If I follow a vegan plant based diet will my atherosclerosis improve? Any help would be gladly appreciated.
Atherosclerosis : If I follow a vegan plant... - Healthy Eating
Atherosclerosis
Written by
Red18
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
23 Replies
•
Presuming your version of vegan is a healthy option then yes. That's what the science says.
Yes I agree but every time I read something and think “ Veganism is the way!” I read something pro carnivore or something saying saturated fat doesn’t matter etc
There are plenty of examples of meat eaters having heart attacks despite otherwise great and even excellent health. With the rise of veganism in 100 years time, say, we'll have reports of vegans perhaps. But we cannot wait of course so we have to go by best available evidence, much of which is epidemic.
Hi Red18, here's a link about a plant based diet and lowering cholesterol:
onegreenplanet.org/natural-...
What is just as important is what you avoid eating like some saturated fats refined sugars and highly processed foods so you get the most out of what you eat, by eating fresh fruit vegetables nuts and pulses with plenty of fibre, including whole grains.
So good luck with this.
Jerry 😊
Omg yes yes yes. Red meat not good! Lol. But it’s more than that. Now converting is really tough so do it gradually and don’t rule out chicken and turkey here and there. That’s essentially what I do. Mostly no meat at all but a little chicken and turkey here and there.
Thanks for advice. Got chd and I'm really worried and very anxious. Going to see cardiologist soon. Lost weight and chloesterol down since following a vegan diet. Well shall I say three or four days a week. No red meat. A little fish and chicken
The case is strongest against processed meats including bacon ham sausage etc.
Absolutely - think more about plant-based for its health benefits than vegan and you must focus on using very low oil and salt in you cooking. NB there is a lot of junk vegan product around high in fat, salt and sugar just as there are junk fast (meat based) foods . You will need to eat beans, grains, dark green veg , cruciferous veg and coloured vegs (think the rainbow at every meal) as well as fruit with a daily handful of nuts and seeds and berries (cheaper if bought frozen). So that means home- cooking starting from scratch when you can and baked beans on wholemeal toast in a hurry! There are several websites that are clinically evidence-based e.g nutritionfacts.org that can help your understanding of the science, food as medicine and practical advice for the plant-based diet (the daily dozen) and kickstart.pcrm.org/en will offer you 21 day programmes to get you started.
Give away or bin high sugar/high fat and high salt foodstuffs. Start by swapping all white refined cereals for wholegrain to increase your fibre content gradually and your gut bacteria will start to change and support you in your quest to reverse atheroslerosis. Soya lite milk will help with dairy substitutes and peanut butter (for those with out allergies) works well for many things on toast! Cut out meat, fish and dairy substituing these animal products with beans (any sort and varied, use tinned /frozen for convenience in the short term).
Remember it is diversity of different plants that trumps quantity as you need a variety to manage your plant based diet properly to ensure you are getting the right nutrition and feel satiated after meals. Just choose a grain (you can buy ready cooked/frozen but cheaper to make in bulk and freeze), a bean from the many peas, beans and lentils, pile in the fresh veggies from the different categories, add loads of fresh herbs and spices (perhaps following a themee.g. Mediterranean, Indian, Mexican, Moroccan, etc. There are lots of plant-based recipes on line but reduce their salt and oil content. Tonight's hot meal will serve as tomorrow's cold meal for lunch and excess food can be frozen in portion sizes.
Assuming you keep your salt intake to a bare minimum by using herbs and spices instead, if you are on medication for high blood pressure, your BP will come down. If you start to feel woozy, get your BP checked out by the practice nurse as your medications may need to be reduced. Your lipids (HDL, LDL & total cholesterol) will also start to fall 4-6 weeks in on a full plant based diet by which time you will have started to feel the physical and mental wellbeing benefits of a plant based diet. Go for it, you will not look back.
Thankyou so very much for all your valuable information. I am so worried and stressed having angina. Not been diagnosed yet but almost certainly sure it is. I need to try and reverse the plaque in my arteries
You clearly need a proper diagnosis as extreme anxiety and stress can produce chest pains. Do not self diagnose, please see your GP and a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, so quit researching the internet and get an appointment. Advice still stands re reduction of risks for all chronic disease and reversal of chronic disease; and for those of you who think you are healthy, it will improve your wellbeing, physical and mental!
Helloooo. I clearly understand what you are saying but it just seems of late when I eat my meal the pain comes in the middle of my chest. Use the GTN spray given to me off my gp and it seems to relieve symptoms . Got discharged from cardiologist on advice to take aspirin and statins but it was my gp who gave me the GTN spray not the cardiologist. Just have to wait and see now I guess. I do truly hope it isnt. Btw lost 22 pounds and chloesterol down from5.9 to 4.9 in 19 wks. Not taking the statins. Just having a lot of fruit and vedg.
Whilst angina may occur after big meals, you may also getting indigestion/acid reflux. Try eating smaller meals, slowly and mindfully without the TV or other distractions, chew each mouthful 30 times before swallowing. Do not eat and drink at the same time. Secondly, review what you are eating - high fat, animla protein, alcohol, very hot spices, etc will excerbate your symptoms for indigestion. High fibre will be protective especially red orange vegetables, dark green leafy veg, berries, apple and citrus. Have some beans and grains e.g. brown rice and black beans with the above recommendations. Try eating more simply and see if the pain subsides or goes away after eating. Lastly, you want to focus on lots of vegs, not fruit, as lower calorie and will help better with weight loss. If not improved in a few days, revisit your GP
One source that is worth reading is dresselstyn.com/reversal01.htm.
My own experience of reversal of arthritis is that it is like walking a tightrope. Just going plant based is not enough. You need to really concentrate on a fully nutritious diet. That really means getting to understand what nutrition is. It is a personal thing tailored to your own body. It is about research research research and ensuring your body is in a healing groove. it is about learning from mistakes from each and every meal. Arthritis has one advantage, in that mistakes can deliver excruciating pain within 24 hours - that is not the case with atherosclerosis.
True
Your link didn't work for me. Here's maybe a better one? dresselstyn.com/site/books/...
Thankyou. It now works. Brill
You ddon't have to buy his book of course. Here's a free video of a talk by Dr Esselstyn: youtu.be/HAjm6fn5EiI
Hi, if you would like ideas on vegan recipes 🌱 please see Vegan food for life. If you look under topics there are lots of recipes we have shared and if you have some of your own please feel free to post them. Ali 🙂🌱
healthunlocked.com/veganfoo...
Thankyou so much
You’re welcome! 🙂🌱
