Byron, did you make the conversion cold turkey? Gradually? I'm increasingly curious about this, but where does one start? I eat very little red meat except the occasional hamburger. Rarely pork. Lots of chicken, however. And eggs. You have an open invitation to come on my podcast to discuss.
Jeff, first, I'd be honored to join your podcast. As I said, I'm not preachy about eating plants, but I won't hesitate to discuss it if asked. So thank you for that. My (our) switch to WFPB eating happened literally overnight. Following my heart attack a friend came by for lunch. We'd asked him about food allergies, preferences etc. and he said 'vegan.' We were heavily into the SAD at the time. During lunch this friend referred us to two books: The China Study, and Prevent & Reverse Heart Disease. We read those books, and understood why it was critical that we stop eating the SAD. There are several reasons, the biggest is our health. The bottom line for us was that the beef, dairy, egg, fowl, and other big-food industries have commodified animal protein, and convinced the American public it's the best food for us. Remember 'Beef: It's What's for Dinner!' ? 'Got Milk?' The reality, backed up by robust scientific studies, is that the SAD is causing much of the illness and rising healthcare costs in this country. Let's chat more. (BTW, after reading what I have about factory-farmed chicken, I will NEVER eat chicken again. Not ever.) Thanks for responding.
Thanks for this, Dennis, and for the continued support. I say in the piece that I don't preach about it, but perhaps we need to. Perhaps those who are ready to hear this timely and urgent message might welcome it? Thanks as well for clarifying a few of my stats, and for mentioning the 'restorative' part of the health care segment.
If ever there was an overwhelming "common sense" call to action, you've certainly delivered one here, my friend. And as you well know, I'm speaking from a decade of embracing an entirely whole-food plant-based diet, and am happy to join you alongside our brides in "shouting it from the rooftops" ...
The evidence overwhelmingly supports your conclusion that a significant "tab" is coming due for our dietary habits. The scientific consensus is clear: the Standard American Diet is a primary driver of chronic diseases like heart disease and dementia, while a plant-based diet offers a powerful preventative and even restorative solution. Environmentally, the cost is staggering, with animal agriculture fueling rampant deforestation—destroying vital ecosystems at a rate of nearly 18 football fields per minute—consuming vast quantities of water, and emitting greenhouse gases on par with the entire transportation sector. The economics are equally skewed, with billions in government subsidies artificially lowering the price of meat, hiding its true cost, which includes immense healthcare and environmental externalities. This system also creates a fertile ground for zoonotic diseases like H5N1, as evidenced by recent outbreaks in livestock, and the very existence of "Ag-Gag" laws designed to conceal animal cruelty validates the ethical bankruptcy of industrial farming. The shift to a plant-based diet is not merely an option but a rational, urgent, and necessary response to this multifaceted and escalating crisis.
Byron, did you make the conversion cold turkey? Gradually? I'm increasingly curious about this, but where does one start? I eat very little red meat except the occasional hamburger. Rarely pork. Lots of chicken, however. And eggs. You have an open invitation to come on my podcast to discuss.
Jeff, first, I'd be honored to join your podcast. As I said, I'm not preachy about eating plants, but I won't hesitate to discuss it if asked. So thank you for that. My (our) switch to WFPB eating happened literally overnight. Following my heart attack a friend came by for lunch. We'd asked him about food allergies, preferences etc. and he said 'vegan.' We were heavily into the SAD at the time. During lunch this friend referred us to two books: The China Study, and Prevent & Reverse Heart Disease. We read those books, and understood why it was critical that we stop eating the SAD. There are several reasons, the biggest is our health. The bottom line for us was that the beef, dairy, egg, fowl, and other big-food industries have commodified animal protein, and convinced the American public it's the best food for us. Remember 'Beef: It's What's for Dinner!' ? 'Got Milk?' The reality, backed up by robust scientific studies, is that the SAD is causing much of the illness and rising healthcare costs in this country. Let's chat more. (BTW, after reading what I have about factory-farmed chicken, I will NEVER eat chicken again. Not ever.) Thanks for responding.
Thanks for this, Dennis, and for the continued support. I say in the piece that I don't preach about it, but perhaps we need to. Perhaps those who are ready to hear this timely and urgent message might welcome it? Thanks as well for clarifying a few of my stats, and for mentioning the 'restorative' part of the health care segment.
If ever there was an overwhelming "common sense" call to action, you've certainly delivered one here, my friend. And as you well know, I'm speaking from a decade of embracing an entirely whole-food plant-based diet, and am happy to join you alongside our brides in "shouting it from the rooftops" ...
The evidence overwhelmingly supports your conclusion that a significant "tab" is coming due for our dietary habits. The scientific consensus is clear: the Standard American Diet is a primary driver of chronic diseases like heart disease and dementia, while a plant-based diet offers a powerful preventative and even restorative solution. Environmentally, the cost is staggering, with animal agriculture fueling rampant deforestation—destroying vital ecosystems at a rate of nearly 18 football fields per minute—consuming vast quantities of water, and emitting greenhouse gases on par with the entire transportation sector. The economics are equally skewed, with billions in government subsidies artificially lowering the price of meat, hiding its true cost, which includes immense healthcare and environmental externalities. This system also creates a fertile ground for zoonotic diseases like H5N1, as evidenced by recent outbreaks in livestock, and the very existence of "Ag-Gag" laws designed to conceal animal cruelty validates the ethical bankruptcy of industrial farming. The shift to a plant-based diet is not merely an option but a rational, urgent, and necessary response to this multifaceted and escalating crisis.