Okay, so this week I want to talk about food. Being
mindful about what we eat …As the saying goes…. We are what we eat, right?
I watched this documentary Monday with my wife
called Forks Over Knives…. Wow!
Now, let’s back track a bit to last weekend. I took my son to his first Bears game at Soldier Field. Typical of tailgating, we threw almost everything with eyes and a tail on the grill: Shrimp, steak, sausage – it was a Midwest BBQ bonanza! It was really good too! Yet, Monday morning, the hangover was not from too many Coors Lights – nope, it was all the heavy food I ate. I had gut rot – literally.
So, then I watch this documentary Monday night and it just about blew the doors off of all things rational – or what I thought was
rational. Most of us would contend that eating animal based products, which includes meat and dairy, are good for you in moderation. We need the protein and amino acids right? This documentary, Forks Over Knives, presents evidence that a whole food plant-based diet can prevent, and in many cases, reverse degenerative diseases; diseases caused by animal protein diets!
There was a section of the movie that showed historical data from Norway before, during and after the Nazi occupation during WII. They had documentation showing heart disease death rates during this era. It is interesting because before the war there was a substantial rise in related deaths. When the Nazi’s occupied Norway, they horded and confiscated all the cattle and livestock for the German front lines. The result: No meat! Thus, a dip in death rates related to heart disease – The Norwegians were forced to eat more veggies and plant based products. Guess what happened after the Nazis were defeated? A spike in food related deaths when the meat returned to the daily diet.
This was just one interesting historical comparison. There is other convincing data and test results done in China and here in the
US that proves without a doubt that animal protein diets, coupled with items of convenience: Soda pop, french fries and really anything processed causes health problems – America is the worst apparently. Supposedly the US health care bill is more than our military budget – according to this movie; most of our health care costs could be reversed if we changed our diets. Ailments like bad cholesterol, high blood pressure, cancer and diabetes are all proven to be diet related and account for most of the surgeries and prescription drugs we are enduring.
So, fast forward to this Tuesday at the local grocery store. Yeah, that’s right, life change! Here are a few things I bought out of guilt:
Amy’s Southwestern Organic Burritos – 4 for $10 bucks (yeah there is cheese in it)
Natures Path, Flax Plus Red Berry Crunch – USDA Organic – $5.79 a box
Garden of Eaten Red Hot Blue Organic Tortilla Chips – $3.99 a bag
Annies Homegrown Bunny Grahams – All Natural – $4.99 a box (for my son, serious)
Point is, healthy food is expensive. For the money I spent above (and that was the tip of the iceberg), I could have fed my family at McDonalds for a week off the dollar menu.
As I put away the food from my health kick purchase, I stumbled upon the lunch menu for my son’s school. It was stuck to the frig with a magnetic. In bold writing, “USDA approved lunches”. It was interesting, because I noticed that hotdogs are a daily option on the menu. Wow, I had no idea that hotdogs were a well balanced meal. Last time I checked, I thought hotdogs were made from pressed lips and assholes – I am not even sure what animal hotdogs come from – and what about the preservatives and nitrates? Huh, makes you wonder who you can trust: The government and large money corporations that control our food supply or the
highly educated doctors they discredit. Further, how can middle class and struggling families even afford organic, healthy food?
The long and the short, go rent this documentary. I may not be a scientist, but I can tell you I have never seen an unhealthy vegan…
John C. Bader
About the Book: www.responsiveuniverse.com
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I watched this a few weeks ago, and have cut way back on cheese. I already gave up butter, milk, and mammals years ago, and since my stroke(in March) reduced the amount of eggs (only in cake, cookies on rare occasions)…..It really does not cost much more for a plant based diet, stay away from the prepackaged quick foods (per your shopping list) to cut costs, whole grain pasta and fresh veggies are reasonable, in the long run you might appreciate paying for good food, then living a limited lifestyle or shortened life!
Very very interesting documentary. I only eat meat about 3 times a week myself, because it’s expensive, and now I think probably just as well!
You’re buying prepackaged, organic foods and expecting that they’ll be cheap? Sorry, it doesn’t work that way. Plus, it’s not the healthiest way to go. Beans, rice, quinoa, oatmeal, fresh fruit & veggies and maybe a few nuts and seeds – that type of thing – are more along the lines of what you should be eating, and they’re really not all that expensive! You can really get most of what you need from the produce and bulk sections of the grocery store. You can also get some great produce at farmers’ markets fairly cheaply, or even grow your own. Bypass surgeries and cancer treatments are what I would call expensive – on every level!