Healthcare In New York City Gets A Vegan Boost As Hospitals Make Plant-Based Meals A Standard!

Registered dietitians and nutritionists have long emphasized the advantages of eating more plants and consuming less meat. And it appears that people are waking up. In order to make plant-based meals the standard at all 11 NYC hospitals, the Better Food Foundation has initiated a heartening move.

The esteemed organization has teamed up with New York City Health along with Hospitals and the Mayor's Office to ensure plant-based meals are the standard choice for patients. The popularity of plant-based diets is partially due to the fact that their benefits have been well studied and that doctors are recommending them because many of them have witnessed amazing results in their patients.

The reasons behind avoiding a meat-laced diet

Going plant-based is more of an eating philosophy than it is a particular diet. In essence, it's just a matter of consuming more plant-based foods while simultaneously consuming almost zero animal-based ones. Saturated fat, is included in meat and can cause heart problems if consumed in excess. Therefore, you're doing your heart good by consuming less meat-based foods and more plant-based ones.

However, it goes beyond simply avoiding meat: patients should eat anti-inflammatory foods, which are mostly plant-based foods, to help avoid cardiovascular disease. These include fruits, whole grains, walnuts, extra virgin olive oil, fatty fish, tomatoes, green leafy vegetables, yellow veggies, and whole grains. Pro-inflammatory foods should also be avoided, including processed meats, processed meals, fried foods, and refined sugar.

Specifics of the delightful program

The program is a component of The Better Food Foundation's Greener by Default effort, which aims to support healthcare organizations in enhancing patient outcomes, reducing carbon emissions, and lowering food costs. The two daily Chef's Specials are now always vegetarian even though meat-based options are still available.

The program has so far been a big success, with more than half of patients choosing plant-based meals and 95% of patients indicating they were happy with their choice. The plant-based meals were initially only provided for lunch, but due to their overwhelming popularity, the program will now include dinner as well. Even though just 1% of patients self-identify as vegetarian or vegan, this nevertheless occurs.

Better Food Foundation on the plant-based revolution

Sharing their two cents on the move, The Better Food Foundation said, “While NYC is beckoning in an exciting future, it’s also returning to its people’s roots: plant-based eating has been an integral part of food cultures and religions throughout history. In culturally diverse NYC, centering inclusive food choices on the menu is even more important. People of color are most likely to be lactose- intolerant and to suffer from diabetes and heart disease.

Access to healthy plant-based foods through public institutions like hospitals and schools isn’t just a health issue; it’s a social justice issue.”

How patients can benefit from consuming a plant-based diet

In order to effectively absorb the nutrients from the food that support your immune system and reduce inflammation, eating a plant-based diet helps your gut health. Fiber is excellent for maintaining healthy bowel habits and helps decrease cholesterol and balance blood sugar. This is so because being overweight leads to hormonal imbalance and inflammation.

If patients are overweight or obese, their risk is higher for 12 different types of cancer including colorectal, post-menopausal breast, uterine, esophageal, kidney, and pancreatic cancers. Plants are high in fiber. Fiber is present in all unprocessed plant foods. It is what makes up the structure of the plant, and if you eat more of it you access a whole host of benefits.

Fiber is crucial for lowering your chance of developing cancer. This is especially true for your risk of colorectal cancer, the third most prevalent malignancy. Your risk for other diseases decreases as well with a plant-based diet. The advantages of eating primarily vegetables extend beyond lowering your risk of developing cancer. It has also been demonstrated that a plant-based diet lowers your risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some mental health conditions.

The outlook for other cities with similar initiatives

This is not the first plant-based endeavor in New York City; the district's public schools already operate a Vegan Fridays program where plant-based meals are the norm one day per week. Other school districts have also started providing plant-based lunches, including those in Salvador, Brazil, and Illinois.

By 2030, Amsterdam City Council wants to see 50% of its residents eating plant-based foods. In addition to limiting permits for new fast food establishments, the council will boost the accessibility of healthy food in at-risk neighbors, around schools, and in the vicinity of public buildings.

Like this? Meet the Vegan who overcame two cancers and diabetes on a plant-based diet!

Read More: Shraddha Kapoor Turns Vegan