How our human health links to planetary health and how we are able to switch to a 100% plant-based vegan eating plan to save ourselves and our planet

1. THE MEDICINE
OF THE FUTURE
Ashwani K. Garg, MD
Family Medicine
Lifestyle Medicine
Reversive Medicine

2. Reversive Medicine™ is the area of medicine that
studies and demonstrates the reversal of human and
planetary disease through the scientific evidence of a
plant-based structure.

3. re∙verse
/rəˈvərs/
verb
move backward
noun
characterized by or
tending to restore
a complete change of
direction or action

4. med∙i∙cine
/ˈmedəsən/
Noun
the science or practice of
the diagnosis, treatment,
and prevention of disease

5. HUMAN & PLANETARY
In human health, a whole
food, plant-based diet
accompanied by lifestyle
factors such as sleep,
exercise, stress reduction,
and sunshine are the basis
for a healthy human body.
In Environmental Health, a
plant-based dietary pattern is
the most significant solution
toward reducing global warming
and improving the health and
future of the planet.

6. These dietary health risks are expected to worsen by increasing the human, social, and economic
health burden from chronic, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) associated with high body weight
and unhealthy diets.
GLOBAL HEALTH BURDEN
Ischemic heart disease
and stroke are the
world’s biggest killers.
(15.2 million deaths in
2016)
These diseases have
remained the leading
causes of death globally
in the last 15 years.
Other leading causes include:
• Chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease
(3.0 million deaths in 2016)
• Lung, Trachea and
Bronchus cancers
(1.7 million deaths in 2016)
• Diabetes
(1.6 million people in 2016)
Imbalanced diets
(low in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and
whole grains, and high in red and
processed meat) are responsible for
the greatest health burden worldwide
contributing to substantial early
mortality in most regions.
Seven of the top ten causes of death worldwide are due to preventable diseases.

7. LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH IN
PERSPECTIVE

9. GLOBAL ECONOMIC BURDEN
• The global cost
of diabetes is $825
billion per year.
• Economic loss due to
cardiovascular disease
in low- and middle-
income countries was
estimated to amount to
$3.7 trillion (2010)
between 2011 and
2015.
Medical costs in the US
linked to obesity are $147
billion.
In 2012, the total
estimated cost of
diagnosed diabetes was
$245 billion, including
$176 billion in direct
medical costs and $69
billion in decreased
productivity.
In 2014, 30% of the global
population were overweight or
obese and 5% of the deaths
worldwide were attributable to
obesity.
The global economic impact of
obesity was estimated to be US
$2.0 trillion
or 2.8% of the global gross
domestic product (GDP).

10. PLANETARY BURDEN
Without targeted dietary changes, the situation is expected to worsen
as a growing and more wealthy global population adopts diets resulting in more GHG emissions.
Furthermore, about 800 million are still suffering from hunger due to poverty and poorly developed food systems.
The pesticides used heavily
in industrial agriculture are
associated with elevated
cancer risks for workers and
consumers and are coming
under greater scrutiny for
their links to endocrine
disruption and reproductive
dysfunction.
The food system is responsible
for 25% of all greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions, of which up to
80% are associated with
LIVESTOCK production.
It occupies about 40% of the
Earth's surface and uses 70% of
all freshwater resources.
The over-application of
fertilizers and pesticides
has led to pollution of
surface water and
groundwater and
created dead zones in
oceans.
The global food system has contributed to the crossing of several of the proposed planetary boundaries
that attempt to define a safe operating space for humanity on a stable Earth system.

11. Planetary Boundaries define a "safe operating space
for humanity" as a precondition for sustainable
development.
The framework is based on scientific evidence that
human actions since the Industrial Revolution have
become the main driver of global environmental
change. As of 2009, human activities related to
agriculture and nutrition* globally have contributed to
the transgression of four out of nine planetary
boundaries. The four boundaries are climate change,
loss of biosphere integrity, land-system change, and
altered biogeochemical cycles.
PLANETARY BOUNDARIES
*Nutrition includes food processing and trade as well as food
consumption (preparation of food in households and gastronomy.)

12. MULTIPLE BENEFITS
Reversive Medicine demonstrates
that a plant-based structure can have multiple health,
environmental, and economic benefits toward a sustainably
healthier humanity and planet that will benefit us all.

16. THESE FOODS DO NOT HAVE
LABELS

17. NUTRITION…
(ACCORDING TO T. COLIN CAMPBELL)
• The biologically “wholistic” process by which elements of food and water are used
by the body to optimize health
• The highly integrated reactions and events of countless food chemicals working
together, as in a symphony

18. NUTRIENT COMPOSITION
Plant and Animal-Based Foods (Per 500 Calories of Energy)
USDA Nutrient Database for Standard
Reference. http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/.
Holden JM, Eldridge AL, Beecher GR, et al.
“Carotenoid content of U.S. foods: an update
of the database.” J. Food Comp. Anal. 12
(1999): 169–196.
The exact food listings in the database were:
Ground Beef, 80% lean meat/20% fat, raw;
Pork,fresh, ground, raw; Chicken, broilers or
fryers, meat and skin, raw; Milk, dry, whole;
Spinach,raw; Tomatoes, red, ripe, raw, year-
round average; Lima Beans, large, mature
seeds, raw; Peas,green, raw; Potatoes,
russet
*B12 is from soil bacteria and is variable; can be
obtained from supplements or supplemented foods

19. WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR
PROTEIN?

20. PROTEIN REQUIREMENTS
A balanced plant-based diet with adequate calories will always contain enough
protein.
For a 150 lb. person, minimum is about 1/3 of the weight or 50 gm.
50 gm = 200 calories worth
Even a “low protein” diet of 10% will give enough if 2000 kCal/day

21. ANIMAL PROTEIN IS DIRTY FUEL
• Elevated cholesterol, heart disease
• Inflammation and autoimmune disease
• Asthma, skin conditions and allergy
• Acidity promotes osteoporosis
• Kidney Disease
• Gout
• Growth hormones/cell division (cancer)
• Hormonal effects
• Alzheimer’s disease, kidney stones…

23. PLANT PROTEINS ARE THE BEST
FUEL FOR THE BODY
• Nutrient-dense
• Anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress
• Increased energy
• Optimized athletic performance
• Reduction and treatment of cancer
• Prevention AND reversal of heart disease

24. PHYTONUTRIENTS
• Phytonutrients are compounds only
in plants that promote health
• There is no daily reference intake for
phytochemicals
• New research shows they may very
well be essential to life, and for
prevention of cardiovascular
diseases and cancer
• ONLY about 1/5 of Americans meet
the minimum intake

25. Plant foods naturally contain
antioxidants, phytonutrients,
and fiber which can reduce
inflammation, scavenge free
radicals, optimize immune
function and angiogenesis,
improve overall wellness

26. • Our gut microbes number 10 times the number of cells in our body
• Protect us from infection, support metabolism, promote healthy digestion and elimination
• 100,000,000,000,000 organisms in gut, ¾ of immune system
• 90% of serotonin in the gut
• “second brain” “gut feeling”
• Metabolic/diabetes
• Digestive diseases
• Autoimmune disease
• Heart Disease/Kidney Disease
• Psychiatric Illnesses/Neurologic
• Allergy/Asthma/Eczema
• Leaky Gut ----------------------
“ALL DISEASE BEGINS IN THE GUT.”
- HIPPOCRATES

31. CANCER
• 2nd leading cause of death in the US
• We have cancer cells in our bodies every day, there is a balance between
cell death and cell division
• Plant-based diet shifts the balance and modulates inflammation and blood
flow (angiogenesis)

32. CANCER FIGHTING FOODS
• Dr. William Li, EatToBeat.Org

33. FRUITS

34. VEGETABLES

35. LEGUMES, NUTS, SEEDS, GRAINS

36. HERBS/SPICES

37. DIABETES

38. OSTEOPOROSIS
• Calcium paradox identified by WHO – countries with highest calcium intakes
have the most osteoporosis
• Acidification by high intake of proteins leaches out calcium
• Other factors – lack of sun, sedentary lifestyle, caffeine, salt
• Yoga for osteoporosis – sciatica.org
• Osteoporosis drugs benefit but also harm

39. HEART DISEASE
• NO OTHER diet has been shown to reverse heart disease, not the
Mediterranean, not a low carb diet, not the standard diet or the AHA or
DASH diet.
• Whole food Plant-Based is the only one that reverses heart disease.

42. PREDIMED

44. IS EATING
“PLANTS ONLY”
HEALTHY?
Statement by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics:
It is the position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics that appropriately
planned vegetarian, including vegan, diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate,
and may provide health benefits for the prevention and treatment of certain
diseases. These diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including
pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, adolescence, older adulthood, and for
athletes. Plant-based diets are more environmentally sustainable than diets rich in
animal products because they use fewer natural resources and are associated with
much less environmental damage. Vegetarians and vegans are at reduced risk of
certain health conditions, including ischemic heart disease, type 2 diabetes,
hypertension, certain types of cancer, and obesity… Vegans need reliable sources
of vitamin B-12
https://jandonline.org/article/S2212-2672(16)31192-3/abstract

45. PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER (CREDIT
JULIEANNA HEVER, MS, RD)

46. EXAMPLE ANALYSIS (PLANT-BASED)
Cronometer.COM
(1) breakfast smoothie, soy milk, spinach, banana, pineapple, kiwi, hemp
(2) lunch chickpeas, broccoli, bulgur
(3) apple/PB snack
(4) dinner bean/veg/kale curry with swt potato, tahini + 4 brazil nuts
(5) 10 almonds for a snack w/soymilk

50. VEGANISM
Growing trend worldwide
Climate change report
Ethical concerns about
animals, seeing animals
as sentient beings

51. WANT TO TRY IT?
THESE ARE SOME PLANS
• 21daykickstart.org – PCRM’s 21 day “kickstart” app, coaching from dietitians
• https://www.cowspiracy.com/take-action
• HumaneFacts.Org
• TruthOrDrought.Com

52. OTHER LIFESTYLE FACTORS
• Feet (150-300 minutes of exercise weekly, with 2 days of resistance)
• Forks (plant-based diet)
• Fingers (avoid alcohol / tobacco)
• Sleep (7 to 8 hours per night of good quality sleep)
• Stress (mindfulness, regular practice of prayer/meditation, fellowship)
• Love (Love for one’s significant other, the Earth, the Animals, cultivation of universal love)

53. Albert Einstein:
“Nothing will benefit human
health and increase the
chances for survival of life on
Earth as much as the
evolution to a vegetarian diet.