U.S. Physicians Say Meat Not Necessary,
Actually Harmful

Posted by Dr. Jai Maharaj

Recent Nutritional Research Affirms
Superiority of the Vegetarian Diet for Humans

Thirty-five years ago the US Department of Agriculture said we should daily eat from four food groups: 1. meat, fish and poultry; 2. grains; 3. dairy products; and 4. fruits and vegetables.

On April 9, 1991 the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a prestigious non-profit organization active in health and research policy and based in Washington, D.C., said basing our diet on those groups not only will not ensure adequate nutrition, consumption of meat, fish, poultry and dairy products actually causes disease.

Instead PCRM recommends a "New Four Food Groups." They are: 1. fruits; 2. grains; 3. vegetables; and 4. legumes.

This is a very significant development for vegetarians whose traditional vegetarian diet -- which easily fulfills the requirements of the "new" groups -- has been under attack in many countries by physicians sharing the common ignorance of modern medicine toward diet.

For example, numerous physicians have insisted that mothers feed their children meat -- "A real mistake," says Dr. Neal Barnard, leading to all sorts of diseases such as colic, juvenile diabetes, diarrhea and later problems such as cancer of the colon. Dr. Devananda Tandavan points out that the average doctor in America has had almost no training whatsoever in nutrition by the time he has finished medical school and may remain ignorant for the rest of his professional life on the importance of diet for good health.

Though others have made similar recommendations to revise the American diet, none have done so with quite the authority of the 4,000-plus member PCRM. The committee's president, Dr. Neal D. Barnard -- himself a vegetarian -- is a director of Behavioral Studies at the Institute for Disease Prevention at George Washington University.

PCRM members instrumental in formulating the new food groups include Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Professor of Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University and Director of the massive China Health Project. Collaborator Dr. Oliver Alabaster is Director of the Institute for Disease Prevention at the George Washington University.

How did we end up with such a poor choice of food groups 35 years ago? Inadequate nutritional research for one thing. But more insidiously, since food guides were first established in 1916, there has been a tendency to give animal products a "preferred" designation. "This element of food guides has persisted until the present time, due in part to the intensive lobbying efforts of the food industry, and despite evidence of the adverse health effects of such foods, " says the PCRM report.

The situation is similar to the tobacco industry's continual denial of the harmful effects of smoking. In response to the four new food groups, a former US Secretary of Agriculture, John R. Block (president of the National American Wholesale Grocers' Association and a pig farmer in Illinois) denounced the committee's recommendations as the "height of irresponsibility."

Other reactions focused more on the difficulty of altering the food habits of the steak- and hamburger-eating American public than on the scientific validity of the new diet.

PCRM attacks the old, traditional four food groups on three major fronts. First, they say, "The old food groups fail to assure nutritional adequacy." The four food groups were established according to the understanding of nutritional needs in 1953. Since that time, the required daily allowances (RDA's) for protein, vitamins, minerals, etc. have been extensively revised and expanded. A 1978 study showed that only 9 of the 17 RDA's were met by the typical diet based on the old groups.

The second problem is that "The old four food groups fail to adequately address the current dietary problems of our population." Specifically, the the 1977-78 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey indicates that Americans who eat diets based on the four food groups consume an excessive amount of fat."

Studies show that dietary fat and associated consumption of excess protein is related to breast cancer, heart disease, obesity, kidney disease and osteoporosis, to name a few.

Third, states the PCRM, "The old four food groups serve to misinform consumers about some aspects of nutrition. Two of the four food groups -- meats and dairy products -- are clearly not necessary for health and, in fact, may be detrimental to health.... Populations with the lowest rates of heart disease, colon and breast cancer, and obesity consume very little meat or no meat at all."

The PCRM concludes that "The average adult can meet nutrient needs by consuming five servings of grains, three servings of legumes, three servings of vegetables and three servings of fruits each day."

The New Four Food Groups

Whole Grains This group includes rice, bread, pasta, hot or cold cereal, corn, millet, barley, bulgur, buckwheat groats and tortillas. Build each of your meals around a hearty grain dish. Grains are rich in fiber and other complex carbohydrates, as well as proteins, B vitamins and zinc.

Vegetables Vegetables are packed with nutrients; they provide vitamin C, beta-carotene, riboflavin and other vitamins, iron, calcium and fiber. Dark green, leafy vegetables such as broccoli, collards, kale, mustard and turnip greens, chicory or bok choy are especially good ources of of these important nutrients. Dark yellow and orange vegetables such as carrots, winter squash, sweet potatoes and pumpkin provide extra beta-carotene. Include generous portions or a variety of vegetables in your diet.

Legumes Legumes, which is another name for beans, peas and lentils, are all good sources of fiber, protein, iron, calcium, zinc and B vitamins. This group also includes the daals in Indian cuisine, pulses, chickpeas, baked and refried beans, soy milk, tofu, and texturized vegetable protein.

Fruit Fruits are rich in fiber, vitamin C and beta-carotene. Be sure to include at least one serving each day of fruits that are high in vitamin C -- citrus fruits, melons and strawberries are all good choices. Choose whole fruit over fruit juices, which don't contain as much healthy fiber.

Be sure to include a good source of vitamin B-12, such as fortified cereals and vitamin supplements.

(Based on a 1991 article in Hinduism Today)