My Ancestors Diet: The China Study

Just in the last year or two, I was at some group gathering and the topic of Harry Potter came up. And someone naively admitted to not knowing who Harry Potter was. The rest of us laughed and joked, “Where have you been, living under a rock?”

That’s how I feel about The China Study, at least in the veg community. Published in January 2005, this book was widely trumpeted and publicized as yet another way to prove the benefits of a plant-based diet. Everyone I know who read the book raved about it.

Yet I was resistant. Not to the book’s message, but just to reading about it. I admit, I do have a bias. I went to hear Colin Campbell speak, and I felt alienated by his matter-of-fact introduction and use of animals in experiments.

Since I was already vegan, and have read more books on the subject than the average American, I didn’t read it. But when a small group of us decided to gather to read non-fiction books about vegetarianism and animal rights, I suggested this title. I already owned the book, in hardback, and figured I might as well read it.

Just in the first 25 pages, I can tell this is going to be an engaging book to read and digest the facts it contains.

- The United States pays more for health care than any other country in the world.
- According to the American Cancer Society, men have 47% chance of getting cancer; women have a 38% chance.
- One in 13 Americans has diabetes (p. 14), which can lead to blindness, limb amputation, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, & premature death
- Heart disease kills 1 in 3 Americans (p. 15)

- “The answer to the American health crisis is the food that each of us chooses to put in our mouths each day.”
- “In short, it is about the multiple health benefits of consuming plant-based foods, and the largely unappreciated health dangers of consuming animal-based foods, including all types of meat, dairy and eggs.”
- “Impressive evidence now exists to show that advanced heart disease, relatively advanced cancers of certain types, diabetes and a few other degenerative diseases can be reversed by diet.”

I haven’t finished the book yet, but the book has given me a renewed apreciation for my good health. For anyone who lives in the Bay Area, our discussion is on Sun May 6th in SF at MaggieMudd ice cream parlor. And, yes, of course, they have many flavors of vegan ice cream.

Eat beans, not beings.

The Price of Tomatoes and the True Cost of Cupcakes

I remember working once with someone who noted every penny he spent. Personally, I’m one of those people who have never had a budget in my life. Alot of my enjoyable activities are not expensive.

There was a long period in my life when I was absolutely crazy over the vegan cupcakes produced by Black China Bakery in Santa Cruz. They cost $3.50 at Herbivore Restaurant in San Francisco. When Chris and I went shopping for other discretionary items, we’d often question whether we wanted this $10 widget or 3 cupcakes. Surprisingly, with such a tangible comparison, on more than one occasion, we did find we’d rather have cupcakes over the widget.

When it comes to groceries, I pretty much buy basic foods and occasionally splurge on luxuries like vegan Follow Your Heart Cheese or Vicolo’s corn meal pizza crusts, and, of course, dining out.

With tax season looming around the corner, money has again been on my mind. Over a span of a couple of days, I had an opportunity to price two similar products.

28 oz can diced organic tomatoes in Pacifica at an independently owned grocery store, Muir Glen brand

28 oz diced organic tomatoes in Daly City, Trader Joe’s store brand –

The Pacifica store wanted twice as much ( $2.99 ) as the $1.49 price tag at the Daly City store (which undoubtedly does more volume and since it’s a store brand, it’s cheaper)

So it does pay to shop … especially since I often travel by Daly City so it’s just as convenient for me to shop there as in Pacifica. Now I’m wondering what 28 oz diced organic tomatoes at Safeway, O Organics store brand would cost me …