share. learn. thrive!

The Tipping Point

Have we reached the tipping point in the grassroots effort of conveying the medical miracles of plant-based nutrition to the world? I spent two and a half days with Dr. T. Colin Campbell (here I am with him and his beautiful and inspiring wife, Karen), my Guru whom I lovingly and with conviction have named "The Father of Modern Nutrition". He is, indeed, a pioneer who is changing the landscape of health as we have known it for the past century and taking it in a one hundred and eighty degree turn back to Hippocrates original wisdom. "Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food" was the dictum he proposed during his lifetime(460-377 B.C.). And yet we have strayed eons from this brilliant thesis in the past millennium. From food to pills and potions...from a holistic perspective to a specified point of reference, focusing on a specific vitamin or hormone responsible for a whole health issue. When will it be that physicians and researchers conclude that our body is infinitely wiser than we give it credit for?

An article came out in the paper today regarding the most popular and utilized osteoporosis medication, Fosamax. It implicated the drug in causing fractures after long-term use even though its specific indication is for (potential) osteoporotic patients. Last week, the National Institutes of Health (the largest biomedical research organization) released a report of their concern for Americans' misunderstanding of lactose intolerance. They pretty much stated that we must do anything it takes to get the dairy into our bodies, ignoring any discomfort, illness or dis-ease it may cause in order to prevent osteoporosis. Ironically, studies clearly state that the countries around the world who consume the most dairy have the highest incidence of bone fractures! Further, we are more obese as a nation than ever before in history. This newest generation is hypothesized to be the first to live a shorter lifespan than its parents. Rates of type 2 diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension and heart disease are above and beyond the rates corresponding to historical potential. And the age of onset of these diseases is younger than ever before. The statistics are frightening.

And yet, the supplement and pharmaceutical industries are thriving. Restaurants serve larger and more deadly portions of fat, sugar and salt at rates that will scare you back to dead. They have huge panels of scientific experts dedicated to figure out which perfect combinations of fat, sugar and salt will have you coming back for more as much as possible. We have to face it...money talks and we are walking to our graves painstakingly yet surely.

On an optimistic note, however, The Veggie Grill is a restaurant that is only about three years old and has already served nearly one million plant-based meals. This picture is of me with Kevin Boylan, the co-owner of The Veggie Grill. He and his business partner, T.K. Pillan, read The China Study in one weekend and went 100% plant-based immediately following its completion. It was then that they knew what type of restaurant they needed to open.

The trailer for a film that is not even in distribution yet, entitled Forks Over Knives, has had almost 21,000 views on You-Tube posted less than a month ago. Here I am with Dr. Campbell, his lovely wife, Karen and Brian Wendel, Executive Producer of Forks Over Knives, after we screened the film yesterday. This film is the documentary that has the potential to change the landscape of medicine as we now know it, thanks to the brilliant pioneering work of Dr. Campbell and his colleague, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, whom are highlighted in the film.

Ultimately, if we take a step back and observe the changes that are inarguable and omnipresent, it is undeniable that we are reaching a significant fork in the road. Our health is at the nadir of potential. We have no choice but to choose differently. My Father always told me that the definition of "crazy" is someone who keeps beating their head against the wall and expecting a different result. As Dr. Campbell brilliantly pointed out yesterday...we have finally "reached the tipping point"...people are starting to notice and it is a very exciting time!

Comment

You need to be a member of Vega Community to add comments!

Join Vega Community

Comment by William Buddle on March 12, 2010 at 11:15am: Great post!

My wife lost her sister to cancer (at the age of 33) last summer. Her struggle with cancer motivated us to consider many of the potential factors that took her away.. Take my word - you don't want to go through this experience if you can avoid it any way.. the emotional toll is beyond words..

The plus side has opened up our minds to diet - and we've steadily become close to 100% vegan. Reading the China Study last year - I was dumbfounded that something so profound was still on the margins of our society's knowledge..

Watching the trailer for this movie - I feel raw with emotion.. and am so thankful that this movie has been made. If you need any help up here in Canada (Toronto) - just say the word..
I hope The Veggie Grill makes it up here too!

Thank you for what you are doing..

Comment by Frances Worster on March 10, 2010 at 1:22pm: It's funny living in Australia and seeing people's different reactions to what I eat. In BC, vegetarianism and veganism is more accepted (with more of an attitude of "Wow! That must be SO hard! I could never give up cheese!), but there is less understanding of gluten intolerance. In Brisbane, it's totally the opposite. There are more gluten-free options in cafes and big grocery stores, but my not buying meat often gets a comment from the checkout person. I was eating an AMAZING moroccan red lentil burger (no bun) at a venue in the Fringe Festival in Adelaide and a guy asked me what I was eating. Once he knew what it was, he sneered and said, "Oh, you're one of those vegetarians. It's probably got no meat in it. And here I was thinking it looked GOOD". Apparently, it has to have meat in it to be tasty!

Comment by Jay Crawford on March 10, 2010 at 12:18pm: Julieanna,

I'm so glad you contribute here and this post brings me to a conversation I was in a couple days ago. I was with a few friends of mine from a martial arts studio we all trained at and were talking food, diet and health. I was telling everyone about the amazing success I'm having with the Thrive diet and what I have learned in the past few months. There were a couple people that knew me from back when I was power lifting and was a serious carnivore (I ate amounts of meat, dairy and eggs that would make most people here toss lunch) and they were so shocked about the things I was saying about the food and health industries. The biggest concern seemed to be "why are the powers that be not aware of these truths?" and I mentioned Dr. Campbell and his book The China Study then I was back to Brendan Brazier, Thrive and the Vega community plus countless other names in the raw-whole food movement. I have not read The China Study but it's on it's way and will be the next book I read and Share with my 'circle' (there are a few of us that have a sort of 'Communal Library').

I likened our conversation to one that may well have happened 20 years ago about the energy sector and allternative energies (three of us are deeply involved in the renewable energy business). It is my view that the train has left the station and the voices of change WILL be heard thanks to People like Dr. Campbell, Brendan Brazier and yourself! This community here started in a little corner of the Earth in beautiful British Columbia, the province I credit as setting Canadian Standards for ecologically sound and health concious agricultural practices (prairie dwellers call B.C. folks 'granola crunchers', effectionately). A hand full of people join the Vega Community each day from around the world and if this still only represents a fraction of the world wide movement I submit that change and enlightenment will become tidal wave before long!

Health and Happiness to all Earth's Children!

Comment by RawPeron on March 10, 2010 at 10:34am: This is exciting. I feel like here in Austin we are seeing it too. All of us here should get t-shirts that say "I was vegan before it was cool" ;).