Interview with Andrew Freeman, MD.

This document is an interview with Dr. Andrew Freeman, a cardiologist at National Jewish Health in Denver. Dr. Freeman specializes in prevention and lipid management, and he has a particular interest in lifestyle medicine. He advocates for plant-based nutrition and lifestyle interventions for heart health and teaches medical students about their benefits. The text discusses the growing acceptance of plant-based diets among cardiologists and the challenges they face in promoting lifestyle changes to their patients. It also highlights the need for more training in nutrition and lifestyle medicine for doctors, as well as the influence of cultural and environmental factors on dietary choices. The author acknowledges the barriers to acceptance and the influence of pharmaceutical advertisements promoting quick fixes. The importance of lifestyle changes in preventing and reversing chronic diseases is emphasized, and the author shares personal experiences of patients who have benefited from these changes. The author's work at National Jewish Health, including overseeing a cardiac rehab program and integrating lifestyle medicine into patient care, is discussed. The author also mentions efforts to improve hospital menus by including plant-based options. The text discusses the challenges faced by doctors practicing lifestyle medicine and promoting plant-based diets, including the prioritization of profit over health in hospitals. The importance of prevention and teaching people to make healthier choices from a young age is emphasized. The text also mentions the Walk with a Doc program, which promotes physical activity and healthy living. The doctor reviews medical literature annually to highlight studies supporting plant-based eating and discusses the harmful effects of artificial sweeteners and dairy. The negative effects of dairy consumption [Extracted from the article]