In Part One of the two-part series on science and health with T. Colin Campbell, PhD., Campbell discusses his findings on what science is actually saying about health and nutrition and the vegan benefits to health. Dr. Campell is the author of The China Study, a Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University and the Project Director of the China-Oxford-Cornell Diet and Health Project.
Click here to read how Dennis McCuistion applied the principles of this episode in his vegetarian diet experiment.
There is an obvious health problem in the United States. While, American citizens spend more on health care than any other country, two-thirds of the country is overweight. Greater than 15 million Americans have diabetes, more than 1 million have high cholesterol and half of all Americans have a health problem that requires them to use a prescription drug. Dr. Campbell sought to discover what, if any, are the changes that could be made to the American diet to better prevent disease. Partnering with Cornell, Oxford and the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, Dr. Campbell conducted his study.
The American diet consists of high quantities of protein. However, the findings of The China Study suggest that there are significant vegan benefits to health. Disease increases when a person consumes more than 10% protein in comparison to his or her daily caloric intake. The average American has a protein consumption of 17-18% and 70-75% of that is from animal foods. Through Campbell’s research, it became very clear that there is a direct relationship between animal protein intake and disease increase. The findings showed that as soon as animal protein started to show up in the diet, there was an increase in cholesterol, cancer and heart disease.
Dr. Campbell, closes his conversation noting that his intention in his message is not to push an opinion on listeners, but rather to provide information to the public that unfortunately has not been taught. His concern is that the information the public tends to receive is incorrect, therefore consumers cannot make educated choices on healthy diets. The facts from his study clearly point toward strong vegan benefits to healthy living.
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04.12.09 – 1713
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The China Study, one of the most comprehensive studies of its time, pointed out the benefits of vegetarian diets. According to Dr. Campbell, meat and dairy are harmful and shorten a life span, not to mention the accompanying side effects that can be detrimental to one’s health.
Click here to view the episode on nutrition that provoked the vegetarian diet experiment.
Dennis McCuistion, host of the discussion, was so taken by the information, he decided to experiment and see if the benefits were all the study touted. He has and it worked… He is now almost a full blown vegan himself, with good results. I (Niki McCuistion) asked him about the up and down sides. Here’s what Dennis said:
“The China Study had information that was based on real, objective research that clearly pointed out the risks in eating animal protein and the advantages of plant protein. So I just asked, ‘Why am I killing myself when I have a third of my life left?’ I had already quit drinking milk due to lactose intolerance so that was easy to see.
I lost over 10 pounds in the next 90 days and have kept it off for over 2 years. I always felt good and now feel even better with one great unexpected side effect: I seldom ever have a headache. I cannot say there is a cause and effect, but it’s an added advantage.
It is not difficult to follow, just bothersome as there is virtually no way to eat anything at a fast food place. That is a shame as I am in the habit of often eating on the run, so to speak. At good restaurants, while there may be a limited menu, they will make a vegetable plate. Our American habits of filling up a plate is a shame as there is always a waste.
My typical breakfast is:
- Cereal with fruit (blueberries, strawberries and bananas) with man’s bread or equivalent and non-butter.
- Hot decaffeinated tea is good and some health supplements are also good.
Lunch is usually a vegetable dish. I shouldn’t have bread but usually do, and of course anything chocolate is my weakness.
Dinner can include:
- Salad and veggies, beans, in particular, for protein.
- I may have a protein drink occasionally.
- Pizza without cheese but with lots of veggies is also good.
- Eat lots of nuts, easy on the salt of course.
Oh, after about 30 days, I had no craving for a good steak or other meat. I do eat fish once or twice a week, preferably not fried. I am not obsessive; I just try to be sensible.
As to other regimes, I never really dieted before and don’t consider this a diet either, just a change in the way I eat and live. And I sure feel better.”
Niki Nicastro McCuistion
Executive producer/Producer
Steve Forbes joins Dennis McCuistion to discuss his support of the flat tax, issues surrounding the global economy, his views on Washington policy and his perspective on where the government should be focusing. Steve Forbes is the Editor-in-Chief for Forbes Magazine and the author of Flat Tax Revolution.
As a forerunner in the proposal of the flat tax, Forbes is adamant that the flat tax issue should be on the forefront of the Presidential agenda. He states that it not only needs reformed, but health care and social security for young Americans must also be addressed. He goes on to discuss public opinion and his belief that although the flat tax will make the most sense long term, public opinion will be something that will need to be monitored and addressed as well and his suggestions on how to do that.
It’s the complexity of the current code that creates the problem. He sited a study where one average family’s tax information was given to 45 of the best preparers in the country and they came out with 45 different results on the amount of money the family owed.
Forbes continues the discussion by candidly addressing what he would have done differently if had been elected and the different place that would have put the country. He offered suggestions and support of off-shore drilling and nuclear power plants, saying it would offer 1 million new jobs, manufacturing and construction jobs, highly skilled and highly paid jobs, thus increasing jobs, energy and national security.
He finishes off the discussion by referencing some fundamental moral problems that have left America in the spot it is in today, demographics, social security, medicare and medicaid and his suggestions as how to fix the issues.
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09.21.08 – 1718
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In this segment from the McCuistion Program, Charles Murray, author of The Bell Curve, Losing Ground and the recently released, Real Education, explains and expounds on four controversial truths as they relate to the educational system.
Real Education has a simple premise: the way that we are educating our children is based on educational myths and disregards four distinct truths. The lack of concern for these four truths is detrimental to the futures of our children.
Truth #1 – Ability varies. Mr. Murray talks about the “No Child Left Behind” campaign and fallacies of thought. Schools draw on verbal, linguistic, visual, spacial and mathematical skills. However, there are many more skills that aren’t covered in school that should not be disregarded.
Truth #2 – Half of all children are below average. This statement refers to the skills that are taught and graded in school. He goes on to discuss the segregation that goes on from school to school and how that plays into this truth.
Truth #3 – Too many people are going to college. In Murray’s research he concluded that only 10-15% of kids have the ability to actually graduate from college courses, if they were in fact doing college-level work. However, 28% of Americans have bachelor degrees. He then expounds on the educationally elite and the effect that that has had on society.
Truth #4 – The future of America depends on how we educate the academically gifted.Mr. Murray believes it is our bright kids who will be leading the country, and they need to be trained better in those areas they are not currently trained in. According to Murray one of these areas is virtue. He goes on to explain the misunderstanding of true virtue among the rising generations.
He believes, “real education” is needed in order to eliminate the education myths that are being taught in our schools today.
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10.12.08 – 1721
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