They also showed a couple of fabulous athletes that eat a vegan diet. No shortage of muscle, strength, energy or stamina there.

Elanor, protein deficiency isn't really much of an issue, because almost all foods have protein.  There are vitamin and mineral deficiencies that can be caused by eating a vegan diet.  Iron is one (although it can be obtained in a careful, vegan diet) and vitamin B12 which is extremely difficult to get from a vegan diet.  Some can be obtained from microorganisms.  There's some scary information aimed at vegans on the internet about a molecule similar to B12.  It is NOT as a replacement as they suggest, it will actually reduce the amount of B12 that would be absorbed of the little amount of B12 they do encounter.

I have never been a vegetarian but I have been anemic both due to little iron and little B12 (different problems at diffrerent times, and probably experienced both at the same time but doctors were slow to pick up on the B12).  In addition to supplementing, I also now eat more meat and really watch to make sure I eat more onen day if I have a day with very little.  This was done after a doctor told me to, and it did make a difference.

Seventh Day Adventists are strict vegetarians, mostly vegan. A few years ago a study was done comparing the cancer rate among the Seventh Day Adventists of Calfornia against that of the general population. The Adventists had 50% fewer cancers on average, and in some of the "lifestyle cancers" they had 80% fewer.

Wow that's a good statistic Arminius.

It turns out the documentary I watched may have been exadurated in some areas, hubby was looking into it on the internet yesterday. But the cancer thing still seems to be true.

Chemgal, when I was anemic I ate lots of steak, apricot juice, bran and spinach, and took iron pills to boost my blood production/iron level. Now I take a multivitamin and an occasional iron pill if I feel lethargic and possibly iron low. I eat vegetarian much of the time, as hubby is veggie, but have always bought roasts on occasion, and portioned them up to freeze and spread out, as I believed they are important nutritionally, and I like meat, and for my son.

Looks like removing meat might not be a good idea for you, with anemia. Doctors don't always agree though. Yours is an interesting case. I know that red meat is the best source of hemme iron. Do you already know about taking vitamin C (orange juice) with the iron rich food to boost your body's absorbtion of the iron? That's a good tip. You probly already know that one though.

I just thought when I heard that about animal protien promoting the growth of cancer cells that this was important information others need to know, that it could save lives and improve peoples' health. That if someone is diagnosed with cancer it would be a good idea to go off animal products to halt the growth of the cancer.

I know the establishment wants to keep us buying lots of perscription drugs, and all those over processed food products. They know that people eat more of the processed foods and this is good for business. Heavy people with big appetites and lots of medical conditions are good for business.

The show talked about coronary bypass surgery, which comprises arteries being taken from the leg and sewn onto the heart, as a treatment of the symptoms of heart disease. Some people end up having to have this done repeatedly, when eating vegan would have prevented the heart disease in the first place.

They told the story of a woman in Vancouver who had a mastectomy for breast cancer, and was told it had spread into her lungs and bones and was recommended chemo and radiation, but she went instead to see Dr. John McDougal, who set her up with the vegan diet and exersize, and she got better and lived. I mean, wow!

I am a great believer in moderation in a diet. If you use protein more like a condiment, skipping it altogether in quite a few meals, and being very careful about the source of your meat and its preservation, then I don't see a real need to cut it out altogether. For most people. I think were I diagnosed with cancer, I would switch immediately to a vegetarian diet rather than vegan, because I'd probably retain local honey, organic eggs and a very limited amount of organic goat and sheep dairy in my diet.

I don't think iron is too much of an issue anymore, usually I'll crave a steak or something similar so that's a good indicator.  I've also had times when my iron was too high.  It was before I knew about the B12 issue, was feeling horribly anemic and was trying to eat to improve it (spinach, broccoli, red meat, etc).  I don't know for sure as it was a while ago and my doctor never mentioned nor tested for it, but I suspect the problem back then was B12.

I do agree that a healthy diet can have a large impact on our health.  What's healthy can vary from person to person though, depending on allergies, intolerances, medical conditions, activity levels, etc.  I pointed out my case, as their are deficiencies  that are associated with a vegetarian diet, especially if it's vegan.  Protein isn't the common issue.

I find this type of information fascinating but think I also need to be careful, especially about making major changes.  Once, all the medical folks I spoke with - regular docs and diet gurus - said I needed to increase my fibre intake to fix what ailed me.  When I did that I just got sicker until I decreased my fiber intake. 

The heart disease stories are interesting but I also know that my partner and I eat basically the same food.  Partner has had cholesterol problems for many years and bypass surgery recently.  When I was at the docs for something he checked my blood and then questioned me about my diet because my cholesterol levels were wonderful! 

People do, or don't, get over cancer using a variety of techniques.  I know a guy who was diagnosed with prostate cancer that had spread to his bones. He was given two years to live - fifteen years ago.  Now there is no sign of bone cancer - he didn't do anything different with his diet and the drugs he takes weren't supposed to help with bone cancer.  The oncologist is just as surprised as the patient.  I also know a guy who said alfalfa would cure his cancer - he ate it and drank it as tea - but the cancer killed him anyway.

Somehow I think there is a lot we don't know and we need to listen to a variety of ideas, think, and carefully choose what we are going to do. 

Hi Elanorgold:

I forgot to add that Seventh Day Adventists are also non-smokers and non-drinkers, do not cosume caffeine or other potentially toxic substances, and generally adhere to a healthy lifestyle.

They believe that our body is a temple given to us by God, and that it is our responsibility to take good care that temple. Although their religious absolutism is a bit hard to stomach, their lifestyle choices make eminent sense.

Good points Kay. True Chemgal. Bette, so would I I think, though I would still eat the cow cheese and yogurt. I don't drink milk anymore, it gives me a turvy tum.

Arminius, yes, they sound very healthy. I also go with the temple notion for the most part. I still eat Kraft Dinner and Ichiban noodles occasionally! I bought some evaporated sugarcane juice last summer I'm really enjoying, but going easy on it as I don't know if I'll be able to replace it. And I wish I could afford all organic.

I think also attitude, outlook and mainly STRESS levels have much to do with cancer recovery, or any illness really. I think to an extent we can decide, like people can decide not to die till they see a certain person, which I have known twice so far in my life. More than once I've decided not to be ill, or to let myself get ill. Of cource sometimes the science is just too great, and no miracle of thought can fix it.