| Excess body weight, high blood pressure, and elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) are risk factors associated with the increased incidence of cardiovascular disease. Plant-based diets have emerged as effective mitigators of these risk factors. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of consuming a raw, plant-based diet for four weeks in obese, hypertensive, and hypercholesterolemic participants. Primary outcome measures included body weight, blood pressure, and LDL-C. Participant anthropometrics and hemodynamics were obtained on a weekly basis. Laboratory biomarkers were collected at baseline and at four weeks. Statistically significant reductions were observed for body weight, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and LDL-C. Secondary outcome measures including total serum cholesterol, serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, insulin, hemoglobin A1c, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were also significantly reduced. In conclusion, a prescribed, raw, plant-based diet can be used as an effective therapeutic strategy in mitigating cardiovascular risk factors. |
