My Doctor
3.5 - How Do I Talk to My Primary Care Provider about My New Lifestyle?
People often adopt a WFPB diet and immediately think they need to find a WFPB healthcare provider. While it is easier than ever to find such a provider, they might not accept your insurance or might not be accepting new patients. The good news is that you do not need a WFPB provider; you just need someone who is responsive to your conversation about diet and lifestyle. To ensure that your provider will accept your decision to pursue a WFPB diet, make sure that you are well informed about this lifestyle before having any conversation with your provider. Here are a few things to consider:
Talk to your healthcare provider before stopping or changing any medications. There are possible dangers to stopping some medications abruptly.
Arm yourself with information about your new lifestyle, so you can have an informed conversation with your provider. Doing so gives them confidence that you have thought your plans through.
Provide them with information that should put them at ease. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has a well-written position paper about plant-based diets.
Consider working with a health coach who specializes in WFPB diets. This can also help reassure your doctor.
Share your success with your provider. When they see your improvements, they are much more willing to work with you.
If you would like to work with a plant-based doctor, the following is a list of organizations and practitioners that offer plant-based healthcare.
Plant-Based Docs: A Division of the Plantrician Project
American College of Lifestyle Medicine
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
WeHeal
Love.Life Telehealth
VeganPrimaryCare
Plant-Based Health Professionals UK
Doctors for Nutrition (Australia)
Vegan Doctors in Korea
People often adopt a WFPB diet and immediately think they need to find a WFPB healthcare provider. While it is easier than ever to find such a provider, they might not accept your insurance or might not be accepting new patients. The good news is that you do not need a WFPB provider; you just need someone who is responsive to your conversation about diet and lifestyle. To ensure that your provider will accept your decision to pursue a WFPB diet, make sure that you are well informed about this lifestyle before having any conversation with your provider. Here are a few things to consider:
Talk to your healthcare provider before stopping or changing any medications. There are possible dangers to stopping some medications abruptly.
Arm yourself with information about your new lifestyle, so you can have an informed conversation with your provider. Doing so gives them confidence that you have thought your plans through.
Provide them with information that should put them at ease. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has a well-written position paper about plant-based diets.
Consider working with a health coach who specializes in WFPB diets. This can also help reassure your doctor.
Share your success with your provider. When they see your improvements, they are much more willing to work with you.
If you would like to work with a plant-based doctor, the following is a list of organizations and practitioners that offer plant-based healthcare.
Plant-Based Docs: A Division of the Plantrician Project
American College of Lifestyle Medicine
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
WeHeal
Love.Life Telehealth
VeganPrimaryCare
Plant-Based Health Professionals UK
Doctors for Nutrition (Australia)
Vegan Doctors in Korea