By: Shriya Swaminathan
There is no shortage of rigorous scientific studies that emphasize the health detriments of animal-based foods. Despite this wealth of knowledge, receiving meals ladened with saturated fats, cholesterol, and carcinogens during recovery seems to remain a norm. However, this practice is en route to becoming one of the past, when we didn’t know any better.
On March 1, 2021, Beirut’s Hayek Hospital– a family-owned, private practice, made a landmark move announcing that they will no longer feed their patients animal products. In an Instagram post that has garnered much support from the plant-powered community and health care professionals, the hospital team stated- “Our patients will no longer wake up from surgery to be greeted with ham, cheese, milk, and eggs … the very food[s] that may have contributed to their health problems in the first place.” During the menu transition phase in 2020, Hayek offered their patients a choice between vegan and non-vegan meal options. The choice was accompanied by facts about the benefits of plant foods and detriments of animal-based foods.
The thoughtful caption on their post highlights key points that all healthcare provision centers must acknowledge.
“There’s an elephant in the room that no one wants to see.
“The World Health Organization classifies processed meat as a group 1A carcinogenic – [the] same group as tobacco – and red meat as a group 2A carcinogenic. So, serving meat in a hospital is like serving cigarettes in a hospital.
“The CDC declared that three out of four new or emerging infectious diseases come from animals.
“Adopting a plant-based diet has been scientifically proven not only to stop the evolution of certain diseases but it can also reverse them.
“We have the moral responsibility to act upon and align our beliefs with our actions. Taking the courage to look at the elephant in the eye.”
In fact, consumers are also keenly aware of the importance of receiving animal-free foods in hospitals. A study of 200 patients conducted by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine revealed that “83% of patients are in favor of hospitals eliminating processed meat in order to reduce cancer risk,” and “69% of patients feel it is not important that hospitals have bacon or sausage on the menu.” This should be a wake up call for hospitals, and treatment centers to ensure their patients are receiving comprehensive care- encompassing food and nutrition, as part of their treatment.
We hope that Hayek Hospital sets a much needed precedent by offering wholesome meals that will treat and not harm. Instead of foods that might send one back to the hospital, patients will now heal themselves with delicious vegan Middle-Eastern favorites like shawarma platters, labneh (Lebanese cream cheese) sandwiches, and Shish Barak (a delicious dumpling stew). If burgers and pizzas are the preferred recovery meal, hearty plant-based versions of these dishes, fajita sandwiches, and pastries are also available!
Image Sources: Hayek Hospital Instagram, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
