Wellness means making life choices in your diet, exercise and how you care for yourself. Applying general wellness solutions can prevent diseases and slow down the signs of aging. Read more

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During an interview and follow-up Q & A with T. Colin Campbell, PhD., author of The China Study, Campbell discusses what we should eat, shouldn’t eat and how to eat right in a fast food nation. Campbell, a strong proponent of vegan benefits for health, disease prevention, and longevity of life goes on to further explain details of his research and findings during his China Health Study.

Campbell’s initial research consisted of in-depth lab research focusing on the consumption of animal based foods versus plant based foods and its effect on the rate of disease. In his research, conducted in China, he and his team surveyed 130 villages (6,500 families) taking necessary samples, such as blood and urine, and sited nutrient levels and elements of that nature. They then compared information on their blood health with the rates of disease for 400+ kinds of diseases.

Their findings clearly indicated that to have optimized health, animal products should be eliminated and a strict vegan diet is the healthiest way to prevent disease.

Throughout the course of the interview and Q & A, he continues to compare the China study’s diet with the Mediterranean diet, the myth of animal calcium intake, the role of fat in relation to disease and more.

Following the original airing of this episode, host, Dennis McCuistion tried out the diet to see if it was everything it claimed.  Click here to see his findings on Vegan Benefits to Health.

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04.19.09 – 1714

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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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A Presentation to Dallas Social Venture Partners
by Dennis McCuistion

 

The good news is we are living longer; the bad news is that as a result more of us will have brain issues such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. The Center for Vital Longevity tells us: “Our rapidly aging society represents one of the biggest challenges that our country has ever faced.” Yet, the research, prevention and treatment options are increasingly optimistic.

Guests:

• Denise C. Park PhD: Professor and Distinguished Chair in Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas; Co-Director: UT Dallas Center for Vital Longevity
• Michael Rugg, PhD: Professor and Distinguished Chair in Behavioral and Brain Sciences University of Texas at Dallas; Co-Director: UT Dallas Center for Vital Longevity
• Mike Spencer: President & CEO, Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Dallas

Joining us via a previously taped interview, Dr. Reisa Sperling, Associate Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and one of the leading researchers in the U.S. on Alzheimer’s, answers: “Can we detect this, dementia/Alzheimer’s, and do we actually want to?”

In 2011 a national Alzheimer’s act was passed into law by Congress and our President, setting in motion our government really looking at the impact of this disease; critical to an aging population.  Today 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s- with a prediction of 16 million by mid-century. Mike Spencer tells us it costs $200 Billion dollars a year to take care of people experiencing Alzheimer’s; yet the National Institute of Health states that only $480 million is devoted to the research of this disease, compared to $3 billion for HIV research, $4 billion for heart disease and $6 billion for various cancers.

“The reality is that deaths from these diseases have gone down from 2000-2008 and deaths from Alzheimer’s have gone up by 66%. If we don’t do something right now we are going to be overwhelmed…” He says, “The emotional impact is tremendous, no-one should have to go through Alzheimer’s alone.”

The Alzheimer’s Association has 70 chapters around the country, helping care givers cope with the impact of this disease.

The good news is that The Center for Vital Longevity and its studies of normal healthy brains and those with problems, is making tremendous strides. Dr. Parks tells us, “I feel reasonably confident that the children of Boomer’s might not have this terrible scourge.”

Dr. Rugg warns, “Throwing money at the problem doesn’t necessarily make things better.”  He acquaints us with the symptoms: everyday memory loss, severe loss of other kinds of functions, “leading to a very confused individual who really can’t live a very coherent life at all.” Still evidence suggests that keeping ourselves in very good physical shape, aerobic exercise, being mentally active and socially engaged help.

New research is increasingly shedding light on how the brain ages, and we can now tell the differences between normal memory loss, Alzheimer’s, and other forms of dementia. Dr. Sperling says, “we have one agent that we know is involved in Alzheimer’s disease; we have ways of detecting it and it’s important to start early detection trails.” That ingredient, Amaloyd, is present in one third of healthy normal brains. Yet it occurs in all patients who have Alzheimer’s.

Dr. Parks says, “For the first time in history we can see into the brain and those microscopic functions we could not see before. We’re at a stage where we can make huge advances and see if an intervention actually works. This is a hopeful time and we’re on our way to solving this terrible disease.”

There is hope on the horizon for people affected by dementia and the primary cause of dementia, Alzheimer’s. The exciting changes in research and technology can help each of us make better decisions as we age. Tune into the rest of the advice from some of our leading researchers in this field on an issue that may affect you or someone you love.

Thank you once again for joining us as we talk about things that matter with people who care…

We dedicate this program to the memory of beloved Aunt Ligia Roman and our friend Jackie Billingsley both of whom very recently passed away from complications due to Alzheimer’s.

Niki Nicastro McCuistion
Executive Producer/ Producer
Management Analyst, Speaker, Consultant
nikin@nikimccuistion.com