My Dietary Transformation

My wife has been after me for some time to read a book that she read about six months ago called The China Study. So I finally read it while on the Bermuda cruise through Hurricane Irene. I must say it is very compelling and has transformed the way I eat. Essentially, it makes the case for a plant based diet as opposed to an animal based diet. It looks at demographic trends of heart disease and certain cancers in various countries and within countries and correlates it with dietary habits. It is nearly a direct correlation between increased animal protein intake and the rates of heart disease and certain cancers. Conversely, it directly correlates a plant based diet with a decreased incidence of heart disease and certain cancers.

Of course reading this on the cruise wasn't the best place to be exposed to this enlightening information as there was so much food to eat and especially delicious looking desserts. But the truth is there were so many choices on the cruise to eat a plant based (vegan) diet. For the past four or five years I was petty good being on an Atkins type diet, limiting my carbohydrates. I was able to keep my weight in check but as it turns out I was eating so much animal protein and dairy. Eggs, cheese, milk, and butter for breakfast. Tuna for lunch and chicken or beef for dinner. This is exactly the opposite of the diet I should have been consuming per The China Study.

I decided I would try and change my diet. For the last two or three weeks I have been consuming mostly a vegan diet. Whole wheat toast with almond butter, black coffee, and a fruit for breakfast. Large salad and fruit for lunch. Nuts to snack on midday with tea in the late afternoon For dinner vegan chili with a whole grain (brown rice, quinoa, kashe, etc.), a large salad and some veggies. I can say that I do not feel much different but I have lost weight and I do not miss meat or dairy. I do miss milk chocolate and I have cheated on some oreos as there are some things I just cannot give up. I don't know if I will keep it up but for sure I will continue to limit my intake of animal based foods.

While reading the book the question I wanted answered was do vegans live longer than non-vegans. That should be a fairly easy study to do. So when I arrived home I googled vegan longevity study and the results are inconclusive. One may argue they may live a more disease free life and not a longer life but a disease free life should translate into longevity. Even if it has a disease minimizing effect and not a longevity effect I think it is worth the effort. I think a little meat and/or dairy is fine in moderation but no doubt Americans need to cut back on their animal based food choices and spend more time in the produce section.

My teenage children have also adjusted their eating habits and are eating more of a veganish diet. I give my wife a lot of credit for opening my eyes to this way of eating and I should have listened to her a while ago and read this book earlier. I guess it's never too late. I suspect I will read a different book in a few years that will completely refute all the conclusions of The China Study and convince me to change my diet again. Anyway, I highly recommend reading the book. It's worth a look.