Are vegetarians crazy?

[ATL_Gator]

From what I understand and have read... "The China Study" is just wrong. Filled with errors and omissions. At it's best, I see "The China Study" as an example of incomplete scientific and statistical analysis. At worst, I view Campbell as an all out liar advancing his personal agenda by blinding people with complicated numbers and statistics while leaving out the parts that destroy his theory.

[ATL_Gator]

I would mention that I don't disagree with eating more fruits, veggies, and nuts over meats and grains.

In fact, it is my personal theory (with no scientific evidence to back it up other than my own looks at nutritional content)... out of veggies, fruits, and nuts... Veggies should be consumed the MOST. In general, veggies contain a lot of nutrients and deliver it with less sugar (and calories from sugar).

[LeafUF]

Same as ATL, I dont have any problem with people trying to eat more fruits, veggies and nuts and less meats. Just dont like the China Study as your justification, the science behind it is so bad other scientists are embarrassed. You can find plenty of people critiquing the study on the internet and its just not pretty.

I actually watched a Ted talk recently by someone who basically said he would be a week day vegetarian because he couldnt imagine ever eating his last burger. So he was vegetarian M-F then if he wanted meat on the weekends he would have it or not. He also implored the audience to try removing meat from their diet just one day a week.

[Dreamliner]

Originally Posted by ATL_Gator

I would mention that I don't disagree with eating more fruits, veggies, and nuts over meats and grains.

In fact, it is my personal theory (with no scientific evidence to back it up other than my own looks at nutritional content)... out of veggies, fruits, and nuts... Veggies should be consumed the MOST. In general, veggies contain a lot of nutrients and deliver it with less sugar (and calories from sugar).

It's true, eating more fruits and veggies probably (probably) won't kill anybody. But I must say, based on the 72-hour food journals I get from my fat clients, fruits and veggies aren't a problem. They also tend to eat less red meat than I do. Additionally, some take various 'health supplements.'

And they're fat, feel lousy and often have various and sundry medical conditions.

[108]

It would be nice if they could show causation

I am generally a vegetarian due to me being raised a vegetarian, and anxiety has been an issue for me

Though it was also an issue for my father when he was younger and he wasn't a vegetarian

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Originally Posted by rpmGator

Soy, was invented by monks to lower their sex drive as they weren't supposed to get any. It raises estrogen levels in both men and women. Cancer prolbems in women and sex drive problems in men, are the reasons I don't touch the stuff.

Almost everything in this paragraph is incorrect.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

But in short, soy does not raise estrogen in men.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Originally Posted by ATL_Gator

What I can't figure out is how humans survived before electricity and electrically driven refrigeration cycles were so common.

Maybe we didn't. Maybe all the salt and sugar used in preserving food back then lead to high blood pressure and we didn't know that was why we were dying so "young" (relative to today). ????

This is another myth. I believe there's a 4 year difference in average life expectancy beyond childhood. In 1900 the average life expectancy was 74 if you survived childhood, I think it's like 78 now.

[Dreamliner]

Even 'eating more fruits and vegetables' is probably overrated. The practically venerated DASH Diet yields DECIDEDLY modest improvements in blood pressure.

Bottom-line: eat more fruits and veggies ... if you find them tasty.

[bluegrassg8r]

I can state with complete accuracy that my own vegetables are better tasting than any I can buy from stores in my area. We do have a large Amish/Mennonite community who tend to grow heirlooms in their gardens ( which they sell) and they too are really outstanding to eat raw or cook with.
I buy local chickens, pork, and beef for the simple reason that they taste better, have better fat ratios for flavor and marbling, and make better stocks. Our eggs also make waaayyyyyy better cakes and pies- the yolks are larger and richer.

[Gatorrick22]

Originally Posted by LeafUF

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22676203#

According to this study, they just may be. Now we just need to find out if you have to be crazy to be a vegetarian or if being a vegetarian makes you crazy.

"Are vegetarians crazy?" In a word: Nuts!

[rpmGator]

o&b,

The wife has a health degree and won't eat soy and won't let me eat it either. Here is a link to soy info and a link to the monk story. Soy lowers testosterone in men.

http://www.optimumchoices.com/Soy.htm