In > on Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:37:52
-0000, in uk.current-events.bird-flu, 'pearl' wrote:

>> I speak BTW as a lifelong carnivore. The nearest I come to vegetarianism
>> is a vague effort to keep my meat consumption down to what I consider to
>> be the optimum minimal level that (again as I consider it) gives the
>> maximum yield in terms of bodily benefits.
>
>'There appears to be no threshold of plant-food enrichment or
>minimization of fat intake beyond which further disease prevention
>does not occur. These findings suggest that even small intakes of
>foods of animal origin are associated with significant increases in
>plasma cholesterol concentrations, which are associated, in turn,
>with significant increases in chronic degenerative disease mortality
>rates. - Campbell TC, Junshi C. Diet and chronic degenerative
>diseases: perspectives from China. Am J Clin Nutr 1994 May;59
>(5 Suppl):1153S-1161S.'
>
>'Analyses of data from the China studies by his collaborators and
>others, Campbell told the epidemiology symposium, is leading to
>policy recommendations. He mentioned three:
>
>* The greater the variety of plant-based foods in the diet, the greater
>the benefit. Variety insures broader coverage of known and unknown
>nutrient needs.
>
>* Provided there is plant food variety, quality and quantity, a healthful
>and nutritionally complete diet can be attained without animal-based
>food.
>
>* The closer the food is to its native state - with minimal hea


Hmm, fair enough I suppose, though I'm suspicious of any hidden motivation
behind the study. I've always figured that meat provides useful amino
chunks that are less easy to find in a vegetarian diet, with the
undesirable fats being a cost that should be kept to a minimum.

If the study holds water over the years then I suppose I'll just have to
give in and own up to having some meat because a) I like it and b) I'm too
lazy to organise a balanced vegetarian intake.

Dave J.