When situations become unbearably miserable, it's a sure way propel one to wake up and make changes. In the depth of the misery and destruction, freedom and knowledge bloom. The state of America's health can't get much worse. But the good news is that it can get a lot better, and our individual health and social health are under our direct control.
I believe most of us know that eating a plant-based diet significantly decreases rates of cancer, diabetes and heart disease, the No. 1 causes of death in the United States, along with physician error and medical drugs. There are numerous books that present the facts clearly, including "The China Study," "Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine," "The World Peace Diet," "In Defense of Food," "Spiritual Nutrition" and "Diet for a New America." These help delineate the importance of eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, herbs, grains and legumes for optimal health of our bodies, minds and planet.
The research is not new. It's now a matter of following through and changing awareness. Eating plants offers protection to the millions of innocent and helpless animals that we mercilessly slaughter every day. The daily mass slaughter of intelligent, innocent and helpless animals creates a consciousness of slavery, destruction and violence, and is reflected in our society. As Albert Einstein said, "Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet."
Even if we haven't read the research and science behind our diet and nutrition, surely we can all sense that we feel better when eating vibrant, live, organic foods, rich in fiber, minerals and nourishing proteins and fats. Nobody actually feels good after eating fluorescent Doritos, acidifying Coke or coagulated, toxic, cooked animal flesh. Maybe a momentary high or hyperactivity, but after that it comes out in our body in oils in our skin, toxins in our liver, body odor from our skin and mouths, and low energy that leads to watching TV.
Protein deficiency is not a concern. In fact it's non-existent. We all get too much protein, which is why Americans have such high rates of colon cancer and osteoporosis. Cutting down on protein will free up energy, digestion and the processes of the liver, kidneys and immune system. It leads to a clearer mind and body.
"Vegetarian children have been shown to have significantly higher IQs than average, and it's well know that Thomas Edison abstained from eating flesh because he found he could think more clearly and make vital connections more easily," Will Tuttle wrote in "The World Peace Diet."
The shift now must be on focusing on our relationship with food as much as for personal appearance and weight loss.
Furthermore, the health of the planet and the protection of animals and the environment must become a priority. With a greater purpose and goal in mind, our health will naturally come into balance through appropriate choices of clean food, clean water and clean air.
As Pythagoras, who was a vegetarian, said, "As long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seeds of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love."
In every environmental film I've seen, including "An Inconvenient Truth," there is a blatant missing link in the film. It completely leaves out the most effective thing we personally can do to cut the carbon footprint by 80 percent, and that is eating a plant-based diet.
"With awareness, our behavior naturally changes, and individual changes in behavior, rippling through the web of relationships, can lead to social transformation and bring new dimensions of freedom, joy and creativity to everyone," Tuttle writes in "The World Peace Diet." "It all begins with our most intimate and far-reaching connection with the natural order, our most primary spiritual symbol and our most fundamental social ritual: eating."
Our president-elect offers hope and intelligence to our future. This is an opportunity to accelerate consciousness and live in a world free from terror, violence and destruction. People seem to want transformation without making personal changes. This is what must change.
Molly is currently on her honeymoon in New Zealand and Fiji. She has a nutrition practice and Glow live food café for information on classes, events, etc. e-mail mollypeppo@mac.com.
