Great article, Robyn. I'm not at all surprised by the findings of all these studies, although I have to admit that my current diet is closer to the 'low quality plant-based' end of the spectrum than 'high quality'.
My husband and I are in the process of moving to a rural property and we're looking forward to growing lots of our own fresh fruit and veg and improving our diets overall. Not that we can't do it right now, but there's something really appealing about eating wholefoods from your own garden.
Hope you are able to complete your tree change soon. My hubby and I moved to a small acreage in February. Even though the world is going to hell in a handbucket, I've never felt more at peace. There's nothing like being able to pick your own salad straight out of the garden, and munch on mulberries and figs fresh from the tree.
Thanks so much, Robyn. We are due to move in in mid-June and we can't wait. Five acres, a nice little house and lots of room for a big veggie garden and lots of furbabies too! I'm so glad to hear your move has been positive, I'm looking forward to a peaceful life in the bush, even if the circumstances leading up to it were really unpleasant.
I've heard a similar saying which is that people tend to spend about the same amount of time on their health, it's just that some people spend it on preparing healthy food and exercising, while others spend it in doctors' waiting rooms and hospitals.
I'm aware of the SMILES trial. It didn't promote red meat consumption, but instead a Mediterranean-style pattern of eating. But women who eat a crappy diet with insufficient plant source of iron (such as green leafy vegetables and legumes) and that contains junky fats such as margarine and vegetables oils, may run short of key nutrients for overall and psychological health. I see a lot of this in my practice - women who have adopted vegan diets for ethical reasons, but are basically eating a pile of crap.
The Psychology Today article rightly pointed out that the same traits that lead many people (especially girls and women) to stop eating animals may also predispose them to depression i.e. giving a damn about the suffering of non-human animals and wondering why the hell other people don't give a damn.
Also the Blue Zones, famous for their longevity and happiness, are areas of low to extremely low animal product consumption. In these societies, such consumption levels are completely normal so there's no social cost for consuming a plant-forward diet, unlike in meat-centred food cultures such as Australia and the US.
Yes I agree. The blue zone diet tends to be like a traditional mediterranean with low meat intake but the adventists in loma linda do well on a vegetarian diet too. So it still depends on quality of the diet.
The Smiles Trial run by Felice Jacka of which I have looked at the food pyramid guidelines was a modified mediterranean diet with recommended 3 to 4 serves of meat; 2 to 3 serves poultry; and 2 serves of fish a week. So basically 1 serving of animal protein a day. Plus 2 to 3 serves of dairy and up to 6 eggs a week.
Of course the traditional mediterranean diet usually has only 1 serving each of poultry and meat and 2 to 3 serves of fish each week. Plus 3 eggs a week. Plus sheep or goat cheese or yoghurt 2 to 3 times a week.
Great article, Robyn. I'm not at all surprised by the findings of all these studies, although I have to admit that my current diet is closer to the 'low quality plant-based' end of the spectrum than 'high quality'.
My husband and I are in the process of moving to a rural property and we're looking forward to growing lots of our own fresh fruit and veg and improving our diets overall. Not that we can't do it right now, but there's something really appealing about eating wholefoods from your own garden.
Looking forward to part two of this series!
Hope you are able to complete your tree change soon. My hubby and I moved to a small acreage in February. Even though the world is going to hell in a handbucket, I've never felt more at peace. There's nothing like being able to pick your own salad straight out of the garden, and munch on mulberries and figs fresh from the tree.
Thanks so much, Robyn. We are due to move in in mid-June and we can't wait. Five acres, a nice little house and lots of room for a big veggie garden and lots of furbabies too! I'm so glad to hear your move has been positive, I'm looking forward to a peaceful life in the bush, even if the circumstances leading up to it were really unpleasant.
I remember a couple of palliative nurses said that whatever we consume we will pay for them in the later life.
I've heard a similar saying which is that people tend to spend about the same amount of time on their health, it's just that some people spend it on preparing healthy food and exercising, while others spend it in doctors' waiting rooms and hospitals.
That is a nice saying that I've not heard.
It is a fact that our lifestyles and environments affect our health. There are no waiting rooms and hospitals in primitive societies even now.
Smiles Trial. Moderate intake of meat good for moderate to severe depression. Run by nutritional psychiatrist Felice Jacka.
https://foodandmoodcentre.com.au/smiles-trial/
Women who don't eat enough red meat is linked to depression.
https://www.deakin.edu.au/research/research-news-and-publications/articles/women-should-eat-red-meat#:~:text=It's%20good%20mood%20food%20says,depression%20and%20anxiety%20in%20women.
Preview of studies revealing link between vegetarianism and greater risk of depression.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/animals-and-us/201812/the-baffling-connection-between-vegetarianism-and-depression
But there is evidence linking traditional mediterranean diets low in red meat with a reduced risk of depression.
I'm aware of the SMILES trial. It didn't promote red meat consumption, but instead a Mediterranean-style pattern of eating. But women who eat a crappy diet with insufficient plant source of iron (such as green leafy vegetables and legumes) and that contains junky fats such as margarine and vegetables oils, may run short of key nutrients for overall and psychological health. I see a lot of this in my practice - women who have adopted vegan diets for ethical reasons, but are basically eating a pile of crap.
The Psychology Today article rightly pointed out that the same traits that lead many people (especially girls and women) to stop eating animals may also predispose them to depression i.e. giving a damn about the suffering of non-human animals and wondering why the hell other people don't give a damn.
Also the Blue Zones, famous for their longevity and happiness, are areas of low to extremely low animal product consumption. In these societies, such consumption levels are completely normal so there's no social cost for consuming a plant-forward diet, unlike in meat-centred food cultures such as Australia and the US.
Yes I agree. The blue zone diet tends to be like a traditional mediterranean with low meat intake but the adventists in loma linda do well on a vegetarian diet too. So it still depends on quality of the diet.
The Smiles Trial run by Felice Jacka of which I have looked at the food pyramid guidelines was a modified mediterranean diet with recommended 3 to 4 serves of meat; 2 to 3 serves poultry; and 2 serves of fish a week. So basically 1 serving of animal protein a day. Plus 2 to 3 serves of dairy and up to 6 eggs a week.
Of course the traditional mediterranean diet usually has only 1 serving each of poultry and meat and 2 to 3 serves of fish each week. Plus 3 eggs a week. Plus sheep or goat cheese or yoghurt 2 to 3 times a week.
BOOM! That's it, all right.