Quote from NoDoji:
MG, I make no assumptions; I simply studied the scientific evidence following my cancer diagnosis and have continued to study it ever since (I'm a nutritional mentor for clients of a certified nutritionist).
The overwhelming evidence points to a whole-foods plant based diet with 15% or less calories from fat as a powerful method of preventing, arresting and frequently reversing many chronic illnesses linked to diets high in saturated fats and refined/highly processed foods.
I never once intimated that meat/fish/eggs/milk per se is a cause of cancer, diabetes.
VEGAN is a lifestyle. I'm not "vegan", though I have to use that term with people because if you say "I'm vegetarian", most people assume you eat eggs, dairy, and even chicken and fish.![]()
I own a leather motorcycle jacket, leather boots, leather belts, silk clothing (calm down, boys...). I even sometimes eat food with honey in it (gasp!).
A plants-only diet is VEGETARIAN.
"Lacto vegetarian", "lacto-ovo" vegetarian, lacto-ovo-chicko-fisho vegetarian", are all misnomers. They're terms invented to help people feel good about not eating red meat.
Well, in fact, red meat is the least toxic factory farmed meat you can eat, not that it's healthy.
Meat/fish are not necessary for a nutritionally complete diet and a plant-only provides complete protein at the levels needed for good health as long as you're eating from each of the food groups daily (grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables)
The "complete" protein concept is a myth, dismissed years ago.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_combining
http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo/vsk/protein_myth.html
(As an aside, at the time in their lives when humans require more protein than at any other time (early infancy), the ideal food (breast milk) contains less than 7% calories from protein.)
As for "healthful benefits of meat and fish and low-fat dairy (in proper amounts)" that can't be obtained from a plants-only diet, provide evidence of this. Please, no studies funded, designed by, or conducted by those related to food/pharmaceutical industries.
(P.S. How you know I don't eat dirt?)
Ok, you are a strict vegetarian that eats no animal products. IOW, a dietary vegan. So much for mincing words.
You've personally excluded all animal products from your diet despite admitting that prudent consumption is not harmful, and you have no evidence that it is.
All the AA's are contained in most plants but some are very limited in amount, and to the extent of this deficiency the protein is useful rather than burned off as excess energy. Adding a little animal protein complements the plant and enhances the protein quality of the meal making it more physiologically useful. In this way plants are an "incomplete" protein source.
As for your reference to infant G&D, the nutritional needs of the infant has no bearing on those same needs in an adult. (as you've so often reminded us about unnecessary adult dairy consumption)
What is a "nutritional mentor"? have you had any formal training?
I'm still waiting for your (scientific) evidence that unwashed vegetables provide the DRI (daily recommended amount) of B12 -2.4mcg daily. I'm still waiting for your evidence that meat/fish/dairy added to one's diet is harmful when saturated fat and calories are controlled for.
The two longest lived populations -the Okinawans and Mediterranean - both include animal products daily.
You have given no scientific evidence for their complete exclusion.
