Reasons to go vegan

When I began this journey I initially set out to cut down on the amount of meat I ate.  Growing up, my family didn't eat very much red meat because it was so expensive.  Red meat was reserved for eating at my tri-tip consuming relatives houses and cheeseburgers when we ate out.  I initially thought that I would not really be able to completely cut out meat, but I've surprised myself by working towards being vegan. Here's why:

87% of the protein in milk is made up of casein, a chemical found to be a potent carcinogen in humans.  The China Study details how Dr. T. Colin Campbell conducted several research studies in lab rats that showed how damaging animal protein can be.  His team of researchers injected groups of rats with aflatoxin (one of the most dangerous carcinogens, found in a mold on peanuts).  One group of rats was then fed a diet that included 20% animal protein, and another group was fed a diet that included 5% animal protein.  The group fed the 5% diet showed no signs of tumors caused by aflatoxin, while the group that received 20% showed signs of cancerous growth caused by the carcinigen.

Furthermore, one group of rats was injected with a higher dose of aflatoxin then fed a diet that included 5% animal protein, while another group of rats was injected with a low dose of aflatoxin but fed a diet with 20% animal protein.  The group that received the higher dose of the carcinogen but had a diet with lower animal protein did not develop any cancerous tumors, while the group with the lower dose of the carcinogen but diet higher in animal protein developed tumors.

He did numerous other studies regarding this and found that in all studies, by him and others, the animals fed a diet high in animal protein developed cancerous tumors while the animals fed a diet lower in animal protein did not develop cancerous tumors.

Of course, Dr. Campbell explains it so much better.  I was floored by this info; the evidence is compelling!  Even with the introduction of a carcinogen into the animal's body, diet made a huge difference!  Evidently animal protein was not meant for human consumption in such gigantic quantities.  This also shows that we humans can have some control over our health!  Family members who have heart trouble, diabetes, or cancer seem so hopeless.  In my own family the idea is that we have a propensity for colon cancer, so what difference does lifestyle and diet make if we're going to get it no matter what?  But Dr. Campbell's studies show that we CAN change it!  Our health isn't left up to our ancestors and fate, its in our power to life strong, healthy, and long lives!

Now who doesn't want that?!

(Note on animal studies: To be honest, I don’t feel totally comfortable with animal studies, but I’m grateful for the information that has come by them.  I’m not advocating for animal studies, but am using the evidence produced by these studies nonetheless.)