How to Find a Vegan Doctor
Being vegan or plant based comes with many well-studied and scientifically proven health benefits. However, many physicians and healthcare providers in America receive little to no training in nutrition, let alone plant-based nutrition. It can be quite discouraging to go to your doctor for advice, only to be told information that is either incorrect, outdated, or worse- just given a prescription instead of a real solution involving education and lifestyle modifications as a first line treatment.
Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to find a doctor who was also passionate about plant-based diets and using food as medicine? A doctor who has real knowledge of not only Western medicine but also the benefits of using food as medicine and supports your journey to a more healthy life. Luckily, there are a few tools to help locate a vegan or plant-based doctor nearby.
Plantrician Providers is a site where healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurse practitioners, nutritionists, and health coaches, can register and market their practice to those looking for a plant-based provider in their area. Plantritian Providers provides this database of plant-based providers free of charge to the public. Simply type in your location and a list of registered providers pops up. Healthcare professionals also gain benefit from this site with access to health-related content, as well as CME discounts available with a subscription.
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PRCM) is a nonprofit organization that provides a registry of plant-based healthcare professionals based on location. Its mission is to be “dedicated to saving and improving human and animal lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research”. A plethora of nutrition education and resources are also available on the site.
These registries of plant-based doctors and healthcare professionals continue to grow as word gets out about their benefits as well as the increased demand for providers who are knowledgeable about nutrition. As always, it is important to find a provider who listens and takes the time to educate. Neither of the above sites vet registered providers, so be sure to research their credentials and meet with them to discuss if their services would be a good fit.
To find delicious plant-based recipes, please visit www.hungryveggies.com.