With the growing season in full swing, it is not only convenient to be able to eat locally but it is also a great time to be reminded that whole food, plant-based nutrition\u00a0is an excellent way to<\/p>\n
protect our health.<\/p>\n
Countries with plant-based diets such as Northern Mexico, Rural China, and Central Africa see negligible rates of heart disease. \u00a0Current research shows that improving our nutrition can also\u00a0have dramatic risk-lowering effects for\u00a0other\u00a0diseases such as diabetes\u00a0and cancer.<\/p>\n
Imagine Health Centres recently sponsored a Heart Calgary event featuring a lecture by\u00a0Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn Jr. from the Cleveland Clinic who spoke to the public on plant-based nutrition and its merits. \u00a0He spoke on his decades of clinical experience and research showing the ability to not only prevent but also\u00a0reverse\u00a0heart disease using no oil, plant based nutrition.<\/p>\n
Certainly, it can be\u00a0challenging for people\u00a0to adjust\u00a0their\u00a0diet\u00a0in such dramatic fashion, but I often encourage patients to make small changes over time to improve their nutrition. Increasing the number of fresh\u00a0vegetables and fruit consumed daily will naturally crowd out other sources of calories including animal products and processed food.<\/p>\n