Traditionally, the practice of medicine has involved treating ailments with medicines and procedures, but did you know that not all cures come in the form of a pill or the newest high-tech procedure? Many of the most common Western diseases are caused by the decisions we make at the kitchen table, and many of these diseases can be prevented and treated--even cured--by making the right decisions with our forks. Yes, we do need medicine for some things. If we have a bacterial infection, antibiotics are certainly appropriate. If we have something that requires surgery, then that procedure can save your life. But, our most common diseases and killers in the United States would almost fail to even exist if we simply chose to eat the foods that are the best for us. The vast majority of the chronic diseases we treat are not caused by chance or because of our genetics or family history. They are caused by the decision to eat foods that are, quite literally, killing us. There are regions in the world where heart disease, the number one killer in the United States, is almost unheard of. The same holds true for diabetes and many cancers.

The majority of Western diseases are thought to be a result of our diet. These diseases include coronary artery disease (heart disease, heart attacks), hypertension (high blood pressure), cerebrovascular disease (stroke), diabetes (high blood sugar), obesity, osteoporosis (fragile bones), dementia (memory loss), and many cancers, such as breast cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer.

To virtually eliminate your chances of falling victim to common Western diseases, you should eat a whole-food, plant-based diet. It consists of only foods that come from plants! Examples of plant-based foods include fruits (apples, bananas, blueberries, cherries, grapes, oranges, strawberries, tomatoes), vegetables (broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, eggplant, green-leafy vegetables like collard greens, kale, lettuce, and spinach; onions), tubers (corn, potatoes, squash, sweet potatoes, yams), whole grains (barley, oats, quinoa, rice, whole wheat), and legumes (black beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, lentils, lima beans).

A plant-based diet does not include any animal products. Diets that include animal products consistently are shown to lead to a higher risk of heart attacks, strokes, and all-cause mortality. Animal products include all dairy such as milk, yogurt, and cheese. Animal products also include all meat, such as beef, chicken, fish, pork, and turkey, and egg products.

For a good summary on what to eat, visit Forks Over Knives.

There are many fad diets out there. This is not a fad diet. This is simply what the research tells us is the best for you. You may be thinking, "Why haven't I heard this before?" Quite frankly, it all comes down to a combination of money, politics, the truth not getting into the hands of the people handing out dietary advice, and a lack of faith in people to think they are capable of or willing to make the best decisions for themselves.

The decision is yours. You control your health. We simply want the information out there, so you can make your own informed decision.

The following videos are from Dr. Greger and his website nutritionfacts.org. They are less than four minutes, and watching them could save your life.