Forbes magazine reports that “our National Healthcare Expenditure (NHE) is projected to hit $3.207 trillion this year. The U.S. Population is currently hovering at around 320 million, so 2015, looks to be the first year healthcare spending will reach $10,000 per person. We may be bending the cost growth curve, but the per capita amount continues to grow.”
What is a practical and cost effective way to promote health among U.S. citizens? Preventing disease would seem to be a major part of the answer. Yes, “Prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Dr. Neil Nedley, M.D., writes that our immune system is a God-given blessing that “usually” throws off numerous attacks by multiple diseases, including cancerous cells. (Proof Positive,13.)
Dr. Nedley promotes a plant-based diet, which is the original diet given by God to man in Genesis. (Genesis 1:29.) Some of the advantages of the plant-based diet, Nedley writes, are: zero cholesterol, low saturated fats, high fiber, zero animal protein, zero “ heme” iron ((gotten from animal sources, rich in antioxidants, promotes weight control, and provides more nutrients per dollar.(p.84.)
Nedley also points out that males, age 35 and over as a percentage of expected coronary heart disease, in comparison with the general population, has many fewer heart attacks: The general population percentage is 56%, lacto-ovo vegetarians (those who eat eggs and dairy) 39%, and total vegetarians, 14%. Clearly his research shows that the more a population moves toward a plant-based diet, the fewer heart attacks one can expect. (P.84.).
I personally can testify that a plant-based diet is a healthy diet. I have been a vegetarian for some 61 years, the last 20 of those being vegan (no animal products.) Although I am in my early 80’s, I carry on full daily activities; I Pastor Guthrie Memorial Chapel in Cumberland County. In addition, I direct the Chapel’s Christian mission work in Uganda, India, and the Congo. On November 10 of this year, the Chapel opened a new health Clinic near Kampala, Uganda.
So, what is one way to reduce sickness and health costs in the U.S,? Moving from an animal-based to a plant-based diet could assist in doing this. The Chapel’s website provides more data at: www.guthriememorial.org.
Dr. Fillmer Hevener, Farmville, Va., (434) 392-6255
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