| Vegan News Archive - July-September, 1999 | ||
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Eating Your Veggies Can Save You From a Stroke from September, 1999 Hundreds of People Contaminated with E. Coli Infected Beef at Illinois Gathering from September, 1999 Factory Fish Farms Are Hastening the Extinction of Wild Salmon from September, 1999 Paul McCartney and friends help PETA throw a big party to raise money for animals from September, 1999 Another Fatality at the Shedd Aquarium from September, 1999 U.S. Seriously Weakens "Dolphin Safe" Tuna Standards. from August, 1999 Hegins Pigeon Shoot Canceled from August, 1999 Another Ringling Brothers Circus Elephant Dies from August, 1999 12 -Year Study Shows Plant-Based Diet As Major Part Of Most Successful Treatment For Heart Disease from August, 1999 Exposed: New President of EarthSave is a Cattle Rancher! from August, 1999 USDA Will Start Putting Warning Labels on Eggs from August, 1999 The Results Are In: Breasts Trounce Udders from July, 1999 Procter & Gamble Agrees to Stop Most Animal Testing from July, 1999 USDA's Food Pyramid Declared "Racially Biased" from July, 1999 Evans Furs Closes Last Six Chicago Stores from July, 1999 Study Shows Direct Link between Eating Meat and Colon Cancer from July, 1999 Stories from 2nd Quarter of 1999 |
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Eating Your Veggies Can Save You From a Stroke Researchers from Harvard University have revealed the results of their enormous 14-year-long study that included more than 100,000 health professionals: a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can cut one's risk of stroke by nearly a third. The results, which were reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, show that individuals who ate at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day had 31 percent less risk of a stroke than those who ate fewer than three servings a day. Offering the strongest resistance against stroke were citrus fruits and juice, leafy greens and vegetables in the cabbage family, which includes broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, brussels sprouts and bok choy. The researchers weren't conclusive about what role individual components of fruits and vegetables play - for example, the abundant phytochemicals, anti-oxidants, potassium, folates, and fiber - so they emphasized the importance of eating plants in their natural form.
Hundreds of People Contaminated with E. Coli Infected Beef at Illinois Gathering One of Illnois' biggest E. coli outbreaks has been traced to a Labor Day party on a farm in rural Petersburg. The bacteria, which was spread by tainted beef, poisoned 329 people who attended an all-day party called Cornstock; the beef also infected others who didn't attend the party but ate meat leftover from the event. State health officials said that the meat was undercooked, which increased the risk of the bacteria spreading, and that the likely point of contamination took place at the slaughterhouse, possibly when a cow's intestines were punctured during the slaughtering process. E. coli bacteria live in an animal's intestines, and, if punctured, can contaminate the rest of the carcass. Estimates of the bacteria's prevalence range from 2 to 10 percent of all U.S. cattle. Every year, an estimated 20,000 Americans are poisoned from exposure to the E. coli virus, and to more than 200 people it is fatal. To the people sickened from the bacteria, and to the families of those who have died as a result of it, we offer our heartfelt condolences. Unfortunate and tragic situations like this won't be in vain if we try to prevent them from ever occuring again. The answer is not irradiation, more inspectors or high technology; the answer is to change the way that we think about food. The answer is to consider veganism.
How many vegetarians have heard the tired old saw from pesco-consumers, "Yes, I eat fish, but only farm-raised fish"? Somehow, this is supposed to convey that this individual's eating habits are more humane and environmentally-informed than those who eat wild fish. But as the New York Times reported on September 14, at least in the instance of salmon consumption, this is not necessarily the case. There is growing evidence that the consumption of 'farm-raised' salmon is contributing to the vast depletion of wild salmon from our oceans. How can this be? To start with, let's distinguish between the two: Wild salmon are sleek, muscular and torpedo-shaped; farm-bred salmon are short and fat in comparison, and shaped more like footballs. In addition to this, their fins are often eroded as a result of mass confinement, as any animal in strict captivity suffers from its physical effect. Farm salmon are bred for quick growth rate and docility; this renders them less genetically complex than free salmon, and less equipped for survival in the wild. The problem, say conservationists, is that these captive fish escape and breed with wild salmon, which limits the likelihood of offspring survival. Also, there is the added complication of farm-raised salmon competing with wild ones for habitat and food, as well as formerly-captive fish transmitting to wild salmon diseases and parasites that are said to be abundant in farm pens. As it is, studies on the Magaguadavic River in New Brunswick have determined that salmon that have escaped from farm pens outnumber wild ones by up to eight to one. The wild salmon population appears to be plummeting wildly; once estimated at 2.5 to 5 million in North American rivers, their numbers from a 1998 survey are estimated at about 80,000. In fact, biologists estimate that domestic salmon outnumber wild salmon by about fifty to one. So remember this the next time someone announces that he is saving the ocean by eating farm-raised salmon. Don't do us any favors! Paul McCartney and friends help PETA throw a big party to raise money for animals In a celebrity-laden tribute to the animal rights cause, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) presented its Millennium Gala on Saturday, September 18 at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles. The more than 2,000 well-heeled guests were treated to a huge vegan banquet, an awards show in which PETA paid tribute to many of its famous spokespeople, and a concert featuring Sarah McLachlan, Chrissie Hynde and the B52's. But the highlight of the evening came in the wee hours of the morning when Paul McCartney took the stage in his only concert appearance of 1999 to play songs from his upcoming "Run, Devil, Run" CD. For those among our you who are interested in such things, the celebrity guests and attendees included Alec Baldwin, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ellen DeGeneres, Woody Harrelson, Richard Pryor, Steven Seagal, Margaret Cho, Alicia Silverstone, Kristen Johnston, James Cromwell, Kathy Najimy, Todd Oldham, Bill Maher, Pamela Anderson Lee, Stella McCartney, Rod Stewart, Peter Falk, Bob Costas, Rosanna Arquette, Christina Applegate, Dermot Mulroney, Ricki Lake and Monica Lewinsky. Money raised from the event will help PETA in its many endeavors including putting an end to animal testing, discouraging people from wearing fur, eliminating animal cruelty and promoting veganism, particularly in schools and among medical professionals. To learn more about PETA visit their website.
The first of two baby beluga whales born this summer in the captive breeding program of Chicago's John G. Shedd Aquarium has died after a five-week struggle. Despite the intense spin control created by the Shedd and the Chicago Tribune, which has a financial interest in the aquarium, no direct answers have been issued. Instead, the Shedd repeats what it has maintained every time one of its captives dies prematurely: it would have died sooner in the wild. While it is true that belugas, like many mammals, have a high mortality rate, what has never been properly answered is why imprisoned cetaceans, who avoid the threat of predation, harsh weather conditions, and pollution at the Shedd, would die just as frequently, if not more, than their unrestricted counterparts. The Shedd's spokespeople seem to want to imply that most calf deaths are due to maternal inexperience (which is obviously a continuing problem, with so many cetaceans dying before maturity), but is that the sole reason? Could it be the chlorinated, artificial salt water? Is it being restricted to a concrete box, when they would normally swim 40 - 100 miles a day in the ocean? Is it the stress of living a shadow of a life, one devoid of most natural instincts and pleasures? Perhaps it is a combination of all of these factors. Naomi Rose, HSUS Marine Mammal Scientist, said, "This latest death merely emphasizes the inappropriateness of holding these far-ranging, highly social creatures in small, concrete enclosures." Four belugas have died in the Shedd's captive breeding program in the last seven years. Perhaps nature was merciful to this baby beluga, as he did not have to endure 15 years in a swimming pool. Only the future can tell what will happen to the female beluga who was born not long after the nameless male calf. Please take the time to write a polite note to Chicago's Mayor Richard Daley, letting him know that you are troubled by the recent death of this beluga, and by all the whales and dolphins who have died prematurely while at the Shedd Aquarium. Let him know that you would support resolutions to ban the future breeding and importation of cetaceans into the city of Chicago. Finally, please let Mayor Daley know that you will not give any financial support to the Shedd Aquarium and you will urge others to do the same.
Marine mammal protectionists filed suit Wednesday, August 18, in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco, challenging Commerce Secretary William Daley's decision to weaken the standards for "dolphin safe" tuna labeling. The coalition, including Defenders of Wildlife and the Earth Island Institute, contends that the standards, which would allow the previously outlawed dolphin encirclement, was politically motivated in order to allow fishing fleets from Mexico and other Latin American countries to catch tuna that had been banned in the U.S. since 1990. Encirclement is a practice of chasing, harrassing and netting dolphins in mile-long "purse seine" nets in order to capture the yellowfin tuna schools above which they typically swim in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Although Secretary Daley said in a preliminary finding that encirclement had no significant adverse impact on dolphin populations, the environmentalists counter that this practice has killed an estimated 7 million dolphins over the past 40 years. The Earth Island Institute says that harrassment of dolphins by tuna fishermen causes a physiological stress which is likely to negatively impact dolphin health and reproduction. Some dolphin schools are chased and netted as often as three times a day. The mammal protectionists also say that the new rules, which state that tuna can only be labeled dolphin safe if an onboard observer reports that no dolphins were killed or seriously injured, are arbitrary and capricious because observers are often bribed. Samuel LaBudde, a biologist who spend six months undercover on one of the giant Latin American fishing boats, said," This is basically a form of animal genocide. This is a nonsensical exercise...it's completely unnecessary, economically and otherwise." David Phillips of the Earth Island Institute expects that as many as 20,000 more dolphins will die each year if the new regulations take effect. "This is a by-product of NAFTA (the North American Free Trade Agreement) where open trade with Mexico was stated as the highest priority - much higher than protecting the environment," Phillips said. The best way to ensure that you're not contributing to harming any dolphins is to not eat any fish, tuna or otherwise. That is the clearest way that the oceans, and all the beings that call them home, are going to regain vitality. To e-mail Commerse Secretary William Daley, and let him know that you do not support the weakened "dolphin safe"' labeling, please click here.
The cancellation of the event came after July's unanimous Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision that granted Clayton Hulsizer, a humane officer for the PSPCA, jurisdiction to enforce the state's cruelty to animals law at the site of the pigeon shoot. Clearly, without suspending animal protection laws, this despicable event couldn't exist. Mr. Hulizer is continuing with his lawsuit to ensure that no pigeon shoots will take place in Hegins in the future. Investigators from the Fund for Animals have documented that approximately 75 percent of the birds were not killed immediately by gunshot, but were seriously wounded and left to suffer from their injuries on the shooting fields. Young children, usually boys, would then collect the wounded birds and kill them by stomping on them, ripping off their heads, banging them against barrels, or throwing them in barrels to suffocate. Thanks to the hard work of dedicated activists, the Hegins pigeon shoot won't celebrate year 66. Hopefully, this is the death knell for any future pigeon massacres. Perhaps now the town of Hegins can focus on raising funds to send the young boys who stomped pigeons to therapy.
There's been yet another casualty under the big top: Benjamin, a four-year-old Asian elephant held in captivity by Ringling Brothers Circus, died on July 25 when he drowned in a pond near Houston, according to the circus' director of corporate communications. The Animal Protection Institute notes that at least 27 elephants have suffered premature or unnatural deaths while traveling with or performing in circuses since 1994; five animals have died while traveling with Ringling Brothers in just the past two years. One of Benjamin's companions, Kenny, died after performing while ill in January 1998. Ringling was fined $20,000 by the USDA due to Animal Welfare Act violations that contributed to Kenny's death. When one considers that the USDA has established a precedent of being quite conservative and unlikely to pursue cruelty violations, the mistreatment of Kenny must have been extreme to provoke such a response. In the wild, elephants are remarkably adept, vigorous swimmers. That an elephant should drown is odd, but, then again, animals in captivity have a tendency to die in a sudden, unusual fashion. Circus animals are forced to live a life that contradicts their instincts as they perform demeaning, dangerous tricks and are shuttled from town to town. Elephants the vast majority of their time in shackles, and commonly display stress behaviors, like compulsive swaying. Elephants are sensitive, sociable creatures that in the wild, and spend years living with their mothers and their herd; performing elephants, however, are commonly wrest from their mothers at six months to a year old, when they should still be nursing and bonding. Circus animals travel thousands of miles in extreme heat and cold with few, if any, provisions; they are beaten, electrically shocked, tormented or starved by trainers to elicit the desired response of submission. In an affidavit dated January 20th, 1999, Glenn D. Ewell, a former Ringling crew member, stated that: "As far as I recall, I've seen Benjamin and Shirley (Benjamin's other companion, also a baby) being beaten by the bull hook at least five times since I've been with the Ringling Bros. Circus 'Blue Unit'...If they didn't perform right, Pat [Ringling trainer] would beat it into their head. I recall hearing a conversation between [other elephant trainers] and Randy was saying if it will not sink in, then beat it in...Although the two babies were not chained along side the adult females, they are in close enough proximity that the adults get agitated when the babies cry out when they are beaten." Pat Derby, director of the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) and former elephant handler, is asking that the USDA revoke Ringling Brothers' license immediately. Please inform people whenever possible of the horrific treatment that performing animals have to endure, and be there to educate potential patrons when the circus comes to your community. Also, please see the PAWS and the Animal Protection Institute's websites to become more informed on this issue. In case you're curious, here is a list from the Animal Protection Institute of circuses that don't use captive animals in their performances: Circus Chimera
12 -Year Study Shows Plant-Based Diet As Major Part Of Most Successful Treatment For Heart Disease. Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, surgeon and researcher with the Cleveland Clinic, has shown in the longest ongoing study of its kind that a low-fat, plant-based diet, coupled with cholesterol-lowering medication, is the most successful and effective way to stop the advance of coronary artery disease. His results, which were detailed in the August 1, 1999 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology, found that patients in his program responded significantly better over a longer period of time that subjects in other heart studies. To achieve the success rate he did, Dr. Esselstyn substantially lowered mean levels of both total cholesterol and LDL (Low-density lipoproteins) or "bad cholesterol." To reduce the patients' cholesterol, less than 10 percent of daily calories came from fat, which is the percentage of fat usually consumed in countries where heart disease is uncommon. Dr. Essestyn's 12-year trial eliminated all meats and most dairy, except for skim milk and nonfat yogurt. The focus was on consuming lots of grains, legumes, vegetables and fruit. Apparently referring to Dr. Dean Ornish's heart disease studies, Dr. Esselstyn said: "We achieved these results without structured exercise, meditation, stress management, and other added lifestyle changes that were considered essential in other studies." He believes that his patients benefitted from having only one lifestyle goal, consuming more plant foods and eliminating most animal foods, to focus on. Dr. Esselstyn's program also differs from Dr. Ornish's because fish is still allowed on the latter's diet. The patients on Dr. Esselstyn's trial all had a history of heart disease, and they joined the study as a last hope effort after stopgap measures, like angioplasty and bypass surgery, temporarily treated the symptoms of the disease but not its progress. The 18 patients had suffered 48 cardiac events in the eight years prior to the study; over the many years of his trial, only one experienced an incident of cardiac trouble, and that was an individual who didn't follow the dietary guidelines. One patient, Evelyn Oswick, was told by her doctors nearly 15 years ago to "go home and wait to die" after a triple bypass operation and an angioplasty failed to control the spread of her heart disease. After nearly 14 years following Dr. Esselstyn's plan, however, Ms. Oswick says she has never felt healthier, and she continues to work as well as frequently go dancing with her husband. Dr. Esselstyn believes that national dietary guidelines do not go far enough in recommending reductions in fat intake to Americans. He believes, and his results show, that fat consumption should be far less than the 30 percent commonly recommended by groups like the American Heart Association. "If 30 percent of your diet consistently comes from fat, you're still at considerable risk for a heart attack," the researcher said. Although he acknowledged that getting patients to adapt to his diet is challenging at first, "these same people cherish the idea of a guarantee against recurrence of heart disease. They are empowered when they can take control of a disease that once threatened to end their lives." Dr. Essestyn believes that a maintaining a low-fat, primarily plant-based diet is as close to a cure of heart disease that patients can hope for, despite the "medical miracles" offered through invasive surgeries and angioplasty. He believes that through altering one's diet, the disease will be treated, rather than the symptoms. We couldn't agree more.
 Exposed: New President of EarthSave is a Cattle Rancher! Full
Details Inside:
Well, not quite...EarthSave International, the enviromental-animal advocacy group that supports a plant-based diet, has a new President, the world's most famous cattle rancher turned evangelical vegan, Howard Lyman (see the Vegan Street interview). EarthSave, founded by John Robbins after his seminal book Diet For A New America took the world by storm, has more than 40 local chapters worldwide. Under the direction of Howard, much of its energies will be focused on strengthening and building these smaller chapters. Howard, who has travelled and given speeches extensively, brings his considerable knowledge, compassion, and determination to this worthwhile and well-respected organization. EarthSave has a very strong emphasis on education, and under Howard's leadership, we in the activist community can look forward to watching this effort continue and grow. In a brief phone conversation with us at Vegan Street, Howard mentioned that compassion to animals was added to the existing EarthSave mission statement, as was supporting organic farming. It sounds like there are very exciting things in store for EarthSave.
 Get Ready for Warning Labels on Eggs!
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have announced that cartons of eggs will soon bear a label warning of the dangers of salmonella poisoning. The Center for Disease Control reports that an average of 100 people die and about 310,000 Americans are sickened by salmonella-infected eggs each year. Symptoms include nausea, fever and diarrhea, sometimes severe. The labels, which have been held up for more than eight years by pressure from egg and poultry interests, may enter stores before the end of the year. The proposed label reads: "Eggs may contain harmful bacteria known to cause serious illness, especially in children, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems. For your protection keep eggs refrigerated, cook eggs until yolks are firm and cook foods containing eggs thoroughly." Unlike most foods, which pick up diseases from contaminated dust or fecal matter, salmonella actually infects eggs while they are being formed inside the hen. The USDA and FDA announced the new labels at a Senate Governmental Affairs subcommittee hearing, where regulators were scolded by senators for taking so long to implement the rulings. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) also took the agencies to task for failing to implement regulations banning the practice of repacking old eggs into cartons with new "sell by" dates. The older eggs have a particular risk of containing salmonella. The warning labels won't, of course, make mention of the ridiculously high levels of cholesterol contained in eggs, and since most people don't read warning labels anyway, they may have only a minimal effect on the mass illnesses the eggs cause. But each new warning against unsafe meat and animal products, and they seem to be coming with increasing frequency these days, puts one more tiny hint in people's minds that they should consider rethinking their food choices. By the way, in case you're keeping score, Americans eat a disgusting 67 billion eggs each year!
Breast is Best A new study presented by German scientists in the British Medical Journal shows a startling link between breast-feeding (or, rather, the lack thereof) and the likelihood of childhood obesity. The study, which tracked over 9,000 children in Bavaria, found that the longer babies were solely breast-fed before being switched to formula, the lower their chances of starting school overweight. The numbers were significant: babies breast-fed exclusively for six months to a year were 43 perrcent less likely to be obese than those given formula from the start. Breast-feeding beyond a child's first birthday yielded even better results, with a staggering 72 percent lower chance of childhood obesity among participants. The same also held true for elementary school-aged children who were simply overweight: there was a heightened risk when breast-feeding wasn't the exclusive source of nutrition in infancy. (Children were classified as overweight if their body mass index was in the highest ten percent of all children their age and sex in Bavaria; those in the highest three percent were labeled obese.) Got breast?
Procter & Gamble Finally Gets the Message and Halts Most Animal Testing On June 30, Procter & Gamble announced that it will end the use of animal tests for its current beauty, fabric, home care, and paper products, except where "required by law." This announcement covers approximately 80 percent of P&G's total portfolio, and is effective immediately in all countries where the company operates. P&G made exceptions for its current food and pharmaceutical products, as well as any new products. Procter & Gamble has long been a target of animal rights groups for its testing policies, in particular, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), whose "Animals Died for Your Laundry" campaign was emblazoned on press kits, t-shirts and even a touring race car. PETA and others also organized a successful and long-running boycott of P&G products. Larry Games, P&G's vice president of global product safety stated that the company would continue to support research to develop non-animal test methods for foods, drugs, new ingredients and technologies. Although this is a definite victory for laboratory animals and animal advocates everywhere, P&G is notoriously slow to respond to the activist community. Let's acknowledge this victory, while letting P&G know that we won't settle for less than a move to 100 percent cruelty-free product testing, a move many American manufacturers have already made.
USDA's Food Pyramid is Racially Biased
At its core is a contention that the existing guidelines insufficiently address the dietary needs of non-white racial groups. According to a letter sent by the Congressional Black Caucus to President Clinton, the current food pyramid "demonstrate(s) a consistent racial bias" and does not accurately reflect the nation's digestive differences. The vast majority of studies on calcium and osteoporosis have been on Caucasian subjects, and after the age of five, most people whose genetic background is not Northern European produce less lactase, the intestinal enzyme necessary for digesting milk. By the age of ten, most Asian-Americans, African-Americans, and Native Americans are lactose intolerant, in addition to half of all Hispanic Americans. Lactose intolerance, which results in dairy products traveling through the stomach undigested and then fermenting in the small bowel, is known to have symptoms of gas, cramps, and diarrhea. The last guidelines, issued in 1995, recommended two to three servings of milk, yogurt or cheese daily. The guidelines are used for determining menus by a number of federal food assistance programs, which reach a disproportionately high number of minorities, as well as being the standard that all public school lunch programs are required to meet. Public schools must provide milk to all students, and although a lactose-intolerant student may receive a milk alternative with a doctor's note, the school is not required to provide the alternative. Those who are pushing for a revised pyramid that would emphasize plant-based foods over animal proteins say that the dairy industry has too much of an influence over the USDA, and that their agenda is self-serving, rather than concerned with health matters. Dr. Walter C. Willett, chairman of the department of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health said, "There's an ongoing campaign to get every adult to drink three glasses of milk a day. That's obviously about increasing sales and profits.” This proposed revision has been met with the predictable response from food industry apologists. Dr. Greg Miller, vice president for nutrition research at the National Dairy Council has said that those who want to broaden the food pyramid are guilty of "...scare tactics that try and move people to their vegan agenda." Susan Ruland, a spokeswoman for the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board, said, "I believe that they're using the race card in a very irresponsible way to suggest that dairy products are not appropriate." But Marion Nestle, who served on the USDA panel for the 1995 revisions, said that, "it's important to have some debate on this; if not, all the pressure will come from the food industry." PCRM is also asking for a meatless pyramid, as well as a stronger statement about the appropriateness of substitutes for meat and dairy. Publicly circulated on posters, the food pyramid can be found everywhere from doctors offices to classrooms and cereal boxes. Although the guidelines point out that a half-cup of cooked beans or 2 tablespoons of peanut butter can be substituted for the 2 1/2 to 3 ounces of lean meat otherwise recommended, one can only discover this by wading through the 40-page guideline book. PCRM would like to see the plant-based options more prominently featured on the pyramid. The final version of the food pyramid will be published next summer.
Major Chicago Furrier Goes Out of Business Last time we checked, they were just hanging on by their fingertips, but now they're fully free-falling into financial ruin: Evans is officially selling its six remaining Chicago-area stores. Although five company-owned outlets will remain in Texas and the Washington, D.C. area for now, the move is likely to mark the end of the 70-year-old retail brand in the Chicago area. It was predicted by Sid Doolittle, a retail consulting firm partner, that the only buyers interested in Evans' stores will be liquidators or other retailers who are interested in converting the locations to their own stores. It's interesting that despite the ever-desperate announcements that "fur is in" by various industry flacks, one relatively mild winter in Chicago is what spelled disaster for the disgraced pelt giant, at least according to the P.R. hype. One would think that a truly thriving industry would be able to counter the effects of a single mild season (although Chicago did have a blizzard potent enough to close public schools for a week, and a cold, blustery January; apparently it wasn't enough to send people into fur salons). Vegan Street would like to be among the first to wish Evans a very fond and heartfelt farewell. Goodbye. Sayonara. Adios. Toodle-oo. Vamoose. Finally, an extinction we can really celebrate.
More bad news about meat and good news about soybeans The Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention reported on June 18 that regular screening, exercise and avoiding meat can help prevent colon cancer, the second-biggest cancer killer in the United States and other industrial nations. Doctors concluded that more than half of the nearly 150,000 cases of colon cancer expected in the U.S. this year could be prevented in this way. Dr. Graham Colditz, director of education for the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based center, said that consumption of high quantities of red meat will considerably increase the risk of colon cancer, and eating lots of fruits and vegetables will decrease the risk. Meanwhile, on June 16, Canadian researchers at the University of Toronto reported that replacing meat with soy substitutes and fresh produce can significantly lower blood cholesterol levels. While conducting two one-month studies with healthy middle-aged volunteers, researchers discovered that they were able to reduce the levels of "bad" low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by replacing the meat in their diets with soy analogs, vegetables and beans. All those involved in the study had high blood cholesterol, which is linked to heart disease. Half of the volunteers ate a diet rich in plant foods without meat, and half ate a low-fat diet that matched current recommendations for lowering cholesterol, but which included meat but no soy. After a month, they switched. Members of the vegetarian group had their blood cholesterol lowered, on average, by 6 percent. "Good" or high-density lipoprotein (HDL) remained unchanged. In a second study by the University of Toronto, researchers found that soy products prevented oxidation of the LDL in the volunteers. Oxidation causes fats to harden and helps them form the blockages that damage arteries. Hmmm...Tofu or beef? Which sounds better?
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Hegins Pigeon Shoot Canceled
The Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) has
spearheaded a new campaign that is asking the USDA to take cultural
differences into account when it revises the food pyramid next
year. PCRM has received letters of support from about 50 groups
and individuals, including former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn
Elders, the NAACP, The Association of Asian Pacific Community
Health Organizations, the National Black Nurses Association, the
National Hispanic Medical Association, and Representative Jesse
Jackson, Jr., among others. The Washington-based PCRM and those
who support this campaign are asking the USDA to list dairy products
as "optional and in no way superior" to other dietary sources
of calcium, such as green leafy vegetables, beans, legumes or
fortified juices. 
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