Happy Thanksgiving. In my line of work this is often the beginning of overindulgence with salt, sugar and fat leading to worsening blood pressure, cholesterol and overall heart function. It is also a time of the year when stress reaches an all time high. A lot of pressure is placed trying to host the perfect celebration amidst the usual pressures of daily life. Today I would like to share with you what I discuss with my patients and students regarding the stress of the holidays when it comes to maintaining healthy plant based eating. Communication is key. Sometimes just sharing with friend and family that you are going to be eating delicious whole plant foods but not animals takes the pressure off. Asking for support with your transition is often all that is needed. My nutrition class is a great place to get ideas from other students about their journey. It can be a lot of fun making new, beautiful and colorful dishes for the holidays that are also very rich in nutrients. Eating well and deliciously can be healthy even though it is different.
We also discuss LDL or the ‘bad’ cholesterol. Really the bad LDL is the oxidized version that occurs when LDL comes in contact with free radicals that are abundant after the digestion of animal meats and dairy. Fruits and vegetables provide antioxidants that help neutralize free radicals and keep LDL from being oxidized. So if you have excessive LDL in your system but it is not oxidized it is not going to be deposited in your arteries causing plaques and heart attacks. So eat plants to lower your cholesterol and also keep your LDL out of your arteries. Check out my website at doctordulaney.com and follow me on Instagram at jaimeladulaney. Email me at jamidulaney.com.