After weeks of wracking my brains out, reading, researching, trying to make head or tails out of what’s going on with so many people being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I am convinced of several things. I will refrain from saying anything more about the test and Big Pharma, because I think I have already expressed my feeling on that. (Ya think??) I will say that I revisited The China Study, specifically the chapter on this disease, and am reminded of one of the many reasons I chose a plant-based diet. In study after study, from continent to continent, culture to culture, those who develop diabetes are those who consume the most animal protein. While I will not bore you with all the details of the many studies, “all the findings support the idea that both across and within populations, high-fiber, whole, plant-based foods protect against diabetes, and high-fat, high-protein, animal-based foods promote diabetes.” Western medicine is prescribing a diet that neglects these findings, (for several different reasons) and we are being made to feel that we are doing all we can and still “failing” at our efforts.
While radically changing our diets is incredibly impractical and often rather undesirable, how practical or desirable is it to have a lifelong condition such as diabetes? The big bonus is the same “diet” that can prevent diabetes can prevent so many other dread diseases. I am a firm believer that The China Study should be required reading for EVERYONE. No, we don’t always want to know, as ignorance can be bliss…but illness definitely is NOT and knowledge is power.
And never, ever underestimate the power of exercise. What a beautiful thing to lunch yesterday with almost 100 of our students. The SilverSneakers program has done so much to improve the quality of life of senior citizens…and me!
Bonni-I love you, but I think you read too much into this dabetes thing. Simple truth-Obesity and inactivity leads to diabetes. I still believe in my parents philosopy-everthing in moderation. A liitle of this and a little of that!
Plant based diets are hard to follow, hence many people are not going to take the time to figure out what foods are good for them to eat.
I have to commend you for your passion to try to convert us all to plant based diets. I know at least I plan 1 plant based meal a week. I also know when I should close the pie hole and put the fork down.
We all think about food too much in this country!
Well, I do not agree with you regarding diabetes as a result of inactivity and obesity. I was given “the news” a few weeks ago that my A1C was in the “pre-diabetes” range. I almost passed out!!! I am thin……..very thin…….and very active. I eat totally healthy and BAM!! So, I guess I must be an anomaly. I have been totally stressed out about the whole thing. I am waiting for 3 months to retake the test and hopefully the numbers will decrease.
I am the moehtr of a five year old vegan – he was vegetarian until three and then we went vegan. Trust me, once you get into the groove and make it ‘normal’ in your house, feeding your kids is a breeze!And the fact that they have a parent who actually cares what they are eating is a great first step.