Final answer:
Following a vegan diet like Dr. Dean Ornish's plan can lead to a lowering of triglycerides, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. Regina may need to be mindful of HDL cholesterol and to ensure proper intake of essential nutrients to prevent deficiencies. Additionally, a vegan diet can be beneficial for environmental sustainability and may impact food costs depending on food choices.
Step-by-step explanation:
Following Dr. Dean Ornish's purely vegetarian (vegan) diet plan may have several impacts on health markers for Regina. Starting with the increase in blood triglycerides, vegan diets that replace high-caloric, fatty animal foods with plant-based alternatives could potentially lower triglycerides, especially if combined with nutrient-rich, whole food choices.
As for blood pressure, a plant-based diet can lead to a decrease due to the lower intake of saturated fats and cholesterol, and higher intake of potassium from fruits and vegetables which has a beneficial effect on blood pressure. In terms of blood sugar, vegan diets can help stabilize or lower blood glucose levels, owing to a diet high in fiber, which improves insulin sensitivity.
However, a decrease in HDL cholesterol, the 'good' cholesterol, might be a concern, as plant-based diets can sometimes lower HDL levels alongside LDL levels, so it is important to include healthy fats like nuts, seeds, and avocados to maintain adequate HDL levels.
Furthermore, it is crucial that she pays attention to potential nutrient deficiencies that can be common in vegan diets, such as protein, iron, zinc, omega-3, and vitamin B12, ensuring she includes fortified foods or supplements as necessary.
Guidelines regarding fat and nutrient consumption must be carefully followed on a vegan diet. While it may reduce some chronic diseases and help with weight reduction and maintenance, consumption of a high fiber diet can interfere with mineral and nutrient bioavailability, and vegetarian and vegan protein sources are lower quality, often missing at least one essential amino acid.
Substituting vegetables and fruits in place of foods high in added sugars, solid/saturated fats, and sodium can make a nutrient-poor diet healthy again.
When considering the environmental impact of a plant-based diet, studies have shown that vegan and vegetarian diets are generally associated with a lower ecological footprint compared to omnivorous diets. Lastly, adopting a vegan diet can lead to financial savings or additional expenses, depending on the choices of plant-based foods and whether these include exotic or organic alternatives.