Archive for September, 2008

Need motivation to eat less meat and more plants? . . . part 8 of 12

by Robyn on September 8, 2008 in Raw Food with 3 Comments
Facebook Pinterest Twitter Linkedin Email

Today stats about where foodborne bacteria E. coli, campylobacter, and salmonella come from, and irradiation consequences.   And which foods you should be most concerned about.   (Each of these stats/quotes has a corresponding source in Robbins’ The Food Revolution.)

 

The deadly E. coli 0157:H7 bacteria has occasionally been found in sprouts and raw apple juice.   The vast majority of E. coli has been found in: GROUND BEEF

 

Tom Billy, administrator of USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, estimates how many cases of beef contain E. coli: 50 percent of U.S. cattle carcasses

 

Reuters News Service quote: “A report by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture estimates that 89 percent of U.S. beef ground into patties contains traces of the deadly E. coli strain.”

 

Leading cause of kidney failures in U.S./Canadian children: Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, 85 percent of cases caused by E. coli

 

Estimate of how many E. coli cases are actually reported: 2% (William Keene, epidemiologist)

 

Salmonella has been caused by tomatoes, mustard cress, bean sprouts, cantaloupe and watermelon.   Far more cases have been caused by: EGGS AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS

 

Americans sickened by Salmonella-tainted eggs in the U.S., annually: 650,000+

 

Americans killed by eating Salmonella-tainted eggs in the U.S., annually: 600

 

Salmonella cases in U.S. versus Sweden: 1 in 200, compared to 1 in 10,000 (you’ll know why later in a blog about the way animals are raised/processed)

 

Campylobacter is occasionally detected on vegetables.   It’s widespread in: CHICKENS

 

American turkeys sufficiently contaminated with Campylobacter to cause illness: 90 percent (side note: if you don’t get sick, thank your immune system, which incidentally is nourished with antioxidant-rich plant foods)

 

Number of hens screened for Campylobacter by Univ. of Wisconsin researchers: 2,300

 

Number that were NOT infected with Campylobacter: 8

 

Cause of Milwaukee’s cryptosporidium outbreak in ’93 that sickened 400,000 and killed over 100: dairy manure

 

Campylobacter kills more Americans every year than E. coli and is increasing more rapidly, according to CDC numbers.   The poultry industry does not dispute that most chicken sold in the U.S. is contaminated.

 

Quote by former USDA microbiologist Gerald Kuester of today’s processed chicken: “(The) final product is no different than if you stuck it in the toilet and ate it.”

 

Evidence of that: Univ. of Arizona found higher levels of coliform bacteria in the American kitchen than on the toilet rim because of “a bonus on the animal foods people bring into their kitchens.   The bathroom is cleaner because people are not washing their chickens in the toilet” (Nicols Fox, foodborne disease authority).

 

Listeria has been found on cabbage grown in fields fertilized with listeria-infected animals.   Far more often it’s found in: SOFT CHEESES AND PROCESSED MEATS

 

The U.S. government’s answer to microbial contamination: irradiation (no long-term studies have been done)

 

Consequences of irradiation: Vita A, B-1, C, K, and E are destroyed, and new and potentially carcinogenic chemical compounds are  created (also mutant bacteria and viruses are a possibility)

 

Need motivation to eat less meat and more plants? . . . part 7 of 12

by Robyn on September 6, 2008 in Raw Food with 2 Comments
Facebook Pinterest Twitter Linkedin Email

Today, good stats about the fact that Americans need EDUCATING on the subject of a plant-based, whole-foods diet. (You know GSG.com has an agenda to get YOU to help spread the word—and many of you already do so, brilliantly.)

 

98 percent of the wheat eaten in the U.S. is eaten as white flour.   Only 2 percent is eaten as whole wheat flour!   In traditional diets, 75-80 percent of total dietary energy comes from whole grains.

 

U.S. children who eat the recommended levels of fruits, vegs, and grains: 1 percent

 

American who are aware that eating less meat reduces colon cancer risk: 2 percent

 

American men who are aware of a link between animal products and prostate cancer: 2 percent

 

Tell me: How can YOU help, you being much more educated about nutrition than, well, basically almost everybody?

Need motivation to eat less meat and more plants? . . . part 6 of 12

by Robyn on September 5, 2008 in Raw Food with 5 Comments
Facebook Pinterest Twitter Linkedin Email

Are plant sources of protein sufficient?   Today, good stats about the need for protein:

 

Protein in human mother’s breast milk: 5 percent of calories

 

Minimum protein requirement according to the World Health Organization: 5 percent of calories

 

U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for adult protein intake: 10 percent of calories

 

Percent of calories from protein in broccoli and spinach: more than 40 percent

 

Percent of calories from protein advocated for by Dr. Atkins, Dr. Sears (The Zone), etc.: 30 percent or more

 

Organizations that have condemned high-protein, low-carb diets: World Health Organization, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, American Dietetic Association, Surgeon General of the U.S., and American Institute for Cancer Research.

 

Two Barry Sears’ (The Zone Diet) quotes: “Humankind has been genetically unable to cope with . . . grains.”   Also, “About one-third of Americans are . . . suffering from protein malnutrition.”

 

Most of the human race for thousands of years has relied on, for most of its caloric energy: grains

 

Position paper quote from the American Dietetic Association:   “Plant sources of protein alone can provide adequate amounts of the essential and nonessential amino acids.   Conscious combining of these foods within a given meal as the complementary protein dictum suggests is unnecessary.”

 

Tell me: Have you given up the idea of needing to pack in more protein to your diet every day?   Or are you still clinging to some of that brainwashing you’ve received over many years?   Try it out.   Switch to plant sources of protein (or just quit worrying about protein altogether) and see what happens.   Give it some time, because  detox symptoms of going off meat/dairy are likely.

Need motivation to eat less meat and more plants? . . . part 5 of 12

by Robyn on September 4, 2008 in Raw Food with 14 Comments
Facebook Pinterest Twitter Linkedin Email

Today, some good stats about eating a vegetarian diet:

 

According to Journal of the American Dietetic Association (this research was published in other journals as well), the average IQ of U.S. children is 99, and the average IQ of vegetarian US children is 116.

 

Obesity rate among the general population: 18 percent

 

Obesity rate among vegans: 2 percent

 

U.S. children who are overweight: 25 percent

 

U.S. vegetarian children who are overweight: 8 percent

 

U.S. children who eat the recommended levels of fuits, vegs, and grains: 1 percent

 

U.S. vegan children who eat the recommended levels of fruits, vegs, and grains: 50 percent

 

Average blood pressure of non-vegetarians: 121/77

 

Average blood pressure of people who eat a vegetarian diet: 112/69 (ideal is considered to be 110/70)

 

Incidence of high blood pressure in meat eaters compared to vegetarians: almost triple

 

Incidence of very high blood pressure in meat eaters compared to vegetarians: 13 times higher

 

Incidence of high blood pressure among senior citizens in the U.S.: more than 50 percent

 

Incidence of high blood pressure among senior citizens in countries eating  plant-based diets: virtually none

 

Average U.S. cholesterol level: 210

 

Average U.S. vegetarian cholesterol level: 161

 

Average U.S. vegan cholesterol level: 133

 

Number of times the huge Framingham study (35 years) had a study participant have a heart attack with cholesterol under 150:   zero

 

Tell me:  Are you reaping health benefits from adopting a more vegetarian diet?   Or do you still have the idea in your head that not eating meat/dairy means you’re going to be sickly and underweight?

 

Need motivation to eat less meat and more plants? . . . part 4 of 12

by Robyn on September 3, 2008 in Raw Food with 4 Comments
Facebook Pinterest Twitter Linkedin Email

Do certain diets prevent cancer?  Today, good stats on health implications  of eating meat:

 

Risk of colon cancer for women who eat red meat daily, versus those who eat it less than once a month: 250 percent greater

 

Risk of colon cancer for people who eat red meat once a week compared to those who abstain: 38 percent greater

 

Risk of colon cancer for people who eat poultry once a week compared to those who abstain: 55 percent greater

 

Risk of colon cancer for people who eat poultry four times a week compared to those who abstain: 200-300 percent greater

 

Risk of colon cancer for people who eat beans, peas, or lentils at least twice a week compared to people who avoid these foods: 50 percent lower

 

Impact on risk of lung cancer for people who frequently eat green, orange, and yellow vegetables: 20-60 percent reduction

 

Impact on risk of lung cancer among people who consume a lot of apples, bananas, and grapes: 40 percent reduction

 

Rate of lung cancer in British vegetarian men compared to the general British population: 27 percent

 

Rate of lung cancer in German vegetarian men compared to the general German population: 8 percent

 

Dr. Diane Courtney is head of EPA’s Toxic Effect Branch and told Congress, “Dioxin is by far the most toxic chemical known to mankind.”   The EPA says that up to 95 percent of human dioxin exposure comes from red meat, fish, and dairy products.

 

The American Institute for Cancer Research, and the World Cancer Research Fund, analyzed more than 4,500 studies and said that 60 to 70 percent of all cancers can be prevented by staying physically active, not smoking, and adhering to the following diet:  “Choose predominantly plant based diets rich in a variety of vegetables and fruits, legumes, and minimally processed starchy staple foods.”

 

Tell me: you gonna have a slab of steak for dinner tonight?   Or, will you choose a diet that will help you prevent cancer?    

Need motivation to eat less meat and more plants? . . . part 3 of 12

by Robyn on September 2, 2008 in Raw Food with 12 Comments
Facebook Pinterest Twitter Linkedin Email

More today on whether dairy products contribute to health:

 

Calcium absorption rates according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition:

                      Brussels sprouts                       64%

                      Mustard greens                       58%

                      Broccoli                                           53%

                      Turnip greens                         52%

                      Kale                                                     50%

                      Cow’s milk                                 32%

 

Suzanne Havala is a fellow of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and says this:

“Milk is species specific.   Each species’ milk is tailor-made for its own kind.   So how on Earth did people start drinking milk from cows?   Even adult cows don’t drink cow’s milk.   And if we drink cow’s milk, why stop there?   Why not drink dog’s milk?   Or bear’s milk?”

 

Neal Barnard, M.D., is president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.   He said this:   “The dairy industry continues to whitewash the dangers of cow’s milk.   The ubiquitous ‘milk mustache’ campaign makes misleading claims about milk preventing osteoporosis, lowering blood pressure, and enhancing sports performance.   Recent studies, including the Harvard Nurses’ Health Study, have show that milk offers no protection against broken bones.   And, unlike prescription drug ads, the mustache ads don’t reveal the many unwanted side-effects of milk, among them increased risk of prostate and ovarian cancer, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.”

 

Tell me: Is the “Got Milk?” ad campaign seeming stupider and more dishonest to you, every time you see a new paid celebrity with a milk mustache on the side of a bus? Eat less dairy and get your calcium from plant foods instead!

Need motivation to eat less meat and more plants? . . . part 2 of 12

by Robyn on September 1, 2008 in Raw Food with 1 Comment
Facebook Pinterest Twitter Linkedin Email

Today, great stats on whether dairy products contribute to health:

 

Asians have little or no osteoporosis.   They also (until recently) have been nonconsumers of dairy products.   (Besides eating much less meat and almost no dairy products, they also drink few sodas, get lots of exercise, and eat more vegetables.)

 

The huge nurses’ study (75,000 subjects) by Harvard School of Public Health found that women with the highest dairy consumption had substantially more bone fractures than women who drank less milk.

 

The highest dairy-consuming countries are Finland, Sweden, the U.S., and England.   The countries with the highest rates of osteoporosis are Finland, Sweden, the U.S., and England.

 

Black South Africans consume 1/10th the amount of calcium that African Americans do.   But African Americans have 9 times as many hip fractures!   (Our obsession with eating massive amounts of calcium is unwarranted.   We just need to eat bioavailable sources of calcium.   These foods high in calcium include greens, nuts, grains, etc.)

 

Researchers studying diet and hip fractures in 33 countries found this “absolutely phenomenal correlation”:   the more plant foods people eat (primarily fruits and vegs), the stronger their bones, and the fewer fractures they experience.   The more animal foods people eat, on the other hand, the weaker their bones and the more broken bones they experience.

Newer Entries →
 

Account

Log In