9th March 2012
Contributing Writer for Wake Up World
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine – PCRM – a Washington, DC based nonprofit organization formed in 1985, brings a lot of evidence to the table about the correlation between what we eat and our physical and mental health.
Here, in the land of the free, home of the brave, we have access to more food choices than just about anyone on the planet. All kinds of conclusions are being drawn about the fact that nearly 80% of American children are overweight, and most adults carry around an extra 30 – 50 pounds of excess fat. We also have one of the highest rates of cancers, diabetes, and heart disease in the world. The cost of this, in terms of human health, is enormous and catastrophic. In areas of the world where eating lower on the food chain is a way of life, the most common painful killers in our society are rarely seen.
As a modern society, the shift to a more vegetarian-based diet is on the rise. The food pyramid has been radically altered from what it was just 25 years ago, and stresses the ultra-importance of a diet that is high in complex carbohydrates and fiber.
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This study was recently posted on the PCRM Website as breaking medical news.
Vegetarian Diets Improve Mood and Lower Stress
February 21, 2012
“Vegetarian diets improve mood and lower stress, according to a new study in Nutrition Journal. Researchers asked 39 meat-eaters to begin one of three different diets—a vegetarian diet, a meat-based diet, or a meat-and-fish-based diet. They found that after just two weeks, vegetarians scored significantly better on standardized mood and stress tests. The mood tests measured depression, anxiety, and stress and were compared with food frequency questionnaires. The vegetarians consumed less eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), animal sources of omega-3 fatty acids, and less arachidonic acid, an animal source of omega-6 fatty acids.”
The Health Topics included on the PCRM are truly an eye-opener for a lot of people. “The World Health Organization has determined that dietary factors account for at least 30 percent of all cancers in Western countries and up to 20 percent in developing countries.” Nearly all of these studies show a direct link between meat and dairy consumption and many diseases known to man.
Reducing our risk for various diseases highlighted on the PCRM Website
Arthritis: “A 1989 survey of over one thousand arthritis patients revealed that the foods most commonly believed to worsen the condition were red meat, sugar, fats, salt, caffeine, and nightshade plants (e.g., tomatoes, eggplant). Once the offending food is eliminated completely, improvement usually comes within a few weeks. Dairy foods are one of the principle offenders, and the problem is the dairy protein, rather than the fat, so skim products are as much a problem as whole milk.”
Calcium and strong bones: “In a 12-year Harvard study of 78,000 women, those who drank milk three times a day actually broke more bones than women who rarely drank milk. Similarly, a 1994 study of elderly men and women in Sydney, Australia, showed that higher dairy product consumption was associated with increased fracture risk. Those with the highest dairy product consumption had approximately double the risk of hip fracture compared to those with the lowest consumption.
The most healthful calcium sources are green leafy vegetables and legumes, or “greens and beans” for short. Broccoli, brussel sprouts, collards, kale, mustard greens, Swiss chard, and other greens are loaded with highly absorbable calcium and a host of other healthful nutrients.”
Breast Cancer: “Countries with a higher intake of fat, especially animal fat, have a higher incidence of breast cancer.”
Prostate Cancer: “Cancer of the prostate is strongly linked to what men eat. Again, animal products are consistently indicted: Milk, meat, eggs, cheese, cream, butter, and fats are found, in one research study after another, to be linked to prostate cancer.”
The bottom line is going to revolve around tracing diseases back to a cause. According to PCRM, many of our diseases can be directly traced to eating foods that are not in line with our physical bodies. The moral of the story, then, would have to be: Everything in moderation. Except for love – go all out for love! Love is the Answer.
Carmen Allgood © March 2012
About the Author
Carmen Allgood is the author of: The beginner’s guide to inner peace – Beyond Diapers – How not to wallow in your own poop“. Carmen offers readers a modern day exploration of spiritual evolution, with a timely twist of pop-psychology for the masses who are starved for lasting peace of mind and true happiness. Carmen unveils the mysteries of love, reveals the means to heal the mind and thus the body, and the simple steps available to all of us to live in constant joy. She also produces syndicated independent music radio shows, which have featured 20,000 Independent Artists from around the world.
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