Shannen Mangroo 4/27/14 Honors English 2100 Research Paper Final Draft Jane Blakelock Biological Effects of Processed,

Modified, and Animal Based Foods According to a hieroglyph found in an ancient Egyptian tomb, One-quarter of what you eat keeps you alive. The other three-quarters keep your doctor alive (Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary). Cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis, and autoimmune disease are only a few of the problems that more and more Americans are struggling with. However, there is a way to lessen the severity or even cure these medical issues by doing only one thing changing the diet. Many studies have concluded that by decreasing the consumption of processed or animal based foods, medical conditions can be prevented and, in some cases, reversed. In 2013, Lucas Irvin, a 25 year old who previously weighed 300 pounds, surprised his family by losing 130 pounds in under a year. I lost about 60 percent of the weight just by changing my diet, said Irvin (Huffington Post UK). Ornish, M.D. President and Director a medical institution in California performed a study in which people were allowed to consume a larger proportion of low-fat vegetarian food than their normal diet. He concluded that by doing this, the risk of coronary atherosclerosis, hardening of the arteries, decreased, and waistlines reduced because they lost an average of 22 pounds during the year (Ornish).

However, it is only recently that science is beginning to prove that eating a high protein diet, or a surplus of modified foods, can cause damage to ones body. In the 1950, post WWII, supermarkets and drive-ins were growing; it was during this era that convenience foods were created. Because of this, there was a rise in pulmonary heart disease which was caused by cholesterol buildup in the arteries of the heart (Stone). Although cholesterol is produced in both animals and humans, dietary cholesterol is only produced from animal meat, such as eggs or ham, and it also tends to stay in the bloodstream longer (Stone). Because this is found on the inside of our blood vessels, dietary cholesterol is a major cause of coronary artery disease. Not only does artery size impact ones cholesterol level, but arterial hardness can also affect the speed at which one can age and predict the likelihood of future cardiovascular events (J. Taylor and T. A. B. Sanders). The stiffness of arteries influences how hard the heart has to work in order to pump blood through the body (J. Taylor and T. A. B. Sanders). This can occur when fat, cholesterol, and other substances build up in the walls of arteries and form hard structures called plaques (J. Taylor and T. A. B. Sanders). Over time, these plaques can block the arteries and cause problems throughout the body. Arterial stiffness or arteriosclerosis has been linked to aging. Fish consumption has been found to decrease stiffness because it contains docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid (J. Taylor and T. A. B. Sanders). However, the results concluded by the Division of Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences proved otherwise for vegans. Evidence showed that arterial aging was slower in vegans than those who ate meat (J. Taylor and T. A. B. Sanders).

Americans seem to believe that animal protein is important for human health and Connie Deikman, R.D., agrees (Diekman, Connie and Sotiropoulos Sam). She says that if animal meat is not included in ones diet, then not only would lack of proteins be the problem but also lack of all the amino acids for cell growth and tissue repair (Diekman, Connie and Sotiropoulos Sam). However, broccoli holds the source of indole-3-carbinol, a chemical which boosts DNA repair in cells and appears to block the growth of cancer cells (Alberts, Johnson and Lewis). Adults in the U.S. are encouraged to get 10% to 35% of their day's calories from protein foods. This is about 46 grams of protein for women and 56 grams of protein for men (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Hemp seeds are a nutritious dietary source of protein. It provides an assortment of all the amino acids, including 34.6 grams of protein for each 100 grams (Cai). In addition, soybeans also contain all the essential amino acids and surpass all other food plants in the amount of protein that it can deliver to the human system (Schaafsma). In this way, amino acids can still be gained without the high saturated fats and cholesterol. Dr. Colin Campbell, alumnus from Cornell University and nutritional biochemist, studied the effects that animal protein in rats and figured out that high levels of casein (found in dairy products) increased cancer growth. Rats that had 20% casein in their diets had an increased number of the cancer clusters that lead to early liver cancer tumor growth (Stone). The rats with 5% casein did not show any signs of cancer. In the same study, Campbell alternated between 20% and 5% casein in the rats for three weeks each for 12 weeks. The study concluded that the amount of cancer clusters can be turned on and off (Stone). Campbell also found that there

were only a few cases (1-2%) in which cancer were caused solely because of inherited genes (Stone). Cancer is caused by genes mainly when the cells are mutated by a chemical, more specifically, the instability of purine and pyrimidine bases (Alberts, Johnson and Lewis). Cancer cells grow much quicker when animal protein is consumed while nutrients from plant foods decreased cancer growth. Dr. Cadwell Esselstyn, alumnus from Yale University and now a surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio first believed that you can simply fix a person by removing the disease. He continued to help individuals, but came to the conclusion that he was not contributing to the bigger situation. After performing representative research, he realized that the breast cancer in the U.S was 82 times greater than that of Kenya (Chen). In Japan, there were only 18 deaths due to prostate cancer, and although United States had a population twice the size of Japan, the number of prostate deaths was over 14,000 (Chen). Kenya and Japan did not have any consciousness of the Western lifestyle and, therefore, did not eat large amounts of meat or dairy products. Norway once had about 30,000 people suffering from circulatory disease. When the Nazis took over their food supply for their own and gave them a plant based diet, circulatory disease decreased to about 24,000 people within four years (Esselstyn). However when the Norwegians regained back their meat and dairy products, strokes and heart attacks increased as well (Esselstyn). Dr. Esselstyn performed another study in which he realized that the diet can do something that no surgery or medication could accomplish: reverse heart disease. The endothelial cell produces nitric oxide which keeps our blood flowing which

prevents plaque from forming thus eliminating inflammation of the arteries (Alberts, Johnson and Lewis). However, when people start eating the Western diet, our endothelial cells get damaged. According to Dr. Esselstyn, when we start eating a whole foods diet, the damage to the protective cells are stopped and reversed. However, according to Ruth Frechman, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, vegetarians are most vulnerable to deficiencies of iron, calcium, protein, vitamin B12 and omega-3 fatty acids (Duo). By eating efficient beans, lentils, or spinach, the amount of iron and protein will be met. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish, but can be gained through fish oil supplements. Research was also performed by students of Loma Linda University to know if the risk of hypothyroidism was associated with vegetarians or omnivorous people. Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone (Tonstad S, Nathan E, Oda K, Fraser G). This hormone plays a vital role in the body's metabolic rate, heart and digestive functions, muscle control, brain development and the maintenance of bones (Tonstad S, Nathan E, Oda K, Fraser G). It was concluded that a vegan diet was associated with lower risk of hypothyroid disease. (Tonstad S, Nathan E, Oda K, Fraser G). Getting a sufficient amount of calcium can also lead to stronger bones. The majority of people nationwide drink milk as a source of calcium. Enough calcium in the body means less risk of osteoporosis, a degenerative bone disease. According to Connie Deikman, science is used by the National Osteoporosis Foundation to support this statement. However, a study performed by a Harvard researcher, nations with

high calcium intakes such as the United States and New Zealand, appear to have high levels of hip fracture (Stone). Metabolic acidosis occurs when the body produces other cations (other than sodium and potassium) such as calcium or magnesium (Alberts, Johnson and Lewis). High animal protein starts this metabolic acidosis and, to counter it, the body produces a calcium acid buffer (Alberts, Johnson and Lewis). This buffer extracts the calcium from the bones to neutralize the extra acid formed from animal protein thus causing the bones to weaken. Because of this, many national health organizations recommend consummation of low fat dairy products (Stone). Deikman agrees with these associations, such as the American Dietetic Association, cancer and heart foundations, that dairy products do need to be low or no fat. However, if some of the fat is removed, would not the protein become the larger amount of the total? When compared these products to a number of prostate cancer, the results are as strong as it is for serious smoking lung cancer, says Dr. Campbell. In order to have a healthier lifestyle, one must become aware of the types of foods being consumed. Research suggests that death, caused by ischemic heart disease, (a disease due to a lack of blood flow to the heart) and circulatory and cerebrovascular diseases are significantly lower in vegetarians than in people who eat meat (Duo). When compared with omnivorous people, cancer and type two diabetes are also significantly lower in vegetarians. However, vegetarians have risk factors for non-communicable diseases. This would include increased plasma homocysteine, platelet volume, and platelet accumulation which occur with low intake of vitamin B-12 and n-3 PUFA (Duo). The vitamin B-12 is usually taken by

vegans and is necessary for the body to help red blood cells function properly. Although many vegans lack vitamin B-12, a supplement can be taken in order to gain the hemoglobin chemical protein. A whole foods plant based diet is commonly prescribed by nutritionist for people who have or are at serious risk for heart disease or disorder. These are foods that are hardly refined such as fruits, vegetable, grains, and legumes. Doctor Matt Lederman, who specializes in internal medicine, and Doctor Alona Pulde, who is an expert in family practice, incorporates this diet into treating all of their patients. When Dr. Lederman was aiding a patients food choice, he told him I dont care what it [grocery items] says on the front, the back, on the sides; look at the ingredients (Stone). Processed, modified, and animal based foods are becoming more prevalent today. It increases the nation's obesity epidemic, high blood pressure and the prevalence of type two diabetes. Not only are the GMO products and animal consumption increasing, but also the number of cardiovascular disease and lung, liver, and breast cancer patients. Hippocrates once said, Let thy food be thy medicine. This idea is commonly used by nutritionist rather than doctors. The majority of doctors can fix a patients allergies and diabetes with medication. Other specialized doctors follow Hippocratess advice and let their diet cure their sickness; in doing so some medications can be eliminated.

Works Cited Alberts, Bruce, et al. "Molecular Biology of the Cell. 4th edition." Alberts, Bruce, et al. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 4th edition. New York: Garland Science, 2002. Cai, Zhong Yao. "Study on the extraction process for cannabinoids in hemp seed oil ." The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry 25.4 (2010): 363-502. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nutrition for Everyone. 4 October 2012. 8 April 2014 <http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/everyone/basics/protein.html>. Chen, Junshi. Diet, Life-style, and Mortality in China. Oxford University Press, 2006. Diekman, Connie and Sotiropoulos Sam. "The Everything Mediterranean Diet Book: All you need to lose weight and stay healthy!" 18 December 2010 Duo, Li. "Effect of Vegetarian Diet on Non-communicable Diseases." Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture (2014): 169-173. Esselstyn, Dr. Caldwell. Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease. New York: Penguin Group, 2008. Huffington Post UK. 23 1 2014. 15 2 2014 <http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/01/07/man-loses-130ilbs-familyreaction-priceless_n_4555379.html>. J. Taylor and T. A. B. Sanders. Vegan men have less stiff arteries despite the lack of dietary docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. Cambridge Journals, Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. 30 August 2013. <http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid =8993107> Ornish, Dean. New York Times. 10 July 2007. 15 2 2014 <http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/10/garden/l-vegetarian-diets786291.html>. Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary. Eating Right. 27 April 2014. <http://sasanarakkha.org/articles/2007/10/eating-right.html> Schaafsma, Gertjan. "The Protein Digestiblity-Corrected Amino Acid Score." Journal of Nutrition 130 (2000): 1865S-1867S. Smith, Jeffery. GMO Food Allergies & Gluten Sensitivity. 11 Feburary 2014. 14 March 2014 <http://amazingdiscoveries.tv/media/1716/309/>.

Stone. Forks Over Knives. New York: The Experiment Publishing, 2011. Tonstad S, Nathan E, Oda K, Fraser G. Vegan Diets and Hypothyroidism. Nutrients. 2013; 5(11):4642-4652.