World Heart Day marks the day of awareness on Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs), including heart disease and stroke which is the leading cause of death around the globe. CVDs are claimed to have taken 18.6 million lives each year. To highlight the importance of Plant based diet on World Heart Day, we conducted a live show on Facebook to break the myths of peoples in regard to consumption of plant-based foods.
What is World Heart Day?
World Heart Day marks the day of awareness on Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs), including heart disease and stroke, which is the leading cause of death around the globe. CVDs are claimed to have taken 18.6 million lives each year. The drastic figure highlights that individual actions are need of the hour. It is also claimed that at least 80% of premature deaths from heart disease and stroke could be avoided by controlling risk factors and maintaining a healthy diet.
Studies show that people who eat more meals rich in vegetables and plant proteins like beans and lentils reduce their risk for heart disease and cancer — living longer, healthier lives than those with meat-heavy diets. While on the other hand, excess saturated fat – which predominantly comes from animal foods – will increase your risk of dying of heart disease, according to leading cardiologists. Overeating meat and animal products are contributing to obesity and other chronic diseases as well.
To highlight the importance of a Plant-based diet on World Heart Day, we conducted a live show on Facebook to break people's myths regarding the consumption of plant-based foods.
A discussion with Dr. Maheshwari
We had Dr Maheshwari Sangolli, an Integrative Medicine Physician and Founder of ‘Samathva Holistic Health’. She specializes in the field of Naturopathy & Yoga, Fitness, Plant-based Nutrition, Acupuncture. She has worked in many reputed Naturopathy and yoga hospitals and as a senior expert at HealthifyMe. Passionate with her work, she is treating thousands of patients and inspiring many health enthusiasts. On the professional front, she also follows a wholefood plant-based diet along with her husband and 7-year-old daughter. She believes in minimalism, sustainable and mindful living. We answered the queries related to a plant-based diet received before the event.
Often, people feel that a plant-based diet might not provide the nutrition they are looking for and avoiding animal protein does not fulfil their protein demand. In this conversation, we broke the myths regarding consuming a plant-based diet and shared the benefits of its consumption, specifically, how animal protein can be replaced with plant protein.
We started the discussion with an introduction to “what is a plant-based diet” and then moved towards answering the queries received.
You can find the answers to the following questions through this video.
- Does a plant protein diet not fulfil the protein demand?
- How can you incorporate iron and calcium intake into your diet through plant-based food?
- Are there any side effects of a plant protein diet like sluggish digestive systems?
- People feel that there is B12 deficiency when they consume only plant protein. Any comment on that
- A plant protein diet is expensive.
- During pregnancy and young growing children, a protein diet will help fulfil the protein requirement for better health.
- Roleplay of plant protein in fitness like people who work out or do the gym.
Expert's view on Plant-based diet
Dr Maheshwari Says, “Plant-based diet is densely packed with nutrients which are extremely healthy for humans and has a range of health benefits. Plant-based diet and lifestyle is easier, better for you and the environment. Let’s eat what nature planned for us and do our bit towards ourselves, our animals and our planet.”
Food-borne illnesses — spread by the way livestock is processed, manufactured and distributed — create a critical public health issue worldwide. When we think of healthy eating, the first food items that often come to mind are fruits and vegetables – colourful, vitamin-, mineral- and fibre-rich; they are vital for the proper functioning of the human body. The benefits of consuming fruits and vegetables as part of a nutritious diet are vast. Eating a plant-based diet for over 20 years may add 3.5 years to your life.
The global food system is the biggest driver of destruction of the natural world, and a shift to predominantly plant-based diets is crucial in halting the damage. Eating less meat and moving towards more plant-based food is an all-rounder solution, benefitting our people, animals, and environment.
Incase you missed it, watch it here:
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Sources:
[1] Animal Foods Conclusively Cause Heart Disease, Says Cardiologist (plantbasednews.org)
About - World Heart Day (world-heart-federation.org)
Did you know that people who eat more meals rich in vegetables and plant proteins like beans and lentils reduce their risk for heart disease and cancer — living longer, healthier lives than those with meat-heavy diets?