It is recommended to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables and not more than 3 oz of meat per day.

As early as the ‘7os, the United States has recommended reducing calorie intake, increasing consumption of complex carbohydrates, reducing consumption of refined sugars, saturated fat, cholesterol, and salt.  This recommendation was met with strong opposition from the castle, egg, sugar, and food processing industries.  Because of this, physicians who are nutrition advocates suggested their own four food groups which consist entirely of plant food, whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables.  Many people, however, prefer not to subsist on pure plant foods, but would rather add a small amount of lean meat, fish and dairy products.  This type of diet is known as a plant-based diet.

It is recommended to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables and not more than 3 oz of meat per day.  Recent studies have shown that people eating this type of diet are about 50% less likely to die from cancer than non-vegetarians.  The plant-based diet also helps prevent heart disease as well as adult-onset diabetes.

This plant-based diet provides a high level of fiber.  These fibers prevent the absorption of cholesterol and delay the absorption of glucose.  They also increase the absorption of water and increase stool volume, thus protect against colon cancer.

Fruits and vegetables are rich in phytochemicals some of which are antioxidants.  Vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts contain phytochemicals that are also protective against cancer.

Polyunsaturated fats in the form of Omega 3 are found in oils from vegetables and fish.  This kind of fat is protective against heart disease.

These findings have been suggested and recommended time and again but it cannot be overemphasized. 

Time to change our diet in our weekly meetings?