervention. Those participants also experienced weight reduction, less hostility and perceived stress, reduced systolic blood pressure for women, and decreased triglycerides among men.
A small New Zealand study researched the effect of a whole food plant-based diet upon BMI and cholesterol. The intervention group consisted of 25 patients who were asked to consume a whole-food plant-based diet. The 23 control group participants ate a standard diet. At six months, the mean BMI of the intervention group decreased by 4.4, and weight by 12.1 kg. At 12 months, the mean BMI reduced by 4.2, and weight by 11.5 kg. Cholesterol also decreased. Statistically significant differences within the control group were not found. Medication usage decreased by 29% for the intervention group, but increased by 8% for the control group.
These studies and others show very important results in using whole plant food to greatly improve health. Adopting this kind of diet, along with other lifestyle factors, has potential to prevent, stop, or reverse chronic disease. When an illness does present itself, the body can be more equipped to confront it. As stated in The Blue Zones, “food gives life!” (p. 209). [5]
References
1. CDC. 2022. National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/tools/infogra phics.htm
2. Esselstyn, C. B., Gendy, G., Doyle, J., Golubic, M., & Roizen, M. F. (2014). A way to reverse CAD?. Journal of Family Practice, 63(7), 356- 364. http://dresselstyn.com/JFP_06307_Article1.pdf
3. Pischke , C. R., Frenda, S., Ornish, D., & Weidner, G. (2010). Lifestyle changes are related to reductions in depression in persons with elevated coronary risk factors. Psychology and Health, 25(9), 1077-1100. https://www.ornish.com/wpcontent/uploads/lifestyle-changes-related-toreduction-in-depression-coronary-risk-factors.pdf
4. Wright, N., Wilson, L., Smith, M., Duncan, B., & McHugh, P. (2017). The BROAD study: A randomised controlled trial using a whole food plant-based diet in the community for obesity, ischaemic heart disease or diabetes. Nutrition & Diabetes, 7(3), e256-e256. (2017). https://www.nature.com/articles/nutd20173?repor t=reader
5. Buettner, D. (2012). The Blue Zones (2nd ed.). National Geographic Partners, LLC.