Why We Should Eat More Plants | Dr Michelle McMacken
Apr 12, 2018
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Dr. Michelle McMacken discusses the benefits of a plant-based diet in preventing chronic diseases. She emphasizes the importance of nutrition in medical education and highlights the risks of high-fat animal-based diets. The conversation covers reversing atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, and the impact of choline and carnitine on health.
Processed meats and certain animal-based proteins should be eliminated to combat insulin resistance and promote metabolic health.
Focusing on whole, plant-based foods can help improve insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control in individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Consuming plant sources of protein lowers the risk of diabetes compared to animal sources due to their lack of harmful components like iron and saturated fats.
Whole food plant-based diets promote weight loss, improved health outcomes, and longevity compared to keto diets high in animal fats and low in carbohydrates.
Deep dives
Healthy Eating Patterns and Consensus
Healthy eating patterns focus on less processed foods and heavy plant consumption. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds form the basis of health-promoting diets. Conversely, processed meats, red meats, added sugars, refined grains, and ultra-processed foods are universally recognized as harmful, providing a clear distinction between beneficial and detrimental food choices.
Personal Nutrition Journey and Professional Shift
Dr. Michelle McMacken shares her transition from a traditional medical practice to emphasizing lifestyle changes after personal dietary shifts. Her initial lack of nutrition education during medical training led to a realization of the pivotal role of food in health. Through evidence-based lifestyle modifications, including plant-based diets, she witnessed significant patient health improvements, challenging conventional medication-driven treatments for chronic diseases.
Education and Impact on Medical Practice
McMacken's proactive approach involves educating medical colleagues and students on the science-backed benefits of nutrition and lifestyle changes in preventing and treating chronic diseases. By enhancing understanding and counseling patients on healthy eating patterns early on, the medical culture at her hospital shifted towards prioritizing food discussions in patient care. The transformative impact of dietary interventions in patient health outcomes reinforced the importance of integrating nutrition education into medical training.
Processed Meats and Insulin Resistance
Processed meats are identified as major contributors to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, along with sugary beverages and red meats. Excessive consumption of processed meats leads to insulin resistance, impairing sugar metabolism and elevating diabetes risk. McMacken advocates for eliminating processed meats and certain animal-based proteins from the diet to combat insulin resistance and promote metabolic health. Understanding the detrimental effects of specific foods is crucial for combating diabetes and promoting overall well-being.
Dietary Recommendations for Reversing Type 2 Diabetes
For individuals seeking to reverse type 2 diabetes, focusing on whole, plant-based foods while eliminating processed meats and excessive animal proteins is key. Emphasizing fiber-rich fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds can help improve insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control. By adopting a holistic approach that combines dietary modifications with weight management and regular exercise, individuals can address underlying insulin resistance and mitigate the risk of developing or worsening diabetes.
Impact of Plant-Based Diet on Diabetes Risk
Consuming plant sources of protein, such as beans, quinoa, or tofu, significantly lowers the risk of diabetes compared to animal sources of protein. Plant-based protein comes without harmful components like iron and saturated fats found in animal protein, which promote inflammation and disrupt insulin signaling. Switching to a whole foods plant-based diet has shown substantial improvements in diabetes, with some patients reducing insulin doses drastically within a short period.
Effects of Keto Animal-Based Diet vs. Plant-Based Diet
The popularity of the keto diet surpasses the evidence supporting its long-term health benefits. While it may induce weight loss in the short term, long-term adherence is unsustainable. Keto diets composed mainly of animal fats and low carbohydrates elevate the risk of chronic diseases like cancer and cardiovascular issues. In contrast, a whole food plant-based diet, rich in nutrients and low in processed foods, promotes weight loss, improved health outcomes, and longevity.
In Episode #2, I’m joined by Dr Michelle McMacken, one of the world’s leading doctors implementing plant-based nutrition into her clinical practice. If you are interested in improving your health through better food choices and protecting yourself against chronic disease, this is a must listen. Dr McMacken is truly a wealth of knowledge.
Enjoy, friends.
Simon
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