The Physician’s Perspective: A New Era in Medicine |
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Hippocrates once said, “The greatest medicine of all is teaching people how not to need it.” If you are reading this, you know that most medical providers nowadays have lost sight of this. We are so fixated on treating an ailment with a pill or with surgery that we have lost the ability to help our patients prevent and reverse chronic diseases caused by poor lifestyle choices - such as obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes. There is actually a good reason for this. Medical providers do not receive training on how to help patients improve their lifestyles. On average, we get about 14 hours of training in nutrition over 4 years of medical school1. The rest of our time is spent learning how to diagnose a medical condition and what the proper treatment should be. We write a scribble on a prescription pad and the patient takes the medication - so simple! Yet, the root cause of the disease is not being addressed. We are simply applying a bandaid (with side effects!). Our patients are not improving their health.
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As a medical doctor, I was trained in this form of medicine, known as western (or conventional) medicine. I am well versed in all the best pills to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and arthritis. But in order to learn more about the best foods to eat for health, I had to do my own research and seek out my own educational opportunities.
Maybe you are lucky! Maybe your doctor has mentioned that you should eat better or exercise more - but usually, the advice ends there (most don’t really know what “eat better” really means anyway). These days, most patients go home with a new prescription for pills rather than a prescription for a lifestyle change. And unless you have a doctor at PlantBased TeleHealth, your provider likely suffers from the same chronic diseases her patients do. Did you know? The number one killer of cardiologists is heart disease (as it is for every other adult in the United States)! How can you trust the advice of a doctor who hasn’t figured out how to escape the leading cause of death in this country? Especially a disease that can be arrested and reversed with a plant-based diet2. In my humble opinion, you should have a doctor whose health you aspire to have… but they haven’t always been easy to find.
When I initially became vegan in the ’90s, meeting another vegan was a rarity. And forget about trying to find a vegan medical provider, let alone one who didn’t lecture me about my need for meat! I was on my own and often ridiculed for my diet. I was constantly defending my choices even though my health was much better than the average adult American.
But times are changing. More and more people are moving toward a plant-based diet. More and more medical providers are going plant-based. And over the last several years, a new medical specialty has emerged called lifestyle medicine. Healthcare providers now finally have the opportunity to learn how to help their patients improve their lifestyles - most importantly by eating a whole food plant-based diet free of added oils. As a physician board certified in both family and lifestyle medicine, I am honored to have the opportunity to help my patients live their healthiest life. I don’t often rely on my prescription pad. Instead, we discuss whole plant foods, physical activity, sunshine, and social connections. We discuss the importance of stress management, staying away from harmful substances, and emotional well-being.
I must say, it feels like Christmas morning every time another patient gets off a blood pressure medication or reverses their diabetes. It turns out Hippocrates was right. When given the right tools, education, and encouragement -- many people absolutely have the ability to live healthy, happy lives free from a drawer full of pills. If you are ready to make a change or just want a provider who understands your vegan diet, I hope you’ll consider making an appointment with me. And I truly hope that someday, you’ll no longer need me. I currently see patients located in California, Utah, and Florida.
References:
1. Adams KM, Butsch WS, Kohlmeier M. The State of Nutrition Education at US Medical Schools. J Biomed Educ. 2015;2015:1-7. doi:10.1155/2015/357627.
2. Esselstyn CB., Jr. Prevent, and Reverse Heart Disease. New York: Avery; 2007.
Esselstyn CB Jr. Ellis SG. Medendorp SV, Crowe TD. A strategy to arrest and reverse coronary artery disease: a 5-year longitudinal study of a single physician's practice. I Fain Proc 1995;41:560--568.
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Kale Waldorf Salad
Summer is the perfect time to enjoy big, colorful salads. These can even serve as a meal by themselves! This delightful salad recipe combines healthy fruits and vegetables and is so refreshing!
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Ingredients:
- 1 bunch lacinato kale, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1 Fuji apple, chopped and divided in half
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 2 T walnuts, chopped
- 1/4 cup black raisins
- Dressing:
- Other 1/2 of apple, listed above
- 1-2 Medjool dates pitted
- 2 T dijon mustard
- 1 T red wine vinegar
- 2 (or more) T water
- 1/8 t salt
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Instructions:
In a large bowl, toss the kale, 1/2 of the diced apple, walnuts, celery, and raisins until well combined.
In a cup blender, blend the other half of the apple with the dates, mustard, vinegar, water, and salt to make the dressing. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well to combine. Serve!
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Summer is a Season For Growth! |
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It’s not just gardens that flourish in the warmer months. We can too! As we move from late spring into summer here in the US, take time to think about setting intentions to get the most out of this season. The hustle and bustle of our busy lives often distract us from the possibilities of growth that exist with each new season. Here are some ideas to get the most out of the summer of 2021!
1) Try growing some of your own food! This can start small with some tomato plants or even just an herb garden. But don’t be afraid to expand and try your hand at a full vegetable garden. Foods that you’ve grown yourself are so satisfying and you’re able to know exactly what you’re consuming – clean, whole food!
2) Shop locally for fresh produce. If gardening isn’t in the cards for you right now – you can still take advantage of the abundance of fresh summer fruits and vegetables! Just like winter is good for warm soups…summer is perfect for cool crisp salads or some chilled fruit. Nothing tastes better than a piece of in-season fruit! Take a weekend outing to your local farmer’s market to stock up and then challenge yourself to include some with each meal that week!
3) Play outside. Longer daylight hours mean more opportunities to enjoy time outside. Some of you live where the heat can be stifling mid-day but when was the last time you rose early enough to watch the sunrise? Early morning is a perfect time of day to enjoy some solitude and start your day with a grateful mindset before tackling your to-do list. If early rising isn’t your cup of tea – the later sunset times during this time of year allow for after-dinner strolls with the family while it’s still light out. Do you have summertime memories from when you were young running around in the yard for hours each evening? This doesn’t have to stop as you age! Whatever time of day, get out and enjoy the outdoors.
Summer is a time for growth, whether it’s your garden or your mindset, you have an opportunity to try new things and reach new goals during the next three months. What is it that you’d like to do this summer? Is there a part of your lifestyle that you’d like to enhance? NOW is the perfect time. Take a deep breath, embrace the season and celebrate your growth!
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