As we at MamaSezz well know, changing to a plant-based diet can change your life in ways you never expected. In this series, we talk with some of the world’s most soulful, dedicated (and often funny) individuals. We get to hear their stories of suffering, transformation, and service — and we learn how food is an essential part of their journey.
Want to start your own plant-based journey? Get started here.
Plenty of doctors are now prescribing a plant based (or plant-centric) diet for their patients for heart disease, weight management, diabetes, auto-immune diseases, and for overall health and longevity. On the cusp of 2022, this seems like a no-brainer. A plant-based diet is anti-inflammatory, disease preventing, immunity boosting, and even slows cell aging. It's even been shown to reverse chronic illness!
So why aren't all doctors prescribing plants? While the many health benefits of a plant-based diet are scientifically proven, extensive dietary training isn't usually part of the current medical school curriculum and many doctors are hesitant to suggest certain diets.
But for those doctors who've done their own nutrition research, the goal is clear: get patients to eat a more plant-centric diet for the sake of their health. And for these seven doctors, prescribing the diet for patients wasn’t enough; they went fully plant-based themselves and the results were extraordinary.
7 doctors that went plant-based to treat their own health problems
1. Dr. Loomis
Dr. James Loomis Jr., MD, MBA, FACLM, is no stranger to sharing his beliefs on a plant-based diet. He's been featured in documentary The Game Changers and is quite a celebrity in the plant-based world. What kick-started his plant-based journey? After an injury, Dr. Loomis found his health spiraling downward as he put on weight. He knew he needed to do something different, and after watching Forks Over Knives his life changed forever. Watch his exclusive interview with MamaSezz below to hear his incredible story.
2. Dr. Joel Fuhrman
You may already be familiar with Dr. Joel Fuhrman. He’s a board-certified family physician, seven-time New York Times bestselling author and internationally recognized expert on nutrition and natural healing, who specializes in preventing and reversing disease through nutritional methods. Dr. Fuhrman preaches the importance of a healthy balanced diet for optimal bodily function. We dive into how he got to where he is today, and why he believes this lifestyle is best. In addition, he shares with us the six healthiest foods you can eat, plus a top tip for remembering them.
See Dr. Furhman's recommended MamaSezz plant-based meal bundle here!
3. Dr. Stancic
Dr. Saray Stancic is a board certified physician who's been living with a multiple sclerosis diagnosis since 1995. For eight years, Dr. Stancic watched her health and independence decline while she became reliant upon several medications in hopes of slowing the progression of her disease. Then, in 2003, she came across some information that would change her life and health forever.
Today, Dr. Stancic lives a symptom-free life and is the founder of Stancic Health and Wellness, LLC, where she practices Lifestyle Medicine. She also recently released her new book, What's Missing From Medicine. MamaSezz co-founder Meg Donahue caught up with Dr. Stancic to hear her transformation story firsthand.
4. Dr. Shikha Mercia
Dr. Shikha Merchia, who went from a vegetarian to a healthy, happy, energetic whole food vegan. Her interest in the whole food plant-based diet started when she went to the Lifestyle Medicine Conference at Harvard in 2017. Since then, Dr. Merchia and her husband (who is also a physician) have immersed themselves in diet-related lifestyle medicine. She feels better than ever, and her kids are even on board!
Dr. Shikha's full story.
5. Dr. Yamileth
Say hellow to Dr. Yamileth, who challenged herself to go plant-based for 30 days. The results were so impactful (including a stop to her chronic constipation!), that she decided to stick with the diet and spread the word. She even gave a TED X talk about her experience. Dr. Yami sticks with her diet in order to set herself up for the best chance at health and longevity.
6. Dr. Kathuria
We talked with Dr. Neil Kathuria, who went plant-based in 2015. He decided to make the change after seeing patient after patient struggle from lifestyle diseases like heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. Today, he feels amazing and helps others live their best life by eating more fruits and veggies.
Dr. Kathuria's full story story.
7. Dr. Barnard
We also chatted with the fabulous Neal Barnard, MD and Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. Dr. Barnard is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC, and President of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. He’s also one of the leading experts on plant-based diets and health.
Among other things, Dr. Barnard has researched the effects of diet on diabetes, body weight, and chronic pain. One of his groundbreaking studies laid the foundation for type 2 diabetes to be viewed as a potentially reversible condition. Through the Barnard Medical Center in Washington, DC, he’s a pioneering advocate for making nutrition a routine part of all medical care.
Dr. Barnard's full story.Want to eat like these docs?
MamaSezz makes it easy with ready-made whole food plant-based meal delivery. Browse our bundles today!
How can I find my own plant-based doctor?
More and more doctors become plant-based every day, as the research continues to come out that a plant-based diet is the optimal diet for overall health and longevity. Find a plant-based doctor near you!