American Morning
Plant-based diet a major component of heart health
Throughout this week, we've been talking to chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta about the heart healthy tips he learned while shooting his latest documentary, "The Last Heart Attack."
Although it's not something that patients regularly hear their doctors talk about, one major component of heart health is eating a plant-based diet.
Dr. Gupta explains the benefits of this type of diet on American Morning today.
If you want to learn more about diet and heart disease and what you can do to be "heart attack proof," tune in on Saturday at 8pET for Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports, "The Last Heart Attack."
About this Show
Welcome to the American Morning blog where you can get daily news updates from American Morning's reporters and producers. Join us for "the most news in the morning," weekdays from 6-9 a.m. ET, only on CNN.
Interesting program "The Last Heart attack". I am a little confused by the comment "don't eat anything with a mother or a face". I was always told eating fish was excellent way to a healthy heart. How about a baked chicken breast. How are these things so bad for your heart? Thank you. A
Some radical vegans are undernourished. Restricting children's fat intake can cause serious developmental delays. I know vegans who are obese. To suggest that veganism is sufficient to maintain health is misleading and dangerous. This does not mean that we should return to the old meat- and dairy-centered food pyramid, or gorge on fast food, but we should be skeptical of extremes and also emphasize exercise, portions and relaxation. I have reviewed some extreme pro-vegan research and find it flawed.
I agree that giving up dairy, meat, poultry and fish is great for a person's health, and this TV special does a service in mentioning it.
But this TV special is confusing at best, because it features Dr. Agatston, whose South Beach Diet relies heavily on meats, eggs and low-fat dairy products.
Dr. Gupta needs to do a follow-up to this show in which vegan and (better yet) raw vegan chefs demonstrate how to make delicious recipes. And they are quite delicious!
I don't know if Gupta was pressured by the powers that be at CNN to include Agatston in this show, but there is another big hypocrisy at the very end of the program, as Gupta stands in a food court where, behind him, the name of one restaurant is prominently featured–it's a STEAK restaurant. In addition, in my viewing area, several of the commercials during this TV special were for steak, and for restaurants selling dairy-laden food. Dr. Gupta, I hope you do better next time.
I'm the author of the paperback book, The Little Book of Raw Vegan Holiday Recipes, which is also available in e-book format as The Little e-Book of Raw Vegan Holiday Recipes. You can find both of them on amazon.com.
Judy Pokras
editor/founder
RawFoodsNewsMagazine.com