Health Advice Can Tend Towards Dogma

About a month ago, I wrote an email critical of the Blue Zone study that is so popular in the Vegan communities.

The Blue Zones of the world are places where people live really long, mostly healthy lives. And supposedly it’s because they mostly eat a plant-based diet.

My email disputed that they ate a plant-based diet exclusively. Many of these areas eat a lot of meat.

After I wrote the newsletter, a reader sent me an email. The reader and his wife are mostly carnivores. However, they grew up in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church (SDA) near Loma Linda. Loma Linda is a Blue Zone location and the only one in the United States.

Here is what he told me:

“I read your recent article on the so-called blue zones. I don’t disagree with you on that, but my extended family experience is what I wanted to share…I was raised 4th Gen SDA…The SDA vegetarian diet is a lot of processed food…Lots of soy products that simulate meat, boxes and sterile mylar packages of goop, frozen high gluten doughs and pastries, endless processed grains, etc…”

He continued:

“I did not follow the SDA path but have good relationships with my family members who are. Three days ago, I wished my Dad’s sister a Happy 95th birthday. In July, my Dad’s brother turned 93, his wife 95 a month later. My Dad’s younger sister just turned 90. All are living at home. Now I am not saying they are running marathons, but they all are pretty dang healthy and happy. My Dad’s Mom was healthy til 94. Unfortunately, my Dad and his Dad left this earth early around 70 from prostrate/bone cancer. So - I’m not saying it’s magic, but I sincerely wish that we carnivore types could have an open, honest conversation about this reality.”

I agree with him. People who follow a diet can become very critical of other diets. Carnivores can even get mad at other carnivores if they are eating regular meat instead of organic, grass fed beef.

If you look at a website that talks about the SDA lifestyle, they really do a lot of things the carnivore community probably would not have large problems incorporating into their lifestyles:

• They believe in staying away from sugar

• They do eat some meat such as beef, fowl and fish

• They encourage exercise

• They recommend good sleep habits

• Sunlight is important to them, along with fresh air

In other words, they agree that a healthy lifestyle will produce good outcomes.

Maybe the different diet camps have more in common than we have differences. Following good health basics in your life may make more of a difference than religiously adhering to a particular diet. And especially trying to cast out heretics.

I’m guessing not worrying about getting everything right may reduce your stress level and result in better health as well?

Find what’s working for you. If you don’t like the results, try something different.