That was a fascinating read, I learned a lot, thanks so much Robyn. Many people, my sister included, have much faith in high fat low carb diets, but it never felt right for me. I would like to get your opinions about a plant-based diet, does avoiding meat usually lead to a healthier, longer life?
While the Blue Zones research found that populations with the highest percentage of centenarians eat a plant-slant diet, and many large cohort studies have found that high meat consumption is associated with shorter lifespan, I wouldn't say there there is convincing evidence that total meat avoidance is necessary for living healthfully for the longest possible time. Personally, I eat a 100% plant-based diet for ethical reasons, but I would say that sparing consumption of animal products, alongside high fruit, vegetable, legume and whole grain intake, is compatible with good health.
The other issue here is that whereas in the past, going plant-based meant eating minimally-processed plant foods, now that Big Food has muscled into the vegan food market, many new vegans eat pretty much nothing except ultraprocessed crap. I see many such vegans in my practice and let me tell you, they're not healthy and I wouldn't except them to life a long life if they don't improve their eating habits.
Totally agree with you, Robyn. I have eaten a plant-based diet for over 50 years, and my focus has always been whole, natural, unprocessed foods. The crap being churned out for vegans these days is appalling. I won't touch it.
Aha yes, food processing is a big part of the picture. I'm also on a 100% plant-based diet for various reasons. There are huge ethical and spiritual reasons to avoid most modern meat products. However, if forced to choose, I would eat meat before ultra processed foods.
Definitely big food has swamped the supermarkets around me with their ultra-processed junk, those products now out-number the natural products they seek to imitate!
Merci, Dr C, for exposing the keto distortion. Let's face it, sadly, many natural health doctors are advocating&making mega bags of money by joining the KetoKraze...truly mindboggling to this ol'mechanic who was cured of half a dozen illnesses 40yrs ago thru a vegan diet...human anatomy&metabolism be damned in the name of profits,eh? cheers
It's disappointing to see so many out-of-the-box thinkers getting swept up in the keto craze. I'm always taken aback by how ignorant most health professionals are about human anatomy, physiology and biochemistry. This ignorance makes them easy prey for pseudoscientific narratives such as carbophobia/keto.
There are some differences between individual humans in digestive and metabolic functions, but it's no more true to say that some humans are born meat-eaters and some are born vegan, that to say that some cats are born vegan and some are born meat-eaters. As a species, we actually have less genetic variation than chimpanzees, but zoo keepers don't feed different diets to their captive chimps.
I am sure you knew or saw people who did not eat veges; and vice versa.
There are stories of people who had to undo major changes to their diets due to health problems
Take those who are gluten or lactose intolerant. If they radically change their diets, they could be in strife. I still remember a story during the Iraqi war where a farmer who relied on milk from a cow for his health he lost it. The American army managed to find him a replacement.
I'm sure there are people who rarely eat vegetables, but they certainly don't enjoy optimal health. I'm not sure what you mean by 'analogies' as I didn't use one. Each animal species has a dietary pattern that provides it with optimal health. The more extreme the deviation from this species-specific dietary pattern, the less likely the individual is to enjoy optimal health and longevity. There are always outliers (like Winston Churchill) who can abuse themselves nine ways to Sunday but still make it to a ripe old age, but they're the exceptions that prove the rule.
That was a fascinating read, I learned a lot, thanks so much Robyn. Many people, my sister included, have much faith in high fat low carb diets, but it never felt right for me. I would like to get your opinions about a plant-based diet, does avoiding meat usually lead to a healthier, longer life?
I'm glad you found it valuable.
While the Blue Zones research found that populations with the highest percentage of centenarians eat a plant-slant diet, and many large cohort studies have found that high meat consumption is associated with shorter lifespan, I wouldn't say there there is convincing evidence that total meat avoidance is necessary for living healthfully for the longest possible time. Personally, I eat a 100% plant-based diet for ethical reasons, but I would say that sparing consumption of animal products, alongside high fruit, vegetable, legume and whole grain intake, is compatible with good health.
The other issue here is that whereas in the past, going plant-based meant eating minimally-processed plant foods, now that Big Food has muscled into the vegan food market, many new vegans eat pretty much nothing except ultraprocessed crap. I see many such vegans in my practice and let me tell you, they're not healthy and I wouldn't except them to life a long life if they don't improve their eating habits.
Totally agree with you, Robyn. I have eaten a plant-based diet for over 50 years, and my focus has always been whole, natural, unprocessed foods. The crap being churned out for vegans these days is appalling. I won't touch it.
I can't help but think that this co-option of the vegan movement is all part of the larger agenda to weaken and sicken us.
Aha yes, food processing is a big part of the picture. I'm also on a 100% plant-based diet for various reasons. There are huge ethical and spiritual reasons to avoid most modern meat products. However, if forced to choose, I would eat meat before ultra processed foods.
Definitely big food has swamped the supermarkets around me with their ultra-processed junk, those products now out-number the natural products they seek to imitate!
Merci, Dr C, for exposing the keto distortion. Let's face it, sadly, many natural health doctors are advocating&making mega bags of money by joining the KetoKraze...truly mindboggling to this ol'mechanic who was cured of half a dozen illnesses 40yrs ago thru a vegan diet...human anatomy&metabolism be damned in the name of profits,eh? cheers
It's disappointing to see so many out-of-the-box thinkers getting swept up in the keto craze. I'm always taken aback by how ignorant most health professionals are about human anatomy, physiology and biochemistry. This ignorance makes them easy prey for pseudoscientific narratives such as carbophobia/keto.
Thank you for your excellent research. Nutrition is very, very important. After all, I am what I absorb, not necessarily what I eat.
Very true, and that means that you are what your gut microbiota eat!
See how they ate 100 years ago. See the Bible on dietary guidelines.
What works for some might be unsuitable for others. A classic example is milk, diary.
Some are born vegan and some are born meat-eaters.
The Daniel Fast is actually the subject of a couple of research papers, you'll be pleased to know! See https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2941756/
There are some differences between individual humans in digestive and metabolic functions, but it's no more true to say that some humans are born meat-eaters and some are born vegan, that to say that some cats are born vegan and some are born meat-eaters. As a species, we actually have less genetic variation than chimpanzees, but zoo keepers don't feed different diets to their captive chimps.
I am sure you knew or saw people who did not eat veges; and vice versa.
There are stories of people who had to undo major changes to their diets due to health problems
Take those who are gluten or lactose intolerant. If they radically change their diets, they could be in strife. I still remember a story during the Iraqi war where a farmer who relied on milk from a cow for his health he lost it. The American army managed to find him a replacement.
Always be wary of analogies.
I'm sure there are people who rarely eat vegetables, but they certainly don't enjoy optimal health. I'm not sure what you mean by 'analogies' as I didn't use one. Each animal species has a dietary pattern that provides it with optimal health. The more extreme the deviation from this species-specific dietary pattern, the less likely the individual is to enjoy optimal health and longevity. There are always outliers (like Winston Churchill) who can abuse themselves nine ways to Sunday but still make it to a ripe old age, but they're the exceptions that prove the rule.