This is a great post and idea. It's easy to be anti-animal products but I try to be pro-plant foods. I feel that a lot of vegans I know don't eat very many fruits and vegetables. When I find articles I will also post them here. This will be great.
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This is a great post and idea. It's easy to be anti-animal products but I try to be pro-plant foods. I feel that a lot of vegans I know don't eat very many fruits and vegetables. When I find articles I will also post them here. This will be great.
Dr Duke's Phytochemical Database is a really interesting website that lists the chemicals and activities in a huge range of food and medicinal plants in a database that is searchable by different criteria, eg concentration of chemicals / activities of plants.
http://www.ars-grin.gov/duke/
It confirms that plant foods are full of valuable nutrients and protective natural chemicals that aren't available from animal 'foods'.
But on the other hand it's perfectly possible to be vegan and miss out on the range of goodness available from the plant kingdom, simply by filling up, not with animal foods, but white bread, chips etc.
I'm surprised I haven't seen anyone in this forum talk about Gerson Therapy - it's an all vegan natural therapy developed over 100 years ago that has been shown to completely eradicate cancer (no kidding). I've had several friends and clients go through the therapy who have all completely reversed their cancer.
The key to the diet is eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and juicing them every day.
There are some pretty cool videos online you can watch about Gerson Therapy like the one below on my blog
http://healthandwellnessnewsnow.blog...ut-gerson.html
I've posted a link to this site earlier, but there's already someone who are working on the same idea as I had for this thread, so here's the link again:
Vegan Monthly, edited by John Livesey (PhD).
The health section of his list/table contains a lot of links between various diseases and the preventing and sometimes healing/reducing effect of plants of various kinds. Some links between animal products and certain diseases are also opsted.
Here's the list without embedded links. Go to his site for links to the actual articles.
Soy consumption improves breast cancer survival.
Meat increases risk of type 2 diabetes.
Meat increases the risk of cancer , legumes and fruit lower it.
Whey raises insulin and casein raises IGF-1 in boys.
Fish consumption associated with increased diabetes risk.
Fish does not contribute to the healthfulness of the Mediterranean diet.
Weight-loss diets based on plant rather than animal proteins better lower cholesterol levels.
Milk increases height of girls.
Milk increases risk of acne in adolescent girls and boys. [girls] [boys]
Casein raises IGF-1 and whey raises insulin levels.
Soy consumption reduces premenopausal breast cancer risk in Chinese women.
Dairy protein raises serum IGF-1 concentrations.
Rigorous meta-analysis shows that Mediterranean diet helps prevent heart disease.
Vegan diet reduces risk of type 2 diabetes.
Soy consumption, especially in childhhod, reduces breast cancer risk in Asian American women.
Cancer incidence is lower among vegetarians.
Mediterranean diet pattern reduces cognitive impairment.
Mediterranean diet pattern reduces death rates.
Meat increases risk of colorectal cancer.
Diets high in fruit and vegetables reduce risk of acute myocardial infarction (heart attack).
Dairy protein and calcium associated with increased prostate cancer rate.
Red meat raises blood pressure, non-haem iron reduces it.
Plant-based diet reduces blood pressure.
Mortality increased by frequent egg eating.
Meat consumption raises risk of diabetes.
Red meat raises cancer risk.
Vegan diet better for weight loss.
Diet high in vegetables, fruit, whole grains and legumes reduces risk of heart attack.
Plant-based diet reduces risk of melanoma.
Meat contributes to colon cancer recurrence.
Broccoli and cauliflower reduce risk of prostate cancer.
Fibre reduces risk of breast cancer and meat increses it.
Dairy consumption increases risk of Parkinson's disease.
Increased fish intake associated with higher risk of stroke in men.
Western "meat-sweet" diet raises breast cancer rates in older Chinese.
More evidence that meat increases breast cancer risk.
Meat and fat consumption associated with risk of squamous cell carcinoma.
Cured meats damage lungs.
Meat, especially processed, associated with breast cancer risk.
A diet rich in fruit and vegetables helps protect from asthma and allergies.
Meat increases risk of diabetes.
Vegetarian men smell sexier.
The BBC tries out the Chimpanzee Diet - with reductions in cholesterol, blood pressure and weight.
Meat increases oxidative DNA damage and cooked vegetables reduce it.
Red meat consumption increases risk of a type of breast cancer.
Bacon increases risk of bladder cancer.
Vegetable sources of fat and protein lower heart disease rate compared to animal sources.
Vegetarians have lower levels of CRP.
Meat consumption associated with degenerative arthritis and soft tissue disorders.
Eating vegetables slows cognitive decline.
Two studies find meat consumption increases risk of colorectal cancer. and
More fibre lowers CRP
Avoiding milk lowers risk of metabolic syndrome
Cow's milk is insulinotropic - and is an IGF-1 secretogogue too.
Vegetarian diet lowers hsCRP.
Vegetarian diet help lower body weight.
Meat consumption increases risk of arthritis.
Fruit and vegetables reduce risk of stroke.
Whole milk increases risk of rectal and ovarian cancer.
An apple a day really does keep the oncologist away!
Mediterranean-style diet reduces risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Moving toward a vegan diet reduces age-related weight gain.
Plant food reduces and meat increases blood pressure.
Fruit, vegetables and cereals reduce risk of melanoma.
Public health implications of meat production and consumption.
Life-long vegetarians are at no developmental disadvantage.
Vegetarianism reduces risk of heart disease.
Changing from omnivorous to vegetarian diet increases ferritin levels.
High vegetable and fruit intake reduces risk of pancreatic cancer.
Soy reduces risk of hip fracture.
Cereal fiber and whole-grain intake associated with slowing of coronary-artery atherosclerosis.
Low-fat vegan diet very effective for weight loss.
Soy consumption reduces risk of prostate cancer.
Vegetarians less likely to have insulin resistance.
Vegetables in childhood diet decreases adult stroke risk and fish increases it.
Near-vegan diet may help stop or even reverse prostate cancer.
High intakes of dairy foods and lactose may increase the risk of ovarian cancer.
Colorectal cancer risk is positively associated with high consumption of red and processed meat.
Non-milk drinkers may be protected against insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome.
Mediterranean diet improves longevity.
High consumption of vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains most effective for lowering cholesterol in a low fat diet.
No evidence that milk consumption good for bones.
Milk consumption associated with increased risk of Parkinson's disease.
C-reactive protein and IGF-1 lower in raw food vegans than in omnivores.
Milk consumption increases insulin and insulin resistance.
Mortality from coronary heart disease decreases 30% when vegetable protein substituted for animal.
Red meat is associated with development of inflammatory arthritis.
Legume (but not meat, fish or dairy) consumption is associated with longevity.
Red and processed meat consumption increases risk of colorectal cancer. Largest study yet.
Fruit & veggies decrease risk of stroke.
Milk protein stimulates insulin secretion and increases insulin resistance.
High milk consumption increases risk of a type ovarian cancer.
Increased fruit and vegetable intake reduces mid-life weight gain.
High fruit consumption good for teenage bone health.
High meat consumption increases risk of type 2 diabetes in women and men
Higher soy consumers have lower cholesterol levels.
Vegan wholefood diet better for weight loss and much better for cardiac disease risk factors than Atkins-type diet.
Meat consumption increases relapse rate of ulcerative colitis.
Red meat, processed meat, cholesterol, animal protein and heme iron are associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
Ovarian cancer risk increased by dietary cholesterol and eggs and decreased by vegetables.
Fresh red meat and processed meat associated with rectal cancer.
Soy protein better than casein for diabetics.
High fruit consumption reduces the risk of age-related maculopathy.
Green vegetables and fresh fruit protect against endometriosis but red meat increases risk.
Higher intakes of red and processed meats may increase stroke risk.
Increasing fiber, fruit and vegetable intake reduces estogen in breast cancer patients.
Adherence to the traditional Mediterranean diet reduces the concentrations of inflammation and coagulation markers.
Changing to a vegetarian diet makes you more lean.
Cured meat consumption is correlated with risk of childhood brain tumour.
Soy milk is better than cow milk for improving lipid profile and lowering lipid peroxidation.
Red meat consumption increases mortality in those with high transferrin saturation.
Vegetarians are more insulin sensitive than ominvores.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma risk is increased by animal protein, saturated fat, eggs and dairy products, and decreased by fiber.
The risk of gout is increased by meat and seafood consumption.
Meat consumption tends to increase blood pressure and fruit & vegetables to decrease it.
A high fiber diet is associated with a lower risk of breast cancer.
Vegetarians may have lower rates of colorectal cancer.
Higher plasma lycopene levels are associated with a lower risk of heart disease in women.
Farmed salmon is high in pollutants.
Higher dietary fiber intake slows the progression of atherosclerosis.
Vegetarian diets may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and the risk of complications.
Meta-analysis find meat consumption associated with risk of breast cancer.
Meat/fish consumption in late pregancy raises cortisol in offspring, green veges lower it.
New evidence that Crohn's disease is caused by a bacterium frequently found in cow milk.
A suitably selected vegetarian diet lowers cholesterol as much as does lovastatin.
Higher tomato consumption is associated with a lower risk of heart disease.
Soy and isoflavone consumption appear to reduce risk of prostate cancer.
Animal fat is the main source of dioxin in the diet.
Intake of animal fat is associated with an increased risk of premenopausal breast cancer.
Crohn's disease is probably caught by drinking cow's milk.
Calcium balance remains positive when changing to a vegan diet.
Fruit and vegetables to prevent and treat osteoporosis?
Vegans have lower blood pressures than meat eaters.
Vegans have a higher bone formation rate than omnivores but the same resorption rate.
Chinese study finds that diets high in red meat and eggs increase the risk of colon cancer and diets high in fruit and vegetables lower the risk.
Eating less meat boosts longevity.
Soy protein is better for bone health than milk protein.
Eating fish or fish oil increases the risk of cardiac death in men with angina.
High milk intake does not lower hip fracture risk in post-menopausal women.
Vegan diet a cure for type 2 diabetes?
Dairy products may contribute to development of Parkinson's disease in men.
Soy beans are a good source of iron.
Vegan diet cuts heart disease risk.
Nut consumption and dietary vitamin E both reduce risk of dementia.
Dietary phytoestrogens appear to have beneficial effects on obesity & diabetes.
Regular nut consumption reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes.
High red meat and low vegetable consumption increases colorectal cancer in Singaporeans.
Eating more than 15g/day of ham and/or sausage is associated with greater risk of hyperplastic colorectal polyps.
Allium vegetables may decrease risk of prostate cancer.
Two studies show that changing to a vegetarian diet improves blood lipids.
Vegetarians have better glucose disposal and insulin sensitivity
Dietary CLA appears ineffective against breast cancer in humans.
Framingham study suggests that fruit and vegetables, not dairy, increase bone density in men.
Soy consumption during adolescence may reduce breast cancer risk later in life.
Low potassium intake linked to stroke.
Cow's milk beta-casein A1 may be a risk factor for heart disease and type 1 diabetes.
Two studies indicate that frequent egg consumption may increase risk of ovarian cancer.
Adding soy to the diet is more effective than adding either low fat dairy food or casein for reducing the risk of heart disease.
A diet high in vitamin E slows cognitive decline.
Soy consumption probably reduces the risk of breast cancer.
Increased fruit and vegetable intake reduced blood pressure in a controlled trial.
Low iron status is no more prevalent among vegans than omnivores.
Diet rich in vitamin E-containing foods may reduce Alzheimer's disease risk.
High fruit and vegetable consumption is associated with decreased all-cause mortality.
Higher fibre and monounsaturated fat intake seems to reduce risk of early menarche.
A diet high in vitamin C and magnesium correlates with better lung function.
Dietary cholesterol linked to bowel cancer.
Among South Asian migrants in England, a high intake of vegetables, pulses and fibre halved the risk of breast cancer.
Vegetarian teenagers have a healthier diet than their meat-eating peers.
Supplementing a low protein diet with soy protein lowers blood pressure.
Why do populations who consume low-calcium diets have fewer fractures than do Western societies who consume high-calcium diets?
Meta-analysis suggests egg consumption adversely alters the cholesterol profile.
A very low fat, vegan diet can lessen the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
High-meat, low carbohydrate diets in pregnancy result in raised blood pressure in adult offspring.
Flaxseed (linseed) consumption improves the lipid profile in women.
There is an inverse correlation between legume consumption and the risk of coronary heart disease.
In older women higher cholesterol and LDL levels are associated with increased likelihood of cognitive impairment.
Frequent consumption of tomato products is associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer.
Eating processed meats raises diabetes risk in men.
Increasing fibre in the diet improved mental health.
A recent review concludes that for CHD prevention, animal products should be eaten only sparingly.
Increased fiber intake from fruit, vegetables and wholegrains correlates with reduced heart disease.
High consumption of animal products and low consumption of vegetable products is associated with increased breast cancer mortality.
Restricting intake of animal protein and salt reduces the recurrence rate of calcium oxalate stones in men with hypercalciuria.
Low consumption of plant foods and high consumption of red meat appear to increase the risk of lung cancer.
High intakes of vitamin A as retinol (from animal sources and supplements) are associated with with hip fracture in post-menopausal women whereas vitamin A as carotene (the plant form) is not.
Vegan diet and exercise tends to slow the increase of PSA in men with elevated PSA post- prostatectomy.
Even when both groups are eating healthy diets, ovo-lacto vegetarians show a better blood lipid profile than omnivores.
A diet high in phytoestrogen is associated with higher bone mineral density in post-menopausal women.
Citrus fruit pectin may be anti-carcinogenic.
A gluten-free vegan diet improves rheumatoid arthritis.
Populations consuming low-calcium diets have fewer fractures than do Western societies consuming high-calcium diets. Diets high in fruit and vegetables, not dairy products, help prevent fractures.
Exposure to cow's milk is a major risk factor for both diabetes and multiple sclerosis.
Case control study finds animal-derived nutrients associated with higher risk of stomach and esophageal cancers. Plant-derived nutrients are associated with a lower incidence. [more]
A case of sacroliitis is much improved by a vegan diet.
Physician's Health Study shows that high calcium intake from dairy products may increase risk of prostate cancer.
"Western" cancers may be related to consumption of animal products.
A vegan diet may protect against Parkinson's Disease.
A long-term study shows that soy-based infant formula is just as safe as cow's-milk-based formula. [more]
Low potassium intake (that is to say, low fruit and vegetables) is associated with increased risk of stroke.
Vegetarians can expect to live two years longer than meat-eaters.
Meta-analysis indicates that meat consumption is associated with a modest increase in colorectal cancer risk.
Thickening of the walls of arteries may be related to low levels of lutein.
Diet low in animal protein improves blood glucose in Type 2 diabetics.
Among elderly Chinese women vegetarians have one third the risk of heart disease.
Eating fruit and vegetables is good for the lungs.
Consuming small quantities of nuts cuts heart disease risk.
Those with the highest plasma vitamin C levels have half the death rate of those with the lowest levels - so eat up your fruit and vegetables (supplements not effective!).
Even low-fat dairy products should not be consumed since the removed fat still enters the food chain to cause heart disease. Red meat likely increases the risk of cancer. Much other epidemiologically based advice on diet and exercise.
Foods of animal origin are associated with a higher prevalence of asthma in Taiwanese teenagers.
Elderly Americans eat too much meat.
Low animal product consumption could be the reason Alzheimer's disease and dementia are less than half as common in Ibadan as in Indianapolis.
Energetic promotion of the 5+ A Day message could reduce cancer incidence by a third
High soy milk consumption appears to greatly reduce risk of prostate cancer.
A high ratio of animal to vegetable dietary protein is related to hip fracture in women
Low density lipoproteins of Taiwanese vegans and vegetarians are less oxidizable than those of omnivores
The Cornell China Study finds that the higher the proportion of plant-based foods in the diet, the lower the rate of coronary artery disease , that animal protein is not needed to promote childhood growth , and that a substantial change in American dietary patterns from animal based foods to plant based foods must occur for there to be a substantial change in disease incidence patterns.
Vegan diet-based lifestyle programme rapidly lowers plasma homocysteine levels
Vegan proteins may reduce risk of cancer, obesity & cardiovascular disease by promoting increased glucagon activity
Vegetarian children grow and mature similarly to their omnivorous counterparts
Can a dairy-free diet cure breast cancer?
Is the increasing Western rate of obesity due to consumption of animal protein?
A low-fat vegetarian diet improves the serum lipid profile in women
There is consistent and strong evidence that a high risk of colo-rectal cancer is associated with a low intake of vegetables and of whole grains
The Oxford Vegetarian Study finds that non-meat-eaters have a 20% lower death rate overall than meat eaters (and only half the risk of an emergency appendectomy!) and, of particular interest to vegans, mortality from ischemic heart disease is positively associated with dietary cholesterol
Vegan men have lower levels of the hormone IGF-1, which may result in a lower risk of some cancers.
So do women.
A living food vegan diet seems to benefit rheumatoid arthritis patients
Healthy vegan diets are becoming much easier to sustain with the increasing availability of a variety of plant foods, nutritional supplements and sound information
An almost vegan diet reverses coronary heart disease with improvement continuing for at least 5 years
Eating soy lowers cholesterol and reduces the risk of osteoporosis
Cross-cultural comparisons show that animal foods are strongly linked to coronary heart disease.
Consuming dairy products does not protect against bone fractures in women or in men
Egg consumption correlates with the incidence of cancer of the colon and rectum.
Animal product consumption is positively associated with major diseases and all-cause mortality.
Red Raspberries
Quote:
Health Benefits
Red Raspberries contain strong antioxidants such as Vitamin C, quercetin and gallic acid that fight against cancer, heart and circulatory disease and age-related decline. They are high in ellagic acid, a known chemopreventative, and have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. Red raspberry ketones are currently being used in Japan as a weight loss supplement. Red raspberry seed oil is creating market interest in the cosmeceutical industry because it is rich in Vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acid and has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 24-50.
High in polyphenolic compounds known for their anti-cancer properties.
Contain strong antioxidants such as Vitamin C, quercetin and gallic acid.
Have a high ORAC level – ORAC is a measure of the antioxidant capacity of a substance. Red raspberries with an ORAC of 24 µmole/TE/g are similar to blueberries, well known for their antioxidant values.
Raspberries have been shown to inhibit the production of COX-I and COX-II enzymes. Anti inflammatory products like ibuprofen and aspirin, inhibit COX-I and COX-II resulting in the reduction of pain associated with arthritis, gout and other inflammatory conditions.
Eating whole berries has been shown in scientific studies to be more beneficial than taking the individual phytochemicals in the form of dietary supplements.
Red raspberry oil is creating interest in the cosmeceutical market (skin care products which provide health benefits). The oil from raspberry seeds is rich in Vitamin E, Omega-3 fatty acids and has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 25-50.
Red raspberry ketones are currently being used in Japan as a weight loss supplement in a pill form and as an external patch.
Red Raspberry Seed Oil
Quote:
(Rubus idaeus)
Cold pressed - Certified Organic, Product of Canada
Extraordinarily high in Omega-3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, Red Rasperry Seed oil is a superb anti-oxidant. It contains 83% essential fatty acids. Much research is available online showing the healthcare benefits of internal use of Red Raspberry Seed oil. Its high level of Vitamin E is known to be give it an important role in skin repair and conditioning. Although this Red Raspberry Seed Oil is certainly produced for internal use, we are not licensed to produce or sell food supplements, so we recommend it for skincare and cosmetic applications.
Red Raspberry Oil is known especially for its prevention of gingivitis, rashes, eczema and other skin lesions. It is useful in skin creams, bath oils, and tooth paste. Raspberry seed oil is emollient, lubricating, conditioning, creates a lipid barrier providing protection to the skin and provides moisture retention for the skin. Its anti-inflammatory properties are greater than those of better known oils such as virgin Avocado Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Hazelnut Oil and Wheatgerm Oil. (Oomah, et al 2000.)
Red Raspberry Seed Oil may act as a broad-spectrum UV-A and UV-B shield. It has shown an SPF of between 28 and 50 and thus is a valuable ingredient in natural sunblocks and sunscreens. It has a long shelf life because of its high phospholipid content, and may increase the stability of other carrier oils when blended with them. (Oomah, et al 2000.)
"Raspberry Seed Oil contains exceptionally high levels of alpha and gamma tocopherols (vit. E), vit. A and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. This provides the skin with significant broad spectrum protecion from damaging UV-A and UV-B rays."
Oils of Nature, 2008, O'lenick, Steinberg, Kelin and LaVay
Read more: http://www.naturesgift.com/carrier_o...#ixzz0itjhVYGi
More Fruits and Vegetables and Less Fat Help Reduce Hormone-Related Cancer
December 18 2008
Quote:
High-fiber, low-fat diets reduce recurrence of breast cancer by 31 percent in women with higher estrogen levels, according to a new report from the Women's Healthy Living and Eating Lifestyle Study. Almost 3,000 breast cancer survivors were randomly assigned to either a special high-fiber diet including five vegetable servings, 16 ounces of vegetable juice, and three fruit servings daily, or a comparison diet based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's five-a-day guidelines - a total of five servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
Study/Research Reference: Gold EB, Pierce JP, Natarajan L, et al. Dietary Pattern Influences Breast Cancer Prognosis in Women Without Hot Flashes: The Women's Healthy Eating and Living Trial. J Clin Oncol. Dec 15 2008.
Here are some vegan doctors discussing what the healthiest vegan diet would be...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdxVfi632Xw
From nursingdegree.net:
57 Health Benefits of Going Vegan
An excerpt:
More here: http://www.nursingdegree.net/blog/19...f-going-vegan/Quote:
Vegans are frequently misunderstood as fringe eaters with an unnatural passion for animal rights. While many vegans do feel passionately about animals, its time for others to see that a vegan diet and lifestyle go way beyond animal rights. Following a healthy, balanced vegan diet ensures a host of health benefits as well as prevention of some of the major diseases striking people in North America. Read these blogs to find out about the health benefits or going vegan or just provide better information to your patients.
Nutrition
All of the following nutritional benefits come from a vegan diet full of foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans, and soy products.
Reduced saturated fats. Dairy products and meats contain a large amount of saturated fats. By reducing the amount of saturated fats from your diet, you’ll improve your health tremendously, especially when it comes to cardiovascular health.
Carbohydrates. Carbohydrates provide energy for your body. When you don’t have enough carbohydrates, your body will burn muscle tissue.
Fiber. A diet high in fiber (as vegan eating usually is) leads to healthier bowel movements. High fiber diets help fight against colon cancer.
Magnesium. Aiding in the absorption of calcium, magnesium is an often overlooked vitamin in importance to a healthy diet. Nuts, seeds, and dark leafy greens are an excellent source of magnesium.
Potassium. Potassium balances water and acidity in your body and stimulates the kidneys to eliminate toxins. Diets high in potassium have shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
Folate. This B vitamin is an important part of a healthy diet. Folate helps with cell repair, generating red and white blood cells, and metabolizing amino acids.
Antioxidants. For protection against cell damage, antioxidants are one of the best ways to help your body. Many researchers also believe that antioxidants help protect your body against forming some types of cancer.
Vitamin C. Besides boosting your immune system, Vitamin C also helps keep your gums healthy and helps your bruises heal faster. Vitamin C is also an antioxidant.
Vitamin E. This powerful vitamin has benefits for your heart, skin, eyes, brain, and may even help prevent Alzheimer’s Disease. A diet high in grains, nuts, and dark leafy greens is full of Vitamin E.
Phytochemicals. Plant-based foods provide phytochemicals, which help to prevent and heal the body from cancer, boost protective enzymes, and work with antioxidants in the body.
Protein. That protein is good for your body is no surprise. It may be a surprise to learn that most Americans eat too much protein and in forms such as red meat that are not healthy ways of getting protein. Beans, nuts, peas, lentils, and soy products are all great ways to get the right amount of protein in a vegan diet.
Disease Prevention
Eating a healthy vegan diet has shown to prevent a number of diseases. Find out from the list below what you could potentially avoid just by switching to a healthy, balanced vegan way of eating.
Cardiovascular disease. Eating nuts and whole grains, while eliminating dairy products and meat, will improve your cardiovascular health. A British study indicates that a vegan diet reduces the risk for heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Vegan diets go far in preventing heart attack and stroke.
Cholesterol. Eliminating any food that comes from an animal and you will eliminate all dietary cholesterol from your diet. Your heart will thank you for that.
Blood pressure. A diet rich in whole grains is beneficial to your health in many ways, including lowering high blood pressure.
Type 2 diabetes. Not only is a vegan diet a weapon against Type 2 diabetes, it is also "easier to follow than the standard diet recommended by the American Diabetic Association." Read more about it here.
Prostate cancer. A major study showed that men in the early stages of prostate cancer who switched to a vegan diet either stopped the progress of the cancer or may have even reversed the illness.
Colon cancer. Eating a diet consisting of whole grains, along with fresh fruits and vegetables, can greatly reduce your chances of colon cancer.
Breast cancer. Countries where women eat very little meat and animal products have a much lower rate of breast cancer than do the women in countries that consume more animal products.
Macular degeneration. Diets with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, especially leafy greens, carrots, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes, can help prevent the onset of age-related macular degeneration.
Cataracts. Much the same way macular degeneration is headed off by a vegan diet, cataracts are also thought to be prevented through the intake of the same fruits and vegetables. Produce high in antioxidants are also believed to help prevent cataracts.
Arthritis. Eliminating dairy consumption has long been connected with alleviating arthritis symptoms, but a new study indicates that a combination of gluten-free and vegan diet is very promising for improving the health of those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoporosis. Bone health depends on a balance of neither too much or too little protein, adequate calcium intake, high potassium, and low sodium. With a healthy vegan diet, all four of these points set a perfect scenario for preventing osteoporosis.
Excellent!
I was discussing with my boyfriend the other day what would happen if we lived together (he's an omnivore), as his idea of cooking is driving to McDonalds, ordering take away or making mi goreng, so I would want to do all the cooking.
His reason for not being a vegan at the moment is that he is too lazy to cook vegan food (even though eating a piece of fruit is easier than driving to McDonalds for a snack), and when I said I would do the cooking, he said that he doesn't think a vegan lifestyle is all that healthy. So, if anyone out there has links or names of scientific studies, or websites (preferably with a .gov .edu or .org ending), it would be greatly appreciated if you could post them here. Because I've looked and so far only managed to find one or two, which rant on about B12, calcium, protein, etc deficiencies in vegan and basically say the only benefits is a lowered risk of heart disease, and being skinnier.
Hi,
It's going to be hard to find studies generally comparing living on a plant based diet with living on a standard diet, because most studies are about specific topics, not general topics.
This statement is often quoted (see below). It's from American Dietetic Association ("the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals"), and generally based on independent studies from reliable sources:
There's a broad range of studies documenting all kinds of unwanted side effects of consumption of animal products. Here, for example, is a collection of independet studies showing the link between the 20-30 most common cancer types and intake of various animal products:Quote:
It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes. A vegetarian diet is defined as one that does not include meat (including fowl) or seafood, or products containing those foods. This article reviews the current data related to key nutrients for vegetarians including protein, n-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, iodine, calcium, and vitamins D and B-12. A vegetarian diet can meet current recommendations for all of these nutrients. In some cases, supplements or fortified foods can provide useful amounts of important nutrients. An evidence-based review showed that vegetarian diets can be nutritionally adequate in pregnancy and result in positive maternal and infant health outcomes. The results of an evidence-based review showed that a vegetarian diet is associated with a lower risk of death from ischemic heart disease. Vegetarians also appear to have lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, and lower rates of hypertension and type 2 diabetes than nonvegetarians. Furthermore, vegetarians tend to have a lower body mass index and lower overall cancer rates. Features of a vegetarian diet that may reduce risk of chronic disease include lower intakes of saturated fat and cholesterol and higher intakes of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, soy products, fiber, and phytochemicals. The variability of dietary practices among vegetarians makes individual assessment of dietary adequacy essential. In addition to assessing dietary adequacy, food and nutrition professionals can also play key roles in educating vegetarians about sources of specific nutrients, food purchase and preparation, and dietary modifications to meet their needs.
20-30 types of cancer and animal products (eggs, fish, milk, meat)
Well, google for the "China Study".
It's the largest study on the link between nutrition and health undertaken so far (> 10 years, 6500 participants), and the basic findings of it was that those who follow a plant based diet do typically not fall prey to the "diseases of affluence" like cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabets etc.
Those of the participants (the study was done in rural china) who changed their "traditional" plant-based diet for a western-style animal-product-centered diet also had the same amount of occurrence of these diseases (like we have in "industrialized" countries)
Best regards,
Andy
PS: Of course, if your idea of a vegan diet is French fries, vegan pizza and pasta, cupcakes and buckets of sprite, then the health bonus will not be the same. In fact, you can live a very unhealthy life as a vegan, not just as an omni.
andy_T the china study doesnt actually say what people think it does ill link you to an article that broke it down and proved that he jumped to many many wrong conclusions
http://rawfoodsos.com/2010/07/07/the...act-or-fallac/
in short he ignores some evidence because it contradicts him and he only used caesin in his studies yet claims it proves all animal protein is bad....that would be like me saying that i say a guy eat nightshade and die therefore all plants are bad
its been a while since i read that whole article but i think it also showed that either campbells own study or someoneone elses study actually resulted in the monkeys or rats he gave large amounts of caesin too living longer
i knew it, i knew it, I KNEW IT!!!!!
i shake my fist in the air!!!
Hello Jaitee,
thank you for your reply!
However, please observe that the article by Denise Minger you link to might claim to "prove" some things, but calling it so does not make it a proof.
There are other replies to the claims in the article, and even a rather detailed response by T. Colin Campbell himself:
http://www.vegsource.com/news/2010/0...se-minger.html
http://www.tcolincampbell.org/filead...ercritique.pdf
I tend to rather believe an international team of university professors who undertook a 10-year-study and published the results in peer-reviewed medical publications than a 23-year old student who analyzes some raw statistical data without the proper knowledge how to do it and then publishes her results on her facebook page. But of course you are free to disagree here.
Best regards,
Andy
Hey there catmogg,
I am a distance runner and have been completely plant-based (vegan) since January. I can attest that my body performs better on my new diet. Not only has my performance increased (running time), but I can recover from my runs faster than ever. I invite you to check out my blog forkstofeet.com and show your friend how plant-based has changed my life. It could change his as well. Here is an article I wrote about my switch to vegan and exactly how it has promoted my running career and overall health: http://www.forkstofeet.com/2013/07/m...ves-story.html . I hope that you find this resourceful. If you have any other questions, please let me know.
Definitely health and the environment! Plus being vegan is a great way to keep your body in shape. Below is a great and informative article discussing the health benefits of being vegan.
Eating of foods and vegetables is so interesting to me.And this article is so helpful for me as I am a vegetarian. Thanks for sharing this article with all of us.