The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences
Abstract
Objective: To determine if a whole food plant-based diet can prevent and cure cardiovascular disease. Results: People on whole food plant-based diets exhibit extremely low levels of plasma LDL. Another risk factor for developing atherosclerosis, is inhibited production of nitric oxide, which is vital for healthy blood flow. One of the main inhibitors of nitric oxide production is asymmetric dimethyl-l-arginine (ADMA). An inverse relationship was found between dietary fat and ADMA levels. The diets with the best results were the diets where oil intake was reduced to a minimum. Clinically, people who went on whole food plant-based diets had their cardiovascular disease stabilized or improved. A possible difference was also found between a person already exhibiting symptoms of cardiovascular disease versus a healthy person. LDL only causes damage under oxidative stress and Dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase, the enzyme that degrades ADMA, is also inhibited by oxidative stress. This would suggest that a diet high in antioxidants may have similar benefits. Conclusion: A whole food plant-based diet is a good method for stabilizing and improving cardiovascular disease, especially if oil and processed foods are removed from a person’s diet as much as possible. It may be possible to structure a diet based on antioxidant intake with similar effects.
Recommended Citation
Katz, S. (2022). Cardiovascular Disease - Is a Whole Food Plant-based Diet the Answer?. The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences, 15(2), 61-69. Retrieved from https://touroscholar.touro.edu/sjlcas/vol15/iss2/11
