Mairi and Mel Hayamoto are recent graduates of the Ekahi Dr. Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease™, the only scientifically proven program to stop the progression and even reverse the effects of heart disease, at 500 Ala Moana Boulevard in Honolulu, Hawaii. They talk about the health benefits they received by participating in the program.
Both Mairi and Mel Hayamoto were able to shed weight on the program, and Mairi was able to improve her digestive problems and asthma. I talked about how a plant-based diet improved her constipation and lowers risk for colon disease in my lecture for the Vegetarian Society in July. Please see the post in July for more information. Mel Hayamoto talks about how he did not think he was able to change his diet from eating mostly meat to a plant-based diet. However, he did not find it as difficult as he thought it would be. He also talks about how he tried many other things to improve his HgbA1c, including following an ADA dietician’s guidelines, before the Ornish program brought it down.
In regards to Mairi’s asthma, it may be little known that a plant-based diet can help treat asthma. A study found that individuals with asthma practicing a vegan diet for a full year have a marked decrease in the need for medications and in the frequency and severity of asthma attacks.(1) Please see below in reference section for some videos about this topic. Dr. Greger talks about the association between decreased intake of and vegetables and increased rates of asthma in his video. Eggs and soda were also associated with increased rates of asthma. Vegetarian diets were associated with a decreased rates of asthma. Animals foods are high in saturated fat which causes inflammation, and plant foods have antioxidants which have a protective effect. (2) One study showed significant improvement in severe asthmatics treated with a vegan diet.(3)
(1)”Vegetarian Foods, Powerful for Health.” PCRM.org. Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine. Web. Accessed 11 January 2016.
(2) Greger, Michael. “Preventing Asthma with Fruits and Vegetables.” Online video clip. Youtube. Youtube, 16 April 2014. Web. 11 January 2015. <http://nutritionfacts.org/video/preventing-asthma-with-fruits-and-vegetables/>
(3) Greger, Michael. “Treating Asthma and Eczema with Plant-Based Diets.” Online video clip. Youtube. Youtube, 23 April 2014. Web. 11 January 2015. <http://nutritionfacts.org/video/treating-asthma-and-eczema-with-plant-based-diets/>
If you are interested in participating in the Ekahi Dr. Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease™, you can contact Kendra at (808) 948-9500 or Ornish@ekahihealth.com.
Mairi and Mel above with their dogs (who provided the background panting for the video!)