From: tara@socrates.umd.edu (Tara McDermott)
Subject: Re: How To Win an Argument with a Meat Eater
Organization: University of Maryland University College
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1992 19:04:06 GMT

srm@comp.lancs.ac.uk (Simon Monk) writes:

>Thank you for posting this. As a recent convert to vegitarianism I am aware
>of the health benefits. However It worries me when I see claims like :-

>>    Cut all meat, dairies and eggs from
>>    your diet, and you reduce your risk by 90%. (of Heart attack)

>This just seems to be too good to be true. It would be just so more
>impressive if it was followed by a REPUTABLE reference. Eg the British
>Medical Journal or US equivalent.

>Does anyone have any such sources for claims such as these ?

I have several.  The best source that I have on-line is a copy of
Realities: 1989, which is a booklet of facts taken from Diet For A New
America (which is heavily researched).  I will post the part relevant
to your disbelief about heart attack statistics.  It IS true, by the
way.  If you care, or if anyone else cares for the rest of the file,
I'll repost it, or send it out by e-mail.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

REALITIES 1989
--------------
Facts excerpted from the Pulitzer Prize nominated
DIET FOR A NEW AMERICA
By John Robbins
Full documentation of every fact in
"Realities 1989" is in DIET FOR A NEW AMERICA,
available from EarthSave

Number of U.S. medical schools: 125

Number of U.S. medical schools with required course in nutrition: 30

Training in nutrition received during 4 years of medical school by average U.S.
physician: 2.5 hours

How frequently a heart attack strikes in the U.S.: Every 25 seconds

How frequently heart attack kills in U.S.: Every 45 seconds

Most common cause of death in U.S.: Heart attack

Risk of death from heart attack by average American man: 50%

Risk of death from heart attack by average American vegetarian man: 15%

Risk of death from heart attack by average American pure vegetarian man: 4%

Amount you reduce your risk of heart attack by reducing your consumption of
meat,dairy products and eggs 10%: 9%

Amount you reduce the risk of heart attack by reducing your consumption of
meat,dairy products and eggs by 50%: 45%

Amount you reduce your risk of heart attack by reducing your consumption of
meat,dairy products and eggs by 100%: 90%

Rise in blood cholesterol level from consuming 1 egg per day: 12%

Rise in heart attack risk from 12% rise in blood cholesterol: 24%

Meat,dairy and egg industries claim there is no reason to be concerned about
your blood cholesterol as long as it is: "normal"

Your risk of dying of a disease caused by clogged arteries
if your blood cholesterol is"normal": over 50%

Your risk of dying of a disease caused by clogged arteries
if you do not consume saturated fat and cholesterol: 5%

Leading sources of saturated fat and cholesterol in American diets:
Meat, dairy products and eggs

Hollywood celebrity paid by meat board to tout beef as
"Real food for real people": James Garner

Medical event experienced by James Garner in April,1988:
Quintuple coronary artery bypass surgery

World populations with high meat intakes who do not have correspondingly high
rates of colon cancer: None

World populations with low meat intakes who do not have correspondingly low
rates of colon cancer: None

Increased risk of breast cancer for women who eat meat daily compared to
women who eat meat less than once a week: 4 times higher

Egg Board's advertising slogan: The incredible edible egg

Photographs often accompanying the egg board's slogan:
Young women in bathing suits, emphasizing the shape of their breasts

Increased risk of breast cancer for women who eat eggs daily compared to
women who eat eggs less than once a week: 3 times higher

Milk Producers original ad campaign slogan: "Everybody needs milk"

What the Federal Trade Commission called the "Everybody needs milk" slogan:
"False, misleading and deceptive"

Milk Producer's revised campaign slogan: "Milk has something for everybody"

Increased risk of breast cancer for women who eat butter and cheese 3 or more
times a week compared to women who eat these foods less than once a week:
3 times higher

Part of female chicken's body that produces eggs: Ovaries

Increased risk of fatal ovarian cancer for women who eat eggs 3 or more times
a week compared to women who eat eggs less than once a week:
3 times higher

Foods males in U.S. are conditioned to think of as "manly": Animal products

Increased risk of fatal prostate cancer for men who consume meats,cheese,eggs
and milk daily compared to men who eat these foods sparingly or not at all:
3.6 times higher
-- 
Tara McDermott             "Bathe them in Death, to celebrate Life!"
tara@socrates.umd.edu                                           -GWAR