Looking to Go Vegan? Advice from a physician who tried a plant-based diet for 21 days

 Are you apprehensive about the thought of change but toying around with the idea of getting healthier and making some adjustments to your diet?  A plant-based diet could be a good option.
According to recent reports, the benefits of a plant-based diet are many.  US News and World Report recently reported a plant-based diet can help prevent type 2 diabetes, improve heart health, slow or prevent macular degeneration and help aid in weight loss.
If you are considering taking the plunge into a plant-based, vegan diet – take heed of the advice offered by Dr. Angeline Ong, a physician at Kaiser Permanente in Panorama City.  Dr. Ong leads an active lifestyle, is the mother of twins and followed a vegetarian diet before submitting to a 21-day plant-based diet challenge that she led amongst other physicians and staff at Kaiser Permanente.  Though Dr. Ong had already been vegetarian for seven months, her hemoglobin A1c dropped from borderline prediabetes to normal after the 21-day challenge.  Her LDL (bad) cholesterol also decreased from 113 to 79, noticeably improving her health.
“I really want to encourage a whole-food plant-based diet – not only avoiding all or most animal products but also avoiding processed foods.  It’s not that scary!” Dr. Ong said.  “So much of the food we eat now is processed store-bought food or fast food.  These foods contain tons of added sugar and fats, and are devoid of fiber and nutrients that are good for your body.  You can eat French fries and rice all day, and still be vegan, but that is not any healthier for you.”
Many others who participated in the challenge reported a plant-based diet was “a lot easier” than most thought it would be.
“I would encourage anyone to try a whole-food plant based diet and take small steps towards incremental changes,” Dr. Ong said.  “You never know, you may find it easier than you imagined.”
For additional vegan recipes, feel free to visit the Kaiser Permanente Food for Health blog at foodforhealth.kaiserpermanente.org/recipe_type/vegan/.