A CNN report on the dangers of low-carb, high-protein diets says that “you may live longer if that protein is vegetable-based rather than animal-based.”
Now, if I can be brutally honest here (and since it’s my blog, I’m going to be), I find it extremely irritating and even a bit infuriating that people honestly believe that they can eat all the beef, pork, cheese, and eggs they want and remain healthy! And the fact that it’s reported as “breaking news” that chowing down on steaks & eggs for every meal can give you cancer and heart disease is just silly. I guess the silver lining is that this IS being reported. Hopefully people will start to realize that they need to cut back!
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From CNN.com:
Not all proteins are equal when it comes to the health of dieters eating low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets. Animal-based proteins and fats are associated with increased mortality rates, including increased cardiovascular mortality and increased cancer mortality, a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine concludes. But low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets composed mostly of plant-based proteins and fats were associated with lower mortality rates overall and lower cardiovascular mortality rates.
The study followed more than 85,000 women and 44,500 men for a period of 20 to 26 years. Results of the study confirmed a “direct association” between animal-based low-carbohydrate food intake in men and increased cancer deaths, particularly from colorectal and lung cancer. That association aligns with previous studies that have confirmed a link between red meat, processed meat, and those two types of cancers.
“The protein you get from combining rice and beans is the same quality as what you get from eggs and steak. You just don’t get all the other stuff that’s bad for you, ” says Dr. Dean Ornish, founder and president, Preventive Medicine Research Institute, who is not affiliated with this study. “This is the diet that I’ve been advocating for for 30 years.”
Dieters interested in eating more plant and vegetable-based proteins should consider adding tofu, beans, legumes, nuts, and seeds in to their diet. Sunflower oil, olive oil, canola oil, soy oil, and peanut oil are also great sources of plant-based fats.
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Breakfast: Smoothie with peach, pear, frozen pineapple and water
Lunch: This weekend our friends invited us over for a Labor Day BBQ and they made an amazing vegan meal of stuffed peppers (with rice, beans, okra, and seasoning), vinegar-based potato salad (no mayo here!), and a cabbage salad. I ate some of the leftovers for lunch. I love leftovers!
Dinner: I headed down to San Antonio last night and cooked my family an easy vegan meal: Pasta with spinach, tomato, garlic, and artichoke hearts. It was a hit!
