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New Healthy Hospitals Act Promotes Shift Toward Plant-Based Diet

A new bill known as The Healthy Hospitals Amendment Act (HHAA) is promoting a shift toward plant-based eating and options.

In addition to its endorsement of plant-based and vegetarian dining, the act could ban bacon, hot dogs, and other processed meats from hospital menus in Washington, DC. The bill also suggests that availability of sugary beverages be reduced.

All of this has been outlined with the intent of providing healthier options to patients and their visitors, as well as hospital workers.

The bill states that “Hospitals shall make available to patients, staff, and visitors a variety of healthful foods, including vegetarian and 100% plant-based meals, and meals that are low in saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars.”

Council member Mary Cheh recently introduced the vegan-friendly bill in the US capital. California and New York have already passed similar measures.

A processed meat ban could soon come into law in Washington, DC hospitals (Source: Anna Shepulova / Shutterstock.com)

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Plant-Based Diets & Disease Prevention

DC already has very high rates of type 2 diabetes, and the incidence of heart disease is predicted to increase over the next ten years. These are both diseases that are known to be exacerbated by an unhealthy diet.

“It’s not uncommon for patients to wake up from heart surgery to be greeted with bacon and sausage—the very foods that may have contributed to their health problems in the first place,” said Neal Barnard, the president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

“By passing The Healthy Hospitals Amendment Act, DC can ensure that patients will no longer have their recovery undermined by the food on their hospital trays.”

Do you think other states will soon follow suit and ban processed meat in hospitals? Let us know in the comments below!