Dr. Sandra Musial, a longtime physician specializing in nutrition, wonders why her colleagues aren’t discussing plant-based options with their patients.
she will refer chinese studiesfound that eating whole plant-based foods dramatically reduced the risk of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. In many cases, Musial found that medication wasn’t always the solution.
In 2021, Musial left his job at Hasbro Children’s Hospital to co-found it. plant document With Dr. Suyin Lee and Dr. Steven Stein. The basement-based nonprofit in Providence’s Plant City helps educate people about how going vegan can prevent, and in some cases reverse, chronic illnesses.
How does Plant Docs work?
musical: We are a month-long program that helps prevent and improve chronic diseases through whole foods and plant-based lifestyles. During the month, we offer four sessions of plant-based nutrition education, menu planning, label reading, and entering a cooking class. Blood tests, weight and blood pressure checks will be done before and after the program to show everyone how your changes are working in class.
What data show that this program works?
Our research supports that switching to plant-based nutrition can improve weight, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, inflammation, sexual function, energy, bowel function and autoimmune diseases. found that they lost an average of 4 pounds in one month. People with a BMI of 30 or higher lose an average of 5 pounds per month. It’s a healthy thing—I don’t want people to lose her 15 pounds in one fell swoop and then binge it back. However, we also found that people’s total cholesterol decreased by an average of 25 mg/dL per month.
Why aren’t more doctors talking about plant-based diets as an option?
Until now, nutrition has not been discussed in depth in medical school. Many patients who come to me may say that they have been given the option of taking medication or that their doctor needs to consider changing their “diet”, but they have no idea how to start that process. We don’t give hints. Patients are also often told that something could be ‘hereditary’.
Is your program covered by insurance?
I would like to work to be covered. We really think we should offer this as an option to help educate the public about plant-based diets. Medications have side effects and not everyone wants to take them. This will allow you to apply for grants to expand your program.
The current cost is [month-long program] $250 per person.
What challenges are you facing today?
You’ve spent a lot of time building Plant Docs and running classes, but not really doing outreach to doctors. I think educating medical students and doctors, visiting different clinics and letting them know we exist for our patients is a better place I can spend my time.
But it’s really hard not covered by insurance. This could help improve public health. Our biggest challenge this year is our inability to help educate the general public because of the payment barrier.
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