BY DR. BOB EASTON AND NANCY LONG
Most Midwesterners don’t worship sacred cows–or do we? If we count the varieties of meat and dairy products that fill the shelves of our grocery stores and compare the percentage of food budgets spent on animal-sourced to vegetable-based products, our loyalty to animal agriculture is clear. But there are hidden costs to eating animal products.
A strong case can be made for adopting a vegan diet based on any of three interrelated pillars: it is healthier for humans; it is healthier for the planet; and it is healthier for animals. We will address the first of these — that a vegan diet, especially a starch-based, low-fat one, is far healthier for humans than the standard American diet — the “s.a.d.” diet.
Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of the healthy vegan diet is in the prevention and even reversal of the greatest cause of disease and death in our society: cardiovascular disease in general, and atherosclerosis in particular. Saturated fats and cholesterol, found abundantly in meat and dairy products, have been implicated in numerous studies as major contributors to the process of artery clogging deposits known as atherosclerosis. Vegetables, fruits, and starches have no cholesterol and generally minimal amounts of saturated fats. Veggies and fruits are also loaded with antioxidants, which, along with other anti-inflammatory features found in non-animal sources, tend to reduce the tendency of LDL cholesterol to being “oxidized.” This oxidation is a key step in the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. These plaques are loaded with oxidized LDL “the so-called bad” cholesterol. Certainly there are other factors involved in atherosclerosis, such as smoking, lack of exercise and stress, but the standard American diet is the “elephant in the room” that is too often minimized in its impact. That atherosclerosis can be prevented and even reversed by making dietary changes has been demonstrated scientifically through studies by Dr. Dean Ornish and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn.
Another disease that can be prevented and reversed through a low fat, plant based diet is Type 2 diabetes. Drs. Joel Fuhrman and Neal Barnard have convincingly shown that by replacing high fat animal product diets with low fat starch/vegetable diets, the overwhelming majority of Type 2 diabetics can be “cured” without the need of expensive and potentially toxic medications. Clearly related to this is the amazing success in treating obesity with this diet.
Even several common forms of cancer, especially breast, prostate and colon, have been shown to occur significantly less in people following a high fiber, low animal fat diet. These diseases progress more slowly and have sometimes gone into spontaneous remission in patients willing to make significant changes in their diets.
A multitude of other unrelated diseases as diverse as arthritis [especially the autoimmune variety], migraine headaches, PMS, macular degeneration, cataracts, osteoporosis and fibromyalgia are substantially alleviated by adopting this type of diet.
Most people who adopt a low fat plant based diet notice a major surge in energy and a reduction in non-specific aches and pains. This alone is worth the effort to undo a lifetime of suboptimal choices. A fascinating documentary called “Forks Over Knives” details the health improvements noted when people make these changes. This movie is available as a dvd, as an online download, or can be seen on YouTube. Further documentation and explanation of the science behind the claims made in this article is found in a representative sampling of websites: vegsource.com, pcrm.org, drmcdougall.com, drfuhrman.com and dresselstyn.com.
Fortunately, vegan options are now available in most grocery stores and restaurants. And fresh fruits and vegetables, locally grown, can be found at our many wonderful farmer’s markets. Additionally, you can get some great exercise by starting your own garden! Treat yourself to better health!
Bob Easton is a retired physician with a strong interest in gardening, healthy food choices, simple living and meditation. His wife Nancy Long is a mental health counselor, gardener and advocate for Fair Trade