(RxWiki News) Drugs are not the only solution for treating and eliminating diseases. One of the most effective solutions may be to eat a plant-based diet.
Scientists are always on the lookout for the easiest solution for diseases, but it seems they’ve overlooked the kitchen cabinet. Researchers have found that a vegetarian diet may have the same effects we’re looking for in drugs.
"Eat more plant-based foods for better health."
The National Institutes of Health was performing a clinical trial for Niaspan, a drug that would increase high density lipoprotein (HDL), commonly known as good cholesterol. The drug showed promise in treating patients with cardiovascular disease. However, the drug failed and the trial was stopped.
Many researchers were distraught, but Neal Barnard, M.D., President of Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, found hope in plant-based diets.
Many researchers have found that vegetarian diets and plant-based diets have the ability to reduce risks for cardiovascular problems.
A plant-based diet contains no animal fat or cholesterol. The high amounts of soluble fiber from the plants have the ability to reduce cholesterol in the body. A plant-based diet also helps people lose weight, which improves not just cardiovascular – but overall health.
So while the researchers from the National Institutes of Health were looking for a drug that increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL), plants have been doing just that naturally. A plant-based diet has the ability to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL), commonly known as bad cholesterol, so much that the ratio of HDL and LDL are improved.
A growing movement is advocating food as medicine and consuming more vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes (beans). What’s to lose, but a lot of weight and maybe chronic disease symptoms.
