What is WFPB?
A whole food, plant-based diet is more of a lifestyle built on a variety of whole grains, beans, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. The root word of diet comes from the Greek word diaita meaning “way of life.”
The basic principles of a whole-food, plant-based diet are:
An emphasis on whole, minimally processed foods.
Avoiding animal products, including eggs and dairy.
Focusing on plants, including a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, seeds and nuts.
Excluding refined foods, such as added sugars, white flour and processed oils.
This plant-based lifestyle can be confused with vegan and vegetarian diets. Similar in some ways, these diets are not the same.
What is Lifestyle Medicine?
Lifestyle medicine is an approach to preventing, treating and even reversing diseases by replacing unhealthy behaviors with positive ones – such as eating healthfully, being physically active, managing stress, getting adequate sleep and having loving relationships and support systems.
Lifestyle medicine seeks to treat the underlying cause of disease rather than its symptoms that are too often addressed with pills and procedures. Patients are empowered to learn that it’s possible to address the root cause of health problems and to focus on their own preventive health care.
I’ll explain how these approaches can help you achieve your best health. Along with my guidance, you’ll receive the resources you need for success.
MY HEROES FOR HEALTH
Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn: As a leader of the plant-based movement and author of Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, he has devoted his career to the science and prevention of heart disease by adopting a whole food, plant-based diet. Featured in the documentary Forks Over Knives, his work on prevention of chronic illness and heart disease has saved thousands of lives.
Dr. Michael Greger: A physician and brilliant speaker on nutrition, he created NutritionFacts.org, a trusted source and wildly popular website, to provide the public with updates on nutrition and health topics supported by scientifically proven studies. His books, including How Not to Die and How Not to Diet are excellent resources.
Dr. Michael Klaper: A highly respected physician, he has helped thousands of people to reclaim their health through proper nutrition and a balanced lifestyle. He offers resources on his website, DoctorKlaper.com.
A passionate educator for physicians, he advocates teaching plant-based nutrition as part of medical school curriculum.
Dr. Neal Barnard: Founder of Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), he has led research studies on the effects of diet on diabetes, body weight and chronic pain. His books include: Dr. Barnard’s Program for Reversing Diabetes, The Cheese Trap and The Vegan Starter Kit: Everything You Need to Know About Plant-Based Eating.