Can a whole food plant based diet reverse heart disease

What is WFPB?

What is a WFPB and how can it help with heart conditions? The acronym is gaining traction in the health and wellness movement, it stands for "whole food plant-based".

The term whole foods is a direct opposite of processed foods. Think sliced cheese, canned meals, instant noodles as processed, and fresh organic farm grown vegetables and fruits as whole.

Apart from being more ethical and climate friendly compared to a meat-based diet, there have been countless success stories from those who have pursued it, especially to treat chronic heart conditions.

Can it treat heart disease?

Heart disease comes in many forms, and is a silent killer of an aging generation, affecting millions each year. 

While medications like statins are commonly prescribed to lower cholesterol levels and risk of heart attack, some people are seeking alternative options, especially when medication just doesn’t seem to cut it. 

Multiple studies have explored how switching to a whole food plant-based diet may help reduce heart disease risk and in some cases even reverse its process.

What do experts say?

Registered nurse Janie Priest explored this question in her post. She examined research from cardiologists Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn and Dr. Dean Ornish, finding that after just one year on a low-fat vegan diet, patients saw significant reductions or even reversals in arterial blockages. 

This is an amazing discovery, as blocked arteries from years or even decades of consuming animal-based products and processed fats can lead to clogged bloodstreams, forcing the heart to work overtime.

The British Heart Foundation also looked into this topic, noting studies in the 80s and 2014 where plant-based diets helped loosen arteries in cardiac patients. Notable, the 2014 study of 198 patients found that those who stuck to the diet had a 22% heart disease reversal.

Journalist Paul Greenberg put this to the test himself after being diagnosed with early signs of heart disease. For a year he adopted a strict vegan diet focused on whole, unprocessed plant foods as recommended by physician Michael Greger, M.D.. 

Paul Greenberg saw impressive results, with the diet lowering his LDL cholesterol by over 40 points. On top of that his blood pressure resumed into healthier ranges, confirming this study. His follow up tests also showed continued improvement. Paul also highlights how the diet led to his milder COVID-19 case compared to the more severe impacts often seen in those with heart issues.

Statistics

Now for some raw data. A review of 37 studies found that swapping animal foods like meat and dairy for plant foods significantly lowered risks of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Researchers found that processed meats daily with nuts or legumes reduced heart disease risk by up to 25%. Replacing processed meats with nuts also cut T2 diabetes and mortality risks by 20%. Swapping one egg per day with nuts lowered heart disease risk by 17%, while replacing eggs with nuts or whole grains cut diabetes risk by 20%.

This is wonderful news, especially for those who struggle with stressors and conditions that might lead to or worsen heart conditions. While we do not recommend completely stopping medication to treat heart conditions (always consult your medical practitioner), we highly suggest supplementing and gradually increasing your intake of plant-based whole foods.

Sourcing the WFPB diet substitutes to your meat and processed foods is another issue however, but it is a topic we are looking to cover in the future. Until then, stay safe and eat well!