Billboards Urge St. Louis Residents to Go Plant-Based

WASHINGTON—“Let’s Beet Heart Disease. Go Plant-Based!” That’s one of the messages that local health care providers are sharing on billboards throughout the month of April in St. Louis. The billboards are part of the Kickstart Your Health St. Louis campaign, which is a multifaceted program to raise awareness about the health benefits of a plant-based diet.

The three billboards, which go up during the week of April 9, feature colorful beets and taglines to capture travelers’ attention. They are located at Interstate 44 eastbound at Cass Avenue, Jefferson Avenue and Stoddard Street, and N. Florissant Avenue and Chambers Street. 

“Heart disease is the leading cause of death in St. Louis,” says Rosa Kincaid, M.D., owner of Destination Natural Anti-Aging. “And we know that when you follow a plant-based eating pattern you can prevent and even reverse heart disease.” 

Dr. Kincaid, alongside Kickstart Your Health St. Louis leaders James Loomis, M.D., Fred and Ricky’s, Kayli Dice, R.D., and STL Veg Girl, in partnership with Neal Barnard, M.D., will provide the entire city with a free health fest showcasing local health organizations and offering free health screenings, a free Zumba class, nutrition and healthy lifestyle tips, a movie screening, and cooking demos. 

The Gateway City Health Fest will take place at the Third Degree Glass Factory on April 10 from 6-9 p.m. with a screening of the film Forks Over Knives, which provides case studies to support Hippocrates’ quote “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” 

The Kickstart Your Health St. Louis program, created by the nonprofit Physicians Committee, provides St. Louis residents with a nutrition blueprint to reach optimal health and reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, certain forms of cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease later in life.  

The dietary pattern—rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes—is scientifically proven to boost metabolism, lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol, stabilize blood sugar, and provide a cost-effective solution to today’s chronic health problems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that 92 percent of Missouri adults fall short of consuming at least two servings of vegetables each day.