There’s a welcoming sense of security in the beginning of each Plant Based Nutrition Support Group Meeting.
The attendees will find healthy treats to sample, experts to talk to, often the speaker is present at the table that may contain their wares or to personally autograph books and to meet and greet their followers, and the organizations friendly volunteers are there to escort you into the auditorium.
Paul Chatlin, Founder of the organization starts the evening right with acknowledgements to the group, and at least 2 prepared jokes. And they’re funny. He’s funny. He may be passionate about his mission and caring about his over 4,000 members, but he is there to make you smile. And you will.
This time, the audience also got new quips from always present advocate and nationally known, Dr. Joel Kahn, whose talk this time left a bit of blushing on the faces of the crowd.
Best seller, Vegan Sex, , is largely displayed on the screen behind him and the audience is rapt. The lifestyle is known for controlling the issue of heart disease, and cognitive abilities, along with an added benefit of a better time in the bedroom.
Kahn constantly updates the crowd on the health industry’s latest politics, and he wowed us with the American Medical Association’s call for hospitals to ban processed meats, along with the American Cardiologists Association support. Will the institutions listen? It’s doubtful, thinks Kahn, but we will have to see. With advocates like the backing organizations, perhaps there will be some improvement.
He also comments on Biggest Loser producer, J.D. Roth who was a guest several months ago on past speaker Rich Roll’s podcast, about his latest TV Series, Big Fat Truth.
It is obvious the PBNSG and Kahn have a lot of resources and contacts that keep the organization up to date with the latest facts and findings in the health industry.
One of them is Pam Popper, PhD, N.D.
The Naturopath and expert on nutrition, medicine and health runs Wellness Forum Health website with more articles on nutrition and health than you could read in a year. She returned to talk about informed medical decision making concerning the auto-immune system, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s.
Popper managed to condense 80 hours of information into her talk; her matter of fact demeanor is coupled with a warm concern and passion that kept the audience engaged. Her information was well researched, and her common sense explanations allowed the group to understand important and complex concepts.
Her main points about osteoporosis included, that bones are living tissue and are the mineral storage spaces for the body, that peak bone density between 25-30, losing bone marrow density while aging is normal, and that weight bearing exercise is the most beneficial way to counter loss of bone density.
When speaking to Auto-immune disease, the 3rd leading cause of death in the U.S., she attributes most of this to things other than genetics, such as high estrogen, leaky guy, and allergies, which can also lead to inflammation. Her statement that high dairy and meat diet causes chronic intestinal inflammation should be taken into account, including that the constant antibodies that can attack the bloodstream, finding the amino acid chains that mimic the make up of the body when eating animal based foods.
She accounted the symbiotic relationship with intestinal bacteria and how they can actually change their DNA and become pathogens so they don’t starve! This creates leaky gut – the barrier system for the intestinal tract is broken down and minor tears can become major issues.
All in all, her main point was to create within the audience the understanding of what informed medical decision making really means. Popper is definitely one to follow, and we hope that she continues to visit the PBNSG lecture series.The
The Stonehouse Bread Company freely raffles loaves of bread at each event!
Cathleen Francois is Executive Director of GreeningDetroit.com, a CARE of Southeast Michigan Advocate, and once in a while likes to share a story or two about local hero’s. She can be reached at Cathleen@GreeningDetroit.com or at 248-818-4252
Click here to be introduced to the Plant Based Nutrition Support Group