Liberal Use of Meats and Cheese Fosters Heart Disease; Reversible by Vegan Diet

Doctors from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine today delivered an array of vegetables, fruits, and other healthful vegan foods to Rush Limbaugh, hospitalized in Hawaii yesterday with chest pain.

The doctors’ group sent Limbaugh wishes for a quick recovery and invited him to join an online program that helps people prevent and reverse heart disease and lose weight. By coincidence, the program, called the 21-Day Vegan Kickstart, begins on New Year’s Day.

Limbaugh, who has been publicly struggling with weight problems, hosts the most-listened-to radio talk show in America, broadcast on more than 600 radio stations nationwide.

In a letter to Limbaugh, PCRM president Neal D. Barnard, M.D., wrote: “In our grandparents’ day, people knew the value of humble beans, vegetables, and fruits, often growing them in their own family gardens. These foods have essentially no cholesterol and very little saturated fat. Nowadays, many Americans are very liberal with meat, dairy products, and end up needing to rely on medications to counteract the effects of their diets.”  

Heart attacks peak in late December and January, mainly due to holiday eating habits. PCRM scheduled the online vegan program to counter the trend and expects tens of thousands of people to participate. The program includes daily recipes and messages of encouragement from doctors and celebrities. 

The basket delivered to Limbaugh was a deluxe collection of fruits, vegetables, and other vegetarian foods prepared by Down to Earth, an organic vegetarian store on Oahu.

For more information or to speak with Dr. Barnard, please contact Patrick Sullivan at 510-834-8680 or psullivan@pcrm.org.

Founded in 1985, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is a nonprofit health organization that promotes preventive medicine, conducts clinical research,and encourages higher standards for ethics and effectiveness in research.