Will the plant-based movement redefine physicians’ understanding of chronic disease?

Abstract

The world is experiencing a cataclysmically increasing burden from chronic illnesses. Chronic diseases are on the advance worldwide and treatment strategies to counter this development are dominated by symptom control and polypharmacy. Thus, chronic conditions are often considered irreversible, implying a slow progression of disease that can only be hampered but not stopped. The current plant-based movement is attempting to alter this way of thinking. Applying a nutrition-first approach, the ultimate goal is either disease remission or reversal. Hereby, ethical questions arise as to whether physicians’ current understanding of chronic illness is outdated and morally reprehensible. In this case, physicians may need to recommend plant-based diets to every patient suffering from chronic conditions, while determining what other socioecological factors and environmental aspects play a role in the chronic disease process. This article provides insights to aspects of diet and chronic illness and discusses how the plant-based movement could redefine current understanding of chronic disease. The ethical justifications for recommending of a plant-based diet are analyzed. The article concludes that not advocating for plant-based nutrition is unethical and harms the planet and patients alike.

KEYWORDS:

• Vegan
• plant-based diet
• chronic illness
• chronic disease
• remission
• reversal

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributor

Maximilian Andreas Storz is a medical doctor from Germany. His main interests include plant-based whole-food diets and lifestyle medicine. He is also interested in climate change, animal welfare and environmental sustainability.