The Speech : Plant Based Diet

According to Donald D. Hensrud of the Mayo Clinic on Healthy Weight, “Eating well – choosing a plant-based diet, which emphasizes vegetables, fruits and whole grains – also will reduce your risks of some of our nation’s biggest killers and related conditions. Many cancers, heart disease and high blood pressure, among other conditions, are linked to diet, most notably to diets high in fat and saturated fat. Even without weight loss, adopting a healthier eating style can be beneficial. (Hensrud 49)”

When I grow up, foods becomes popular especially processed food. I stayed alive and healthy because of those foods. Although now that I am more knowledgeable about foods, I realize that I do not need those food to survive. What I consumed everyday is very toxic and very unhealthy. When we get a chance to understand more about it, I realize and got inspired that I should go on a Plant-Based Diet. First of all, what is Plant-Based Diet? According to the article from Kaiser called The Plant-based Diet Booklet the author defines this plan as “This eating plan includes lots of plant foods in their whole, unprocessed form, such as vegetables, fruits, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and small amounts of healthy fats. It does not include

When I was growing up I was taught how to hunt, fish and trap animals for food as well as being fed an omnivorous diet, but today I have found that I no longer need animals in my diet. The Vegetarian Times recently found that out of the 311 million people in the US, 7.3 million eat a vegetarian based diet and 22.8 million eat a vegetarian inclined diet. Over the past century people have begun looking into the health implications of plant based diets as a way of improving their health and increase their longevity. This research paper is intended

More and more, researchers are showing that plant-based diets, along with changes in our lifestyles will mean longer, healthier lives and in yet another summation, a researcher shows this to be true.

These are significant problems because Heart Disease and Cancer are the number one and two killers in America. “Almost one of every two Americans will die from Heart Disease . . .40 million diagnosed with heart disease, and 1.5 million a year having heart attacks”(Marcus 8). There is no denying that disease is developing at a rapid pace. Everyone knows someone who had or has cancer or heart disease. They are awful diseases, and “a high-fat, animal based diet is the single most significant cause of death from heart disease”(Marcus 3). If people cut back or eliminated animal products from their diets, not only would they be eating less of the foods that cause their bodies harm, they would be eating more nutrient rich foods (fruits and vegetables) that help fight off and prevent disease. “Doctors like Dean Ornish and John MacDougall have discovered that plant-based diets have the power to reverse heart disease,

The reduction of the amount of saturated fats from one’s diet improves health greatly for cardiovascular health. According to nursingdegree.com, ”Eating nuts and whole grains, while eliminating dairy products and meat, will improve… cardiovascular health.” When eliminating food that comes from animals doing so eliminates all dietary cholesterol from one’s diet. Vegan diets go to extreme lengths to prevent heart attack and stroke. Plant-based foods are high in fiber and according to nursingdegree.net, “A diet high in fiber…leads to healthier bowel movements.” While obtaining nutrition from vegan diets also prevent disease at the same time. For example, it is stated in nursingdegree.com,” Eating a diet consisting of whole grains, along with fresh fruits and vegetables, can greatly reduce…chances of colon cancer.”

A plant based diet is a diet based on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes (like beans); and it excludes or minimizes meat (including chicken and fish), dairy products, eggs, as well as highly refined foods like bleached flour, refined sugar, and oil. Deciding to switch to the diet can provide sufficient energy also a good range of carbohydrates, fat, and protein intakes, if planned appropriately (Campbell). There are many different kinds of

3.A. The main points I learned about this video was that the American population is suffering from a bad food diet, a sedentary lifestyle, and very fixated on treating health problems with medical drugs. I learned that people thrive on a plant diet and do not have to eat animal products in order to be healthy. I also learned that the proper food diet and physical exercise regimen can reverse many bad health conditions including multiple sclerosis and prevent many detrimental health problems like cardiovascular disease and obesity.

Michael Pollan’s book; “Food Rules” is a collection of instructions on which consumers can rely on to buy and eat healthy food. This book also suggests what we should eat and what we should be doing, with over 60 rules to live and eat by. He based the book on three parts; what we should eat? What kind of food we should eat? And how we should eat? He argues that the key is to “eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” These words were the primary advice that Pollan offers in this book.

The documentary I decided to analyze was “Forks Over Knives”, by Lee Fulkerson. This documentary is about food choices you make every day, and how it can affect your health long-term and short-term, whether it be disease or nausea. Nutritional scientist T. Colin Campbell and surgeon Dr. Caldwell B.Esselstyn combine their decades of research and studies in hopes of simplifying the complexities and the benefits of a plant-based diet; such as preventing and even reversing heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. This film was made to promote plant-based diets, argue that animal-based diets are bad for our health, and address the issues of diets and diseases that aren’t being given attention

In the film Forks over Knives, Doctors T. Colin Campbell and Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr. present facts, research, and testimonies proving their idea that a plant based diet is truly the way to go. Moreover, it is further proven that there is a connection between major diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease with eating too much protein. However, the protein in question is that of animal based products. There were two statements that stuck out: We should eat a whole foods plant based diet, and that animal protein is important for humans. These two were chosen because is a plant based diet truly the way to go?

Most American have been raised with fairly similar philosophies- that a meal is not complete without meat, dairy, and possibly eggs (MyPlate). Especially when the government is backing up these ideas, it is natural to assume that this is the healthiest way to eat. However, evidence has shown that eating less animal products and more plant foods can actually be best for us. Despite the potential of nutrient deficiency, especially compared to the standard American diet or low carb diets, a plant based diet is the best and most nutritional diet for everyone, especially those with health issues.

They all make excellent and important arguments, but which one do we follow to have an optimal health. When watching the movie, they continue to say stop eating dairy products and meat products, but, where should we get our source of protein after eliminating meat products. Though, many can try to be vegetarians, it will be a difficult process to do especially since meat products have become part of our daily life. This becomes a challenge after watching the documentary, as what are my options that can help improve my health. Though, I would mostly continue to consume meat and dairy products in limited intakes to ensure to not overconsume any of my nutrients. Regardless, I should be careful of what I consumed to ensure to not increase my risk of attaining any

Sadly, a lot of people are unaware of the illness one can get from animal fat. Animal fat has been linked to illness such as heart disease, colon cancer and lung cancer (For Your Health). While consuming animal fat can possibly cause such diseases, choosing to not eat animal fat can have quite a positive effect on the body. By consuming a plant-based diet it can not only lower anxiety and stress levels and prevent Alzheimer's but boosts energy, aid in anti-aging and help the heart as well (McCarten, Sarah). Another reason to stop consuming animal products is because of the amount of animal cruelty that takes place. For example, at chicken hatcheries there is no use for male chicks. Hatcheries dispose of male chicks by horrid inhumane acts such decapitating, gassing, suffocating or crushing the chicks(For the Animals). The reason being because hatcheries is a place solely for egg-laying hens. Only a few roosters are needed in hatcheries which leaves male chicks absolutely useless. Such horrid acts is absolutely not okay. By not consuming animal products, one could potentially put an end to this cruelty.

The quote “A man can live and be healthy without killing animals for food; therefore, if he eats meat, he participates in taking animal life merely for the sake of his appetite. And to act so is immoral” from Russian writer, Leo Tolstoy, encompasses what vegetarianism is about. Veganism and vegetarianism is generally associated with leafy green salads but there is a long list of health benefits attached to that way of eating and a reduction in livestock farming benefits our environment. Diving into the benefits of becoming a vegetarian or vegan, there has been extensive research done on how a teak in diet can reduce risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Plant-based dieting is a lifestyle that is beneficial for health, moral and environmental reasons.