Food+as+Medicine+–+The+Truth+about+a+Plant+Based+Diet


 * Student Name:** Michael Waddington
 * Student Number:** n8801363
 * Tutor Name:** Judith Meiklejohn


 * [[image:eatlessmeat.gif width="228"]] || [[image:Where_Do_You_Get.jpg width="304" height="113"]]

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** The Artefact **
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This artefact that was chosen is a video that was featured on Extra on the 14th of May 2009. It was titled ‘The China Study’: Is Your Diet Toxic? During this video Dr Colin Campbell and his med-student son speak out against an animal protein based diet. Their 30 year study concludes that regularly eating meat and other animal products, such as dairy, has adverse effects on health.

The Public Health Issue
The public health issue that is central to the analysis is that of a large increase in chronic disease in our country. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2012, para 4), “ Australia is currently experiencing an epidemic of chronic disease with over 7 million Australians living with at least one chronic disease”. The chronic diseases that will be analysed in more depth include: cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and osteoporosis. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2011, para. 2), “in 2011, the leading underlying cause of death for all Australians was Ischaemic heart disease, which includes angina, blocked arteries of the heart and heart attacks”. Cancer is also in the top 5 causes of death in Australia with “ 120,710 new cases of cancer are estimated to have been diagnosed in Australia in 2012” (AIHW, 2011, para. 2). It was also reported by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2011, para. 2) that “4% of Australian’s have Diabetes. That’s around 999,000 people” and “an estimated 692,000 Australians (3.4% of the total population) suffer from osteoporosis”. These chronic diseases can all be linked closely with an animal protein based diet, therefore supporting the notions of plant based nutrition, commonly referred to as ‘vegetarianism’ or 'veganism’.

Literature Review
Many long term studies have been conducted to support the argument that people who consume a predominantly plant based diet are rewarded with better health and have even been able to reverse the effects of some chronic diseases. One such study was Dr Colin Campbell’s 30 year study which is now commonly referred to as ‘The China Study’. The China Study looks closely at the relationship between animal products, including dairy, and chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, diabetes and some cancers, such as breast, prostate and bowel cancer. Dr Campbell started his study looking at the nutritional habits of China which at the time was virtually free from coronary heart disease. The China Study illustrates that eliminating animal products from the diet can result in an 80% decrease in the incidence of breast, prostate and bowel cancers. According to Campbell & Campbell (2011, p.25) the “nutrients from animal-based foods increased tumour development while nutrients from plant-based foods decreased tumour development”. These results support that a wholefood, plant-based diet is superior to the standard Western diet, in terms of cancer protection. The China Study also supports the argument that bone health is compromised by ingesting both dairy and the meat. Campbell & Campbell (2011, p.27) explained that “animal protein increases metabolic acid and draws calcium from the bones [to neutralise the acid, thus] the amount of calcium in the urine is increased”. The data collected during this study shows that “countries that use the most cow's milk and its products also have the highest fracture rates and the worst bone health” (Campbell & Campbell, 2004, p. 205). Therefore, a plant based diet can lower the risk of developing osteoporosis. Dr Campbell’s research has proven that a plant based diet can reverse the effects of coronary heart disease. Two of the main risk factors of heart disease are high cholesterol and obesity. E ating plant protein has a greater power to lower cholesterol levels than reducing fat or cholesterol intake . Also, Campbell & Campbell (2004, p. 100) indicates that “the average Chinese research participant consumes about 30% more calories per kilogram of body weight than does the average American, yet their average body mass index (BMI) is 20, about 20% lower than in the West”. Another leader in the field of plant based diets is Dr Caldwell Esselstyn who has conducted a 21 year Cleveland Clinic nutritional study. His study is built on the epidemiological data that was collected from a range of rural communities in China where the people have plant based diets and are virtually free of coronary heart disease. Dr Esselstyn worked with Western patients who were suffering from heart disease and had exhausted all traditional forms of medicine. “The goal was for patients to achieve and maintain a total cholesterol less than 150 mg/dL and an LDL-cholesterol less than 80 mg/dL through plant-based nutrition. At this cholesterol level, the body does not deposit fat and cholesterol into arteries”. (Esselstyn, Ellis, & Medendorp, 1995, p.562). His results were published in a series of journal articles at 5, 12, and 16 years, and updated beyond 20 years in his latest book. In his book it reported that “ compliant patient's angina diminished and largely disappeared; they achieved and maintained cholesterol goals; and angiographic evidence showed their disease had selectively reversed” (Esselstyn and Campbell, 2007, p.233). This research supports the notion that p lant-based nutrition can eliminate some diseases. A third study that was conducted at the Cambridge University also supports the argument that eating meat, and more importantly processed meat, contributes to coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus and colorectal cancer. Aston, Smith & Powles (2012, p.4) confirmed that “risks of coronary heart disease, diabetes and colorectal cancer were associated with processed meat intakes and colorectal cancer was also associated with intakes of unprocessed red meat”. This study concluded that “sustained dietary intakes at a counter-factual reduced level in the UK population would materially reduce incidence of coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus and colorectal cancer, by 3-12%” (Aston et al (2012, p.4). It was advised that if men cut their daily meat intake from an average of 91g to 53g it would result in a 12 per cent drop in bowel cancer. It would also see 12 per cent fewer Type 2 Diabetes cases and a 10 per cent drop in coronary heart disease.

The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals, commonly referred to as PETA also support the movement away from animal based diets and towards plant based nutrition. PETA (2013, para. 3) “states that vegetarians and vegans enjoy a lower risk of death from ischemic heart disease, lower blood cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, lower rates of hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes, and lower body mass indexes, as well as lower overall cancer rates”.

Cultural and Social Analysis
You will notice in the research reviewed that the medical practitioners involved used terminology such as ‘plant based diets’ or animal based nutrition’. In our culture and society we prefer to label people who do not consume meat or animal products as ‘vegetarian’ and / or ‘vegan’. Whilst these terms became popular in the 1960s, the concepts are not new. According to Healey (2012, p.3) “meat eating in the quantity that our society eats it today really began with the Industrial Revolution as better machines lead to more efficient agriculture” which made it more affordable for the common people to buy meat products. “The first vegetarian society was founded in 1886 and most of the supporters of the movement were from the intelligentsia, academia or from the small business-owning middle class” (Crook, 2008, p.10). Even today, there is a social belief that people who don’t eat meat or animal products are ‘hippies’ or ‘tree-huggers’ who want to save the planet. It is believed that these groups preach that eating meat is cruel to animals and that it damages the environment. There is also a social belief that ‘vegetarians’ and ‘vegans’ are malnourished and not receiving the correct vitamins, minerals and protein. These social beliefs are led by the industries who benefit from animal product production. “The meat and dairy industries promote the myth of their products being necessary through heavy advertising. Close behind them are the pharmaceutical companies which provide the antibiotics and growth promotants to the animal producers” (Healey, 2012, p.6). Some of these common myths can be busted using scientific research: Myth 1: “You have to eat meat to get sufficient iron” ** Fact: Iron is readily available in breakfast cereals, whole grains, legumes and leafy green vegetables and fruits such as prunes. ** ** Fact: When consumed in the presence of Vitamin C, iron absorption is increased by up to 30%. **

Myth 2: “You have to eat dairy to get sufficient calcium” ** Fact: Calcium is found in all unprocessed vegetable foods in amounts that are sufficient to meet the needs of both adults and growing children. **  Myth 3: “You need to eat meat to get sufficient protein” ** Fact: Too much animal protein leaches calcium from the bones, causing it to be excreted in the urine. ** ** Fact: A major culprit in many human degenerative diseases is a protein overdose. For example, calcium loss in osteoporosis has been linked largely to an excess of high-protein foods. ** ** Fact: Many vegetables, grains and legumes contain protein **

Interestingly enough a news poll phone survey was conducted in 2010. Titled ‘A Pound of Flesh’ the results showed that 5% of Australians said they were vegetarian while 1% said they were vegan. While 5% of people said they were vegetarian, only 2% actually ate a vegetarian diet. Moving forward public health experts need to focus their efforts on educating more Australians about the health risks associated with eating meat and animal products.

Analysis of the Artefact and My Own Learning Reflections
The artefact that was used within this wiki, was the start of some very interesting research into the health determinants of eating meat and animal products. As a Professional Natural Bodybuilder I have committed the last 20 years of my life to believing that the best sources of protein were from meat and dairy products. In a sport where building lean muscle tissue is imperative I now realise I have been brainwashed into believing there was no other alternative. With research comes knowledge and with knowledge comes power and I now question these beliefs. With the research I have done I have come to the conclusion that I could design a much healthier lifestyle eating plan with less meat and animal products for myself and still maintain the lean muscle gains that I require for my sport. I also believe that with my new found knowledge, I have the power to pass this education onto my clients. I am not suggesting that everyone must become vegetarian or vegan, and this is certainly not what I plan for myself, however, if every person had one meat free day a week, the individual health benefits would be remarkable. You might say that I am one person, and how will that make a difference? The answer is that even a wave starts with a ripple and in time that ripple can become a raging wave of change. Education is the power to change your circumstance and sometimes the world.

Reference List
Aston, L.M., Smith, J.N. and Powles, J.W. (2012). Impact of a reduced red meat and processed meat dietary pattern on disease risks and greenhouse gas emissions in the UK: a modelling study. //British Medical Journal//, 2(5). doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2012-001072 Australian Bureau of Statistics (2011). Causes of death, Australia 2011. Retrieved from []

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2011). A snapshot of osteoporosis in Australia 2011. Retrieved from []

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2012). Cancer. Retrieved from []

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2012). Diabetes. Retrieved from []

Campbell, T.C., & Campbell, T. (2011). //The China Study// [EBL version]. Retrieved from [] Campbell, T. Colin, & Campbell, T. (2004). The China study: Startling implications for diet, weight loss and long-term health. Dallas, TX: Benbella Books. Crook, E. (2008). //Vegetarianism in Australia – A history// [EBL version]. Retrieved from [] Esselstyn, C.B Jr. (1999). Updating a 12 year experience with arrest and reversal therapy for coronary heart disease. //American Journal of Cardiology//, 84, 339–341. Esselstyn, C.B Jr. (2001). Resolving the coronary artery disease epidemic through plant based nutrition. //Journal of// //Preventative Cardiology//, 4, 171–177. Esselstyn, C.B Jr., Ellis, S.G., & Medendorp, S.V. (1995). A strategy to arrest and reverse coronary artery disease: a 5 year longitudinal study of a single physician's practice. //Journal of Family Practice//, 41, 560–568. Esselstyn, C.B Jr., & Campbell, T.C. (2007). Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease: the revolutionary, scientific proven, nutrition – based cure. United State of America: Avery Publishing Group. Healey, J. (2012). //Vegetarianism// [EBL version]. Retrieved from []

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (2013). Eating for your health. Retrieved from [] ==

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Reflection
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