Green Wellness Program: Plants-2-Plate: Promoting Whole Food Plant-Based Diets for Better Health Outcomes

Paula Christianson-Silva is a nurse practitioner at UT Health San Antonio’s Wellness 360 clinic. Over the past 30 years, she has noticed that patients with diabetes, hypertension, and obesity often end up taking multiple medications without experiencing significant improvements in their health. This prompted her to start the Green Wellness Program: Plants-2-Plate, a six-month initiative aimed at promoting a whole food, plant-based diet.

The program encourages individuals to reduce their consumption of animal products and replace them with plant-based protein alternatives. Participants meet weekly in a group setting to support each other throughout the process. Christianson-Silva has observed positive results across the board, including improvements in cholesterol levels, inflammatory markers, and a decrease in hemoglobin A1C for those with diabetes.

One of the most rewarding outcomes for Christianson-Silva is seeing her patients reduce diabetic medications as a result of their improved health. On average, participants lose about five percent of their body weight during the program’s duration. However, the primary focus is on enhancing overall health and fostering long-term lifestyle changes rather than just weight loss. More information about the Green Wellness Program: Plants-2-Plate can be found through UT Health San Antonio’s website. Through Science & Medicine, TPR and The University of Texas Health Science Center explore how medical practices in San Antonio can have global implications on healthcare.