Health Save Movement

The Problem

The world is at a health crisis like it’s never seen before. Over 800 million people can’t access enough food, while many more get sick and die because of the low quality foods this system provides. As a result, chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer have become the leading cause of death around the world. Instead of educating the public and promoting healthy food choices, millions of dollars in public spending are wasted in treating symptoms instead of solving the cause, making the problem even worse.

Our Mission

The Health Save Movement shows how veganism can improve health, reverse disease and enhance food justice. Our mission is to promote a whole-foods vegan diet as the main strategy to solve the epidemic of diet and lifestyle-related diseases of the present time, giving control over their health back to the people.

Why a Whole-Foods Vegan Diet?

Did you know that, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, a whole-foods vegan diet has been found to be nutritionally adequate for every single stage of the life cycle? This includes pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, adolescence, older adulthood, geriatrics and even for athletes.

At this very moment, the World Health Organization estimates that 1 in every 5 men and 1 in every 6 women is going to be diagnosed with cancer in their lives. At the same time, 1 out of 3 people is going to die from a heart attack or stroke and many will have type 2 diabetes either as a cause or a risk factor of death. This is the biggest epidemic in history and unhealthy diets are the number one cause.

Countless studies have consistently shown that regular consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, is associated with a reduced risk of many diseases and a vegan diet appears to confer the greatest protection against overall cancer incidence.

Vegan diets also seem to be most beneficial in improving heart disease risk factors. Including abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, serum lipid profile and blood glucose.

Last but not least, vegans are 62% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes that those following any other dietary pattern.

More than ever it seems like your health is in your hands, and most importantly, on your plate.

vegan_power_plate

Graphic from “Becoming Vegan” by Registered Dietitians Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina

How do I Start a Whole-Food Vegan Diet?

So you’ve taken the decision to take control over your health by following a whole-food vegan diet. That’s an amazing choice not only for yourself and your loved ones, but also for the planet and the animals.

Here you will find valuable resources to get you started! Watch this Introductory video and article on Basic Vegan Nutrition for more information and motivation to change your health through diet!

For a full guide on whole-food vegan diets, you can also read this Introductory Guide by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

Ok, now I have the basics covered, now show me those delicious vegan recipes.

Veganism isn’t at all restrictive. You will find that once you go vegan, your palate and variety of food options actually expand. However, before you progress to a whole foods plant-based diet,  at first you can easily substitute a lot of your animal food products to plant-based ones. There are now endless meatless products that mimic sausages and burgers but without the cruelty! You can also get limitless dairy-free substitutes for cheese, milk and eggs.

Here are some great resources to get you started!

Nutrition Starter Guides:

Nutrient information

  • Veganhealth.org: learn evidence based information about the most important nutrients in a healthy vegan diet.

Recipes:

Support programs:

  • Challenge 22: If you’d like a mentor, please join Challenge 22 and join thousands of people for a 22-day vegan experience with the support of a group of experts. You will receive “recipes, tips, videos and lots of motivation.”
  • Veganuary:  Try a vegan diet for the month of January.   They will send you daily emails containing delicious recipes, meal plans and helpful tips, such as where to get your nutrients and how to stock your cupboards. They will also send you information about the impact of what we eat on our health, animals and the environment.

    Vegan Cookbooks

    There are also literally thousands of amazing vegan cookbooks and lifestyle guides. Here are just several of our favourites: