We know from what is now an almost irrefutable body of evidence that good nutrition supports drastically improved outcomes, including improved physical and mental health, plus social and environmental well-being. The nutrition provided by consuming a diverse range of whole plant foods is good for our bodies—preventing and treating many of our deadliest, costliest diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, and certain types of cancer—and supports the systems on which our survival depends. We can achieve these impressive benefits by following two relatively simple recommendations: 1) avoid animal products and 2) choose minimally processed foods.
If it’s that easy and the benefits are overwhelming, why aren’t more people eating this way? Why isn’t the whole food, plant-based (WFPB) dietary lifestyle the norm rather than the exception? There are many impediments to change: a lack of nutrition education afflicting both healthcare professionals and the public, the confusing and corrupting influence of powerful industries, regulatory systems that are highly susceptible to those very same industries, reductionism in the scientific community, the perceived convenience of eating poorly, and centuries-old cultural associations—stubborn myths we often don’t even pause to think about—linking meat consumption to values of wealth, class, strength, masculinity, etc. That’s not even to mention taste preferences or cooking experience, which go a long way toward determining what ends up on the plate.
Assuming it’s possible to address these challenges—easier said than done—the question remains: what are the most effective strategies for doing so, and where is the most effective place to begin? Are we doing enough to share the research? Is there a gap in the kitchen between knowledge and application? Are some people never going to change, no matter what?
Education is critical. Whether that means doing a better job of integrating nutrition into the training of healthcare providers or offering hands-on cooking classes, we have a long way to go. But it’s also critical, in conjunction with education, that people can experience the firsthand benefits of improved nutrition. It’s one thing to read about these benefits in a book or to hear about them from a friend or family member, but to experience improved health for ourselves is usually going to be even more impactful and motivating.
That’s where immersion programs come in.
In a review of immersion treatment of childhood and adolescent obesity, researchers define the approach as one that places “people in a therapeutic and educational environment for extended periods;” by removing participants from their habitual environments—in this case, obesity-promoting environments—immersion programs can jumpstart lifestyle changes by providing a combination of nutrition and culinary education, dietary modification, physical activity, and psychological support (e.g., counseling).[1] Though these researchers selected ten days as the minimum cut-off for their review, and though long-term intensive lifestyle interventions (ILI) lasting for many weeks or even months can also show promising results, shorter immersion programs provide many benefits at less cost and greater convenience for participants.[2]
In the case of the WFPB dietary lifestyle, short-term immersion programs can come in various forms. They sometimes involve tracking biomarkers like blood pressure, serum cholesterol, body mass index (BMI), and blood glucose levels, but they don’t have to. The most important things that distinguish immersion programs from other forms of intervention are the change of environment, the in-person support, the provision of healthy food, and opportunities to learn from trained physicians.
Of course, other interventions can also accomplish lifestyle changes or convey life-saving information about nutrition. There are varying degrees of evidence supporting the efficacy of many different approaches: workplace interventions, university cooking classes, and even brief interventions (i.e., single point of contact).[3][4][5] In a study of a nutrition education intervention involving second-year medical students, researchers found that providing only 24 contact hours over five weeks could significantly improve “the nutrition care knowledge [. . . and] medical students’ own consumption of vegetables, dietary diversity and their engagement in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.”[6] (They cite the importance of continued nutrition education to sustain these positive outcomes—an obvious target for improving the training of health professionals.)
Thankfully, we don’t have to commit to a one-size-fits-all approach to encouraging lifestyle change. There’s room for many different strategies, including the ones listed above. However, a more immersive program is ideal because it can integrate the best qualities of these interventions in a single intensive period.
Many participants in short-term intensive immersion programs (sometimes also called jumpstart programs) experience significant in both subjective and objective measures of health. Cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose levels, in particular, often respond very quickly to the WFPB lifestyle, making programs like these a great option for patients with moderate to advanced cardiovascular disease (CVD) or type II diabetes, but the benefits extend far beyond those diseases.
A 2020 article published in the International Journal of Disease Reversal and Prevention took eighty participants with moderate to high risk of atherosclerotic CVD and put them on a plant-based immersion program for one week, including daily education, exercise, and stress management classes.[7] In just one week, the participants enjoyed substantial improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, and BMI. What’s more, the researchers followed up three months later to measure dietary quality, functional capacity, and quality of life (QOL) post-immersion. They concluded: “Short-term intensive lifestyle intervention is feasible, can lead to immediate improvements in risk profiles, and, importantly, can have longer-lasting effects on exercise capacity, dietary compliance, and QOL.”
Further research has shown that the benefits are not merely a side effect of losing weight and that the gut microbiota shifts within as few as six days in a plant-based immersion program.[8] Research like this, plus countless personal anecdotes, suggests our bodies are capable not only of healing—they are eager to do so! We merely need to provide the right conditions to facilitate that healing. (Learn about our week-long tropical immersion program in the Dominican Republic.)
Despite the many potential benefits of programs like these, it’s important to remember that long-term sustainable lifestyle change requires long-term maintenance. In other words, although a week-long immersion is an excellent launching pad for success, particularly for individuals facing diseases who can achieve appreciable changes in their condition, it’s not a quick fix or a panacea. We should view WFPB nutrition as part of a broader lifestyle, not a short-term diet.
Still, if we adopt the correct approach, an immersion program can help set us up for long-term success by providing support, knowledge, and practical tips. Whether you’re new to the WFPB lifestyle or an old hand, programs like these provide many opportunities to connect with a larger community. Likewise, through daily interactions with medical experts, you can elevate your understanding of nutrition beyond what (what should I be eating?) to why (exploring the impressive body of research connecting nutrition to better health outcomes). Critically, a top-notch immersion program also has a pragmatic focus, highlighting the culinary richness and variety of a WFPB lifestyle and providing resources you can take home to prepare delicious meals yourself.
As always, and as I alluded to at the beginning of this article, it’s important to remember that seemingly different aspects of health are inextricably linked. It’s no coincidence that immersion programs almost universally contain elements supporting exercise, stress reduction, and emotional well-being. These factors are essential for getting the most out of a short-term program and maintaining long-term success.
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