American Medical Association Tells Hospitals: Start Serving Vegan Food
It doesn’t make much sense for hospitals to serve patients foods full of saturated fat and cholesterol when—more and more—those patients are checking themselves in to seek treatment for diseases that are caused, in part, by poor dietary choices in the first place. That’s why the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates issued a new policy statement this month encouraging hospitals to start serving meals that are healthier for patients, and we at PETA couldn’t agree more with its suggestion that hospitals “improve the health of patients, staff, and visitors by providing a variety of healthful food, including plant-based meals.“
The new announcement puts the AMA in line with the World Health Organization (WHO), which had previously confirmed what the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and others have said for a long time: that eating bacon, hot dogs, ham, and other processed meats causes cancer. The WHO findings put processed meats in the same category of cancer risk as cigarettes and asbestos and also noted that red meat—including beef, pork, veal, and lamb—is likely carcinogenic. Studies have also shown that those who adhere to a vegan diet have a lower body mass index than their meat-eating counterparts.
So if you’re looking to eat healthier and—hopefully—stay far away from the hospital, there’s never been a better (or easier) time to go vegan. Order a free vegan starter kit today and browse hundreds of plant-based recipes right here on our site.
Want to learn more about the relationship between food and the medical industry?
The filmmakers behind the eye-opening documentary Cowspiracy teamed up with executive producer Joaquin Phoenix to expose a dark side of the food industry that contributes to and profits from health epidemics affecting millions of people. The new film What the Health is streaming now on Netflix.
Our food choices impact much more than our health. To keep learning about the relationship between animal agriculture and the world that we share, check out our list of life-changing documentaries available for streaming online:
