This chart shows the 50 most commonly prescribed medications in the U.S. I wonder how this would change if more people adopted a plant-based diet?
This chart shows the 50 most commonly prescribed medications in the U.S. I wonder how this would change if more people adopted a plant-based diet?
by MadisonJonesHR
8 Comments
MadisonJonesHR
Food for thought – literally! I’ve been a vegetarian for over 10 years and doctors have always praised my blood pressure/cholesterol levels. I know it’s not that simple, but I imagine a ton of these medications wouldn’t exist if the average American diet/lifestyle was different.
dewdewdewdew4
Statins would probably drop off, or at least be towards the bottom. I would think that would be the biggest change.
BP is less controlled by diet than cholesterol, but would still probably see a big decrease.
katara144
That is insane. Big pharma raking it in. I am ancient by Reddit standards and take no meds, other than the occasional Advil. Been WFPB only 5 years.
Sanpaku
Assuming its a shift to whole plant based diets, low in added fats, sugars and salt (and not just replacing lard with palm oil in vegan junk food):
* 6 drugs used to treat atherosclerosis/cardiovascular disease: dramatically reduced to just those with familial hypercholesterolemia. * 7 drugs used to treat hypertension: dramatically reduced on a high potassium, low added sodium PBD. * 2 drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes: dramatically reduced, though now that metformin is shaping up to be a longevity drug (in experimental gerontology, and diabetics on metformin *live longer than non-diabetics*), I’d expect it to stay in the top 50 for decades to come. * 2 PPI drugs used to treat GERD: much less need as little fat intake to interfere with the lower esophageal sphincter. * 1 drug used to treat congestive heart failure: likely somewhat reduced * KCl supplement for hypokalemia: needed mainly for those fasting out their electrolytes. * Allopurinol for gout: markedly reduced, except for the alcoholic mushroom fanatics.
That’s 20/50.
If lifestyle changes extended to routine physical exercise outdoors, that would markedly reduce prescriptions for the 10 drugs used to treat depression and anxiety, and the supplemental D used to tread vit. D deficiency, though it might increase requirements for the 3 drugs used in allergy treatment and 5 pain relievers. I’ll call that a wash.
see_blue
I have a family history (inherited) of high blood pressure. I’ve been treated for about 50 years.
A great diet, weight, exercise, sleep, stress, etc. have little to no impact on it.
SwimmingHelicopter15
Some people just are stubborn to change their diet. We had a relative who needed to take medication for cholesterol but he can’t because of liver problems. In both case doctor recommended diet, both cases he ignored and doctor was trying to see what medication mix was possible
Mother_of_Kiddens
I’m on 3 of those daily and 3 others are taken occasionally (a least once a year, sometimes more, depending on what pops up). Going plant based has not gotten me off any of them at all so far. Some I’ve been on since I was a child though.
janewp
I take 5 of those for Congestive Heart Failure I got from having Sepsis. I am truly fortunate to be in remission because of a 95% Plant Based diet. The 5%, as a member of an Indian tribe I occasionally eat our traditional sea-foods.
8 Comments
Food for thought – literally! I’ve been a vegetarian for over 10 years and doctors have always praised my blood pressure/cholesterol levels. I know it’s not that simple, but I imagine a ton of these medications wouldn’t exist if the average American diet/lifestyle was different.
Statins would probably drop off, or at least be towards the bottom. I would think that would be the biggest change.
BP is less controlled by diet than cholesterol, but would still probably see a big decrease.
That is insane. Big pharma raking it in. I am ancient by Reddit standards and take no meds, other than the occasional Advil. Been WFPB only 5 years.
Assuming its a shift to whole plant based diets, low in added fats, sugars and salt (and not just replacing lard with palm oil in vegan junk food):
* 6 drugs used to treat atherosclerosis/cardiovascular disease: dramatically reduced to just those with familial hypercholesterolemia.
* 7 drugs used to treat hypertension: dramatically reduced on a high potassium, low added sodium PBD.
* 2 drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes: dramatically reduced, though now that metformin is shaping up to be a longevity drug (in experimental gerontology, and diabetics on metformin *live longer than non-diabetics*), I’d expect it to stay in the top 50 for decades to come.
* 2 PPI drugs used to treat GERD: much less need as little fat intake to interfere with the lower esophageal sphincter.
* 1 drug used to treat congestive heart failure: likely somewhat reduced
* KCl supplement for hypokalemia: needed mainly for those fasting out their electrolytes.
* Allopurinol for gout: markedly reduced, except for the alcoholic mushroom fanatics.
That’s 20/50.
If lifestyle changes extended to routine physical exercise outdoors, that would markedly reduce prescriptions for the 10 drugs used to treat depression and anxiety, and the supplemental D used to tread vit. D deficiency, though it might increase requirements for the 3 drugs used in allergy treatment and 5 pain relievers. I’ll call that a wash.
I have a family history (inherited) of high blood pressure. I’ve been treated for about 50 years.
A great diet, weight, exercise, sleep, stress, etc. have little to no impact on it.
Some people just are stubborn to change their diet. We had a relative who needed to take medication for cholesterol but he can’t because of liver problems. In both case doctor recommended diet, both cases he ignored and doctor was trying to see what medication mix was possible
I’m on 3 of those daily and 3 others are taken occasionally (a least once a year, sometimes more, depending on what pops up). Going plant based has not gotten me off any of them at all so far. Some I’ve been on since I was a child though.
I take 5 of those for Congestive Heart Failure I got from having Sepsis. I am truly fortunate to be in remission because of a 95% Plant Based diet. The 5%, as a member of an Indian tribe I occasionally eat our traditional sea-foods.