Abstract
Cardiac disease is the primary cause of death in the United States of America (CDC, 2017). Despite ongoing efforts and investments to improve cardiac health in the United States, most of the population will suffer from cardiovascular diseases. There is a multitude of research supporting that diet can contribute to cardiac disease, but it is less known that diet can greatly contribute to regulation and reversal of cardiovascular disease processes (Huang et al., 2012; Satija et al., 2017; Kim et al., 2019). Existing research supports the efficacy of plant-based diets to manage and reverse certain cardiac diseases (Tuso et al., 2015; Esselstyn, 1999; Ornish 1998; Campbell et al., 1998). Plant-based diets have the potential to save many lives and drastically reduce healthcare costs. The purpose of this literature review is to evaluate current research on plant-based diets as interventions for cardiac disease and to identify the reasoning for underutilization of plant-based diets as intervention with cardiac health within the United States population. A database search of CINAHL Plus, MEDLINE, BIOSIS, Cochrane, Google Scholar, and PubMED was conducted and university librarians were utilized. Inclusive criteria and keyword searches were comprised of coronary artery disease and plant-based diets, cardiac disease and diet interventions, intensive lifestyle changes for reversal of coronary heart disease, plant-based diets and cardiac disease and inflammation, and plant-based diets reducing cardiac inflammation.
Thesis Completion
2020
Semester
Spring
Thesis Chair/Advisor
Covelli, Maureen M.
Co-Chair
Neubauer, Charlotte
Degree
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.)
College
College of Nursing
Department
Nursing
Language
English
Access Status
Open Access
Release Date
5-1-2020
Recommended Citation
Butcher, Rachel L., "The Effects of a Plant-Based Diet on Inflammation of Patients with Cardiac Disease" (2020). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 680.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/honorstheses/680