Master of Disaster
These are tough times for vegetarians.
A friend recently sent me a note that compares the general nutritional value of vegetables grown on today’s factory farms with vegetables grown 30 years ago. The note claims that today’s vegetables have:
- 27 percent less calcium
- 37 percent less iron
- 21 percent less vitamin A
- 30 percent less vitamin C
Without a specific source to confirm that information we’ll have to take it with a grain of salt. But there’s little doubt that produce at most major grocery chains is nutritionally anemic compared to fruits and vegetables of years gone by.
That’s one hardship vegetarians have to endure. Another is hearing their diet referred to as a “disaster.”
Not a bad thing
In the e-Alert “Meat of the Matter” (11/19/07), HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., offered this pro & con: “Vegetarianism is a wonderful cleanse in the short term – I definitely recommend it. In the long term a total disaster.”
On the day that e-Alert went out, Dr. Spreen sent me this note: “I bet you’ll get some fallout on the ‘disaster’ thing. To clarify – when I say ‘vegetarianism’ I mean real vegetarians, not those who eat fish, eggs and cheese, etc., and call themselves vegetarians. It’s the vegans who are really at risk.”
Dr. Spreen was correct in predicting fallout on the “disaster” thing – we received a number of e-mails from HSI members who are vegetarians. So let’s step back and give two of those members some swinging room.
Marmee: “I Like Your Column. I do have to disagree with you on your view of being a Vegetarian. Several Years ago, I was a total “Vegan”, for a Year. I also did not have any Caffeine, or any form of Sugar. I was the healthiest that I have ever been in My life. Only, when I went back to not being a Vegetarian, did I start having some Health problems. You should know that being a Vegetarian is not a bad thing. I think most People are too lazy to be a Vegetarian. They are also Gluttons. There is nothing any more un-appetizing than a piece of Greasy Meat. I still do not eat Pork, or Beef.”
Carnivorish
A member named Josh writes: “Talk about missing the mark! You folks really missed it. Are you not aware that all animal products contain substances called prions? These are bacteria, which cannot be killed by any method available today. They also are the substances that cause CJD, or mad cow disease.
“If you check with Loma Linda University, you will find that the results of their latest study of 20,000 Seventh Day Adventists, some vegetarians, some meat eaters and some vegans. You will find that the healthiest among them were the vegans. They had less cancer, less high blood pressure, diabetes and atherosclerosis. So who is missing the mark? You people who are pushing the consumption of animal products had better get your information straight.”
A couple of points about Josh’s message
Prions aren’t bacteria, they’re proteins that appear to do something proteins aren’t supposed to do – they cause disease – primarily neurological diseases in animals. Humans can be infected with diseased prions by eating meat from an infected animal. This is a controversial topic because some scientists believe there may be a link between prions and Alzheimer’s, while other scientists aren’t convinced that a protein could actually prompt any type of disease. In short, the study of prions has a long way to go.
Meanwhile, I took Josh’s advice and checked the Loma Linda University site (llu.edu), and while there is quite a bit of research about vegetarianism, I wasn’t able to find the specific study he mentioned so I can’t confirm the results about less cancer, diabetes, etc. But it should be noted that Loma Linda is a Seventh Day Adventist institution. And while this religion is generally associated with vegetarianism, it would be more accurate to portray the typical Seventh Day Adventist diet as balanced.
For instance, the Seventh Day Adventist Dietetic Association (sdada.org), cautions against excessive fat intake, which is good advice. The association suggests limiting “meat, poultry and fish to 3-5 ounces per day.” In addition, the association encourages whole grain intake, regular exercise, and the avoidance of sweets, fried foods, refined food products, margarine, and artificial sweeteners.
All of this strikes close to home for me personally, because my husband’s family is Seventh Day Adventist, and in addition to the healthy habits listed above, they also don’t smoke, drink alcohol, or consume any caffeine. In other words, when you study a large group of Seventh Day Adventists, you’ll find the results of a very healthy lifestyle, not just the results of following a vegan or near-vegan diet.
There’s plenty of evidence that people who eat little or no meat enjoy good health, but we stand by Dr. Spreen’s position that a vegan diet requires specific supplementation in order to supply a full spectrum of key nutrients. You can find Dr. Spreen’s recommendations in the e-Alert “Meat of the Matter” at this link: http://www.hsionline.com/ealerts/ea200711/ea20071119a.html
Source:
“Good Eating Guidelines” Seventh Day Adventist Dietetic Association, sdada.org
