Physician group advocates for plant-based diet (including hemp seed and hemp oil)

By Linda Ann Chomin
Correspondent
Source: hometownlife.com

Caroline Trapp had already toyed with the idea of becoming a vegetarian by the time she picked up on of Dr. Neal Barnard's books. As founder of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), he has promoted a plant-based diet and conducted clinical research on its ability to prevent and reverse heard disease, diabetes and cancer since 1985.


One of his studies found that although the standard American Diabetes Association effectively treats the disease, plant-based, low fat meals dramatically reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels in addition to promoting weight loss. 


Barnard has written several books on topics that include reversing diabetes with a diet of grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables. His recent book, 21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart, promises to boost metabolism, lower cholesterol and dramatically improve health. 


Trapp had health concerns when she learned about PCRM while attending a nursing conference. She had ordered a vegetarian plate and “was surprised by how good it tasted.” Shortly after, she started e-mailing Barnard who invited her to spend a day at the PCRM office in Washington, D.C. The nonprofit organization provides educational materials as well as diabetic and Cancer Project cooking classes aimed at prevention. 


“It gave me confidence to talk to my patients about type 2 diabetes. I suddenly realized I was not alone,” said Trapp, a nurse practitioner at Premier Internists in Southfield. 


Before long, Barnard invited her to teach curriculum he was using and then offered her a full time position as director of diabetes education and care in 2007. 


“Patients are coming to the practice because they've heard of the intensive lifestyle change,” said Trapp. “Blood sugars have gone from 300 and 400 to 100. Diabetes medications prolong people's agony. It's not a cure and has known side effects. We have to use what is known about nutrition. One major concern is fat and animal protein. 


“Everybody is clear that dietary fat is linked to heart disease, but also insulin resistance. Dairy foods are high in fat, with a speck of calcium in a package full of hormones, injected and natural, and antibiotics which are increasing antibiotics resistance in humans,” explained Trapp. 


Trapp has done research to back up her claims. These facts were presented in her written testimony for the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry field hearing May 31, at Michigan State University.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 29.6 percent of Michigan's population is obese and some 9 percent are suffering from type 2 diabetes. A recent study estimated that between 1998 and 2000 obesity-related diseases cost Michigan nearly $3 billion in health care expenses. More than 60 percent of all deaths in the U.S. are from diseases linked to unhealthy diet: heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, liver disease, and high blood pressure. 


Diabetes prevalence will increase to 1 in 3 adults by 2050, compared to approximately 1 in 10 today. Approximately one-third of children born in 2000 will develop diabetes at some point in their lifetimes. Research has shown that meat and dairy consumption significantly increases diabetes risk. An estimated 70 percent of colorectal and prostate cancers and 50 percent of breast, endometrial, pancreatic, and gallbladder cancer are diet-related. 


While Trapp came to her decision to eat a plant-based diet strictly based on health concerns, she says, “it's very gratifying that the way I eat doesn't support cruelty to animals and environmental pollution, the amount of oil it takes to get food to your plate, what it takes to produce a hamburger.” She has a problem with eating fish as well.


“As a health care professional I developed recognition of the bigger picture,” said Trapp. “A good example is fish. Fish get Omega 3 fatty acids from eating plants. Humans can get Omega 3 from eating walnuts, flax seed, hemp milk, and green, leafy vegetables. “Fish is full of saturated fat. Salmon is 50 percent fat.” Fishing impacts the environment, too, said Trapp. “The oceans have been so over-fished they have to go further and further out. How much oil does it take to fish?”