To this day, people are gradually coming to realize that a "vegetarian" diet can lead to a healthier life.
"Rejecting poultry, meat, and even dairy products," and "consuming a diet based primarily on plant-based foods as much as possible." When the "vegetarian trend" swept the globe, the world took notice: in China, Peking University established a vegetarian association; in the United States, people see "eating vegetarian" as a symbol of quality of life, with 55% of Americans ordering all-vegetarian dishes when dining out; Dr. Colin Campbell, a tenured professor at Cornell University in the United States, world-renowned nutritionist and hailed as the "Einstein of the world of nutrition," recently gave an exclusive interview to reporters in Beijing, also elaborating on his "vegetarian philosophy." What changes has vegetarianism brought to people's lives? Will traditional Chinese eating habits be overturned under the influence of this "trend"? Vegetarianism Changes American Families
Mr. Weber, 64, lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. A few years ago, he was an out-and-out "meat-eater." His family, however, had gone vegetarian before him. "I was very confused for a while—was I supposed to give up the fried steaks I'd been eating for decades?" Mr. Weber told reporters that he had tried to become a vegetarian but gave up after just a few days. "It was just too miserable to live on fruits and vegetables every day; I felt completely drained of energy."
It wasn't until one day when his 31-year-old son explained to him in detail the problems associated with livestock farming that Mr. Weber's attitude gradually changed. "My son told me that current research shows that animal feed is often mixed with hormones, antibiotics, and even pesticides, plus the severe air and water pollution in recent years... When I think about that, I dare not touch those things anymore." However, Mr. Weber frankly stated that he is not a strict vegetarian and occasionally eats fish and dairy products when he has a craving.
Mr. Weber is very satisfied with the change in his diet. "I haven't experienced the weight problems common among other American seniors, and I have plenty of energy. Of course, my other secret to staying healthy is persisting in running marathons."
For health reasons, people like Mr. Weber are increasing year by year in the United States. There is no doubt that vegetarianism is gradually becoming mainstream in American diets, while the proportion of meat products is shrinking. According to a 2006 survey by the Vegetarian Resource Group in the United States, currently, about 4.7 million adults over 18 in the U.S. are strict vegetarians who never eat meat or seafood; in addition, more than 13 million people simply avoid meat products. Furthermore, a recent report from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization shows that 20% of American college students follow vegetarianism, with an increasing number becoming strict vegetarians; another 55% of Americans order all-vegetarian dishes when dining out. The "Vegetarian Philosophy" of an American Nutritionist
In the relationship between eating habits and health, world-renowned nutritionist Dr. Campbell conducted long-term research, and he himself is a strict vegetarian. But Dr. Campbell prefers to describe his eating habits as "plant-based food." In his view, some vegetarians not only eat plant-based foods like vegetables, fruits, and legumes but also include eggs and dairy products; whereas plant-based foods mainly include vegetables, grains, legumes, and fruits, excluding eggs and dairy products.
On April 7th, in an interview with reporters from *Life Times* at a book signing event at the Third Pole Bookstore in Beijing, Dr. Campbell elaborated again on his experience and his views on plant-based foods. "I grew up on a ranch, interacting with cattle from a young age—drinking milk, eating beef, and I thought these foods were simply delicious back then. I never imagined that I would hold the current attitude towards diet forty years later." After decades of nutritional research, Dr. Campbell has sufficient data to prove: a diet based on animal foods leads to various chronic diseases such as obesity, coronary heart disease, and cancer; while a diet based on plant-based foods is most beneficial to health and can most effectively control and prevent chronic diseases. "As my research deepened, I almost completely negated those dietary theories rooted in my childhood."
Dr. Campbell's research has mainly yielded the following findings:
Finding One: A diet composed of plant-based foods is beneficial for improving and preventing a series of chronic diseases.
Finding Two: A diet based on plant-based foods can even reverse the course of chronic diseases without the aid of medication.
Finding Three: The relationship between nutrition and genes. Susceptible genes can be controlled through nutritional intake, meaning that if the diet is properly balanced, even susceptible genes may not express themselves; if the balance is poor, these genes will express themselves more quickly.
Finding Four: A diet based on plant-based foods can protect against the health effects of some harmful substances. For example, everyone knows that smoking is harmful to health, but the tolerance to the dangers of smoking differs between people on a plant-based diet and those on an animal-based diet; the former can reduce this harm to a certain extent.
During the interview, he told reporters that he does not have a so-called "dietary pyramid." In his view, eating more grains, legumes, vegetables, and fruits, and less chicken, duck, fish, meat, eggs, and dairy, can keep diseases at bay. "Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes 'food therapy,' which shows that food can indeed cure diseases. What I am doing now is to expand the concept of 'medicine and food sharing the same origin.'" Vegetarianism Will Not Impact Chinese Eating Habits
In fact, the Chinese people started "eating vegetarian" several thousand years ago. The ancients had a saying: "Five grains as the staple, five kinds of livestock in moderation, do not lose legumes, five types of vegetables with varied colors, supplemented by melons and fruits." The "vegetarianism" here was not only源于 reverence for ghosts and gods, nor was it solely a Buddhist ritual; it more represented a promotion of health concepts. The imperial court officials and nobility who believed in this dietary structure announced to the world through their own actions: "Eat like us, this is a symbol of status, this is the truly healthy way of life!"
Today, however, "vegetarianism" is gradually being forgotten by the Chinese people. On April 9th, Chen Junshi, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a researcher at the National Institute for Nutrition and Food Safety of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said with regret in a phone interview with *Life Times* reporters, "Many people now believe that feasting on 'big fish and meat, delicacies from mountains and seas' is synonymous with 'wealth' and 'progress,' and they are starting to enjoy this 'happy' life." Some even believe that only by consuming more meat can they become tall and strong like Westerners. Little do they know that this无形中 lets diabetes, coronary heart disease, and other ailments "knock on the door." "Whereas a diet based on plant-based foods can effectively prevent and control chronic diseases."
However, the trend in China's dietary changes is towards more oil and salt. A "vegetarian" dish cooked with such methods, no matter how "vegetarian" it is, will probably lose its original flavor. To this, Academician Chen Junshi believes: "Using excessive oil and salt is a bad habit that goes hand in hand with a diet based on animal foods and must be abandoned. Even when focusing on plant-based foods, it must be under the premise of controlling total calories; never think that just because you're eating vegetarian, you can use more oil and salt without consequence." For example, in the United States, when vegetarians adapt Chinese recipes, they will change fried spring rolls to baked (or steamed) spring rolls.
Academician Chen Junshi also emphasized that eating vegetarian requires a balanced diet. "Some people only eat grains and vegetables, which is not enough. Legumes must be included to ensure the protein intake is not inferior to that from meat, making the nutrition more comprehensive."
In the nutritional guidelines for vegetarians provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, experts also recommend that vegetarians' food should be diverse, with special attention paid to consuming foods high in plant protein, as well as eating more foods rich in iron, calcium, zinc, and vitamin B12. The "Vegetarian Trend" Is Sweeping the Globe
In several famous vegetarian restaurants in Beijing, there is a constant stream of customers, including lay Buddhists, company office workers, government officials, and university students and teachers. Currently, university students have become the vanguard of modern vegetarian promotion. From the establishment of the Peking University Vegetarian Association in May 2000, to the subsequent rise of the Fudan University and Sun Yat-sen University vegetarian associations, the momentum is growing stronger. Speaking of the original intention for promoting vegetarianism, Zhang Liping, former president of the Peking University Vegetarian Culture Association, said that vegetarianism is a diet without a burden on the mind. Now, young people like vegetarianism mostly not for religious reasons, but because they see it as a very good way of eating.
The American vegetarian market is also growing rapidly, with sales in 2005 increasing by 64% compared to 2000. It is widely believed that new food processing technologies make vegetarian foods based mainly on soy tastier, such as veggie burgers, veggie sausages, and veggie pizzas. According to U.S. market researchers, by 2010, sales of vegetarian products are expected to reach $1.07 billion.
In Germany, a vegetarian chain called "Lifemore" already has 2,500 stores with good business every day; in the United Kingdom, 1 in 10 citizens aged 13-34 are vegetarians.
"If a diet based on plant-based foods can become a trend, I would be very gratified. Because to avoid chronic diseases such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and cancer, this is the only way to go, and it is the inevitable trend for humanity to pursue health," said Academician Chen Junshi firmly.
Professor Xia Xueluan from the Department of Sociology at Peking University shares the same view. "This is a progress that is not only reflected in the pursuit of health but will also make concepts like environmental protection and animal welfare deeply rooted in people's minds. Animals, like humans, are a gift from the Creator. Never simply regard them as delicious dishes on the table, otherwise, by destroying the harmony between heaven and humanity, humans can only fall into an increasingly lonely predicament."
However, Professor Xia also pointed out that fundamentally changing Chinese eating habits will take a long time. The resistance from other industries, such as the meat processing industry, is evident. Just like when Professor Campbell promoted the concept of a "plant-based food diet" in the United States, the U.S. government obstructed him on the grounds that it would affect other industries.
"Then it depends on how you calculate the account," Academician Chen Junshi did not show too much concern about this. He said: "Compared to the health of the nation and the country's livelihood, the shrinkage of related industries is too insignificant. Moreover, China's national conditions are different from those of the United States. In the United States, industry associations have a great influence on the government, but that is not the case in our country. The '2002 Chinese National Nutrition and Health Survey' released in 2004 stated that the significant increase in chronic diseases is related to the increasing intake of animal foods, which provides a good basis for promoting a diet based on plant-based foods."