Are you curious about trying vegan for Veganuary 2022, but often feel bombarded with conflicting nutritional advice from others around you? Do you feel overwhelmed with the various streams of information available online, each one with contrasting facts? We understand that navigating this can be tricky, and that you are looking for honesty and credibility in your search.
In recent years, many more doctors, dieticians, and other health professionals are starting to advocate for a plant-based diet. This is largely because of the potential health risks associated with the consumption of animal products. There is an increasing body of evidence that links meat consumption – particularly that of red and processed meats – with chronic illness.
Here is a list of highly respected plant-based doctors and plenty of vegan resources they each have to offer.
Let’s hear it from the experts!
1. Neal Barnard
As a board-certified medical doctor, author, clinical researcher, and the founder of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), Dr. Neal Barnard has led several studies focusing on the impact of diet on diabetes, body weight, and chronic pain. In his book, ‘The Vegan Starter Kit: Everything You Need to Know About Plant-Based Eating’ he emphasises: “There are really only two “rules”: 1. Build your meals from plant-based foods, especially vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes (beans, peas, and lentils). 2. Ensure complete nutrition with a supplement of vitamin B12.”
2. Michael Greger
Dr. Michael Greger is a physician and the creator of the website NutritionFacts.org (one of the most resourceful tools for anyone looking for credible vegan nutrition information!) He is the author of the best-selling book “How Not to Die” (2015) as well as its follow-up cookbook – “How Not to Diet” (2019). Greger is critical of low-carb diets and firmly maintains that a whole-food, vegan diet is the best way to prevent, treat, and perhaps even reverse chronic disease.
“We should all be eating fruits and vegetables as if our lives depend on it – because they do.” – Dr. Michael Greger.
3. Kristi Funk
Dr. Kristi Funk is an American breast cancer surgeon and author, best known for her book “Breasts: The Owner’s Manual” and the treatment of celebrities Sheryl Crow and Angelina Jolie. When she discovered the truth about the role of diet in the prevention and treatment of cancer, she began (and continues) to advise her patients to adopt a WFPB diet (whole-foods , plant-based diet) as the best means to live optimal lives and to thrive.
Kristi – a strong advocate for non-GMO soy – states that “In addition to being anti-estrogenic in its behavior, soy is also anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory and an excellent antioxidant.”
4. Milton Mills
Milton Mills is the Associate Director of Preventive Medicine with PCRM and co-author of PCRM’s report on Racial and Ethnic Bias in the U.S. Dietary Guidelines. He has also been featured in the popular vegan documentaries “What the Health” (2017) and “The Invisible Vegan” (2019), which explores dietary patterns in the African American community.
According to him, “Lactose intolerance is very prevalent in persons of color. As a physician, I see people who are dealing with conditions related to their inability to digest lactose. They’re led to believe they need to include dairy for health benefits. That is not true.”
5. Garth Davis
Garth Davis is an American bariatric surgeon, physician and author. Specializing in weight management, he is well known for his advocacy of the Whole food, plant-based diet and vegan nutrition. Davis is best known for his book ‘Proteinaholic: How Our Obsession with Meat Is Killing Us and What We Can Do About It, which argues that a high-protein diet of animal-derived foods causes people to be overweight and more prone to chronic diseases.
In his book, he poses the question: “Maybe it’s a good time to ask the question again: How is our meat-rich, carb-poor diet working for us? We are currently experiencing a diabetes epidemic, and the affected people are eating more meat and cutting out fruit. Are they doing any better? From what I see in my office, absolutely not.”
6. Caldwell Esselstyn
Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn has been a surgeon, researcher, and clinician for over 35 years and heads the Cleveland Clinic’s Heart Disease Reversal Program. He is also a lecturer for the CNS and eCornell Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate.
When interviewed in the ‘The Gamechangers’ documentary , he said: “In all of western civilization, there is nothing more common than coronary artery heart disease, and that is because of the foods that most people eat every day.”
7. Thomas M. Campbell and Dr. T. Colin Campbell
The father and son duo (both distinguished medical professionals) co-authored the groundbreaking book The China Study. This book empowers people of all backgrounds to reap in the vast benefits of plant-based nutrition. Thomas M. Campbell is also the author of The China Study Solution, the practical “how-to” guide to implement the China Study recommendations and he is the co-author of the popular Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate offered by eCornell and the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies.
Quoting the one and only Dr. T. Colin Campbell: “So, what is my prescription for good health? In short, it is about the multiple health benefits of consuming plant-based foods, and the largely unappreciated health dangers of consuming animal-based foods, including all types of meat, dairy and eggs.”
8. Michael A. Klaper
Michael Klaper is an American physician, vegan health educator, and an author of articles and books of vegan medical advice. To improve his own health and to minimize suffering of sentient beings, Dr. Klaper adopted a vegan diet in 1981. As a former nutrition adviser to NASA, and star of award-winning documentaries such as Cowspiracy and What The Health, he maintains that “There is absolutely no nutrient, no protein, no vitamin, no mineral that can’t be obtained from plant-based foods.”
We hope this gives you reassurance and confidence to dive into Veganuary 2022!
Besides, isn’t it always more fun to try something new in the company of others? If you would like to connect with other vegans and discover great plant-based food near you, download the HappyCow App – one of the largest vegan communities online!
If you enjoyed this article, you might like to read these too:
– Top 3 Myths And facts About Vegan Protein
– 9 Best Sources Of Vegan Probiotics For Gut Health
– Best Online Groups To Join If You’re A New Vegan
– Can Going Vegan Change Your Life?
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