Saw the documentary What The Health recently. There's another one worth looking at, "Forks Over Knives."
What led me to the vegan path is the bestseller book "How Not To Die" by Dr. Michael Greger. He runs a nonprofit via the website nutritionfacts.org, backs up his advice for plant-based whole food with scientific studies, and admits when the jury is out on some claims. Much of what's in Dr. Greger's book is also available in short clips on YouTube and on podcasts.
Other doctors whose work I have been following are Joel Fuhrman, Colin Campbell and Caldwell Esselstyn.
I've been a vegan for 7 months (the preferred description is plant-based whole food), and have never felt better. I'm leaner, more energetic, sleep better, my blood tests show a big improvement in my lipid and other profiles.
Yes, Americans are living longer, but that's more due to modern medicine than any other factor. They're living miserable lives in poor health. The obesity rate is horribly high, and the number of prescription meds Americans take seems to be going up.
I used to eat mostly white meat (chicken and fish). I gave that up in January.
So, no meat, no oils, no eggs, no dairy, no salt and no sugar.
Lot of beans and greens, quinoa, whole gains, home-cooked food. Lots of spices to add flavor to the food, lots of nuts, avocado seeds for the fat. And I exercise 5-6 days a week, between 40-75 minutes a day.
As a vegan, I do need to take a B12 supplement. But that's not just for vegans. Meat-eaters also tend to be low on B12. I have to make sure to add seaweed to my smoothie or salad to ensure I get sufficient iodine since I don't add salt to my food.
I was, and remain, hypothyroid; my doc will decide over the next few months whether the dose can be safely reduced.. At 58, I have no cholesterol or BP issued, no diabetes. My hair's snow white, but it started turning gray when I was in my 20s. It's still there, but I expect it will start thinning as I age.
Life shouldn't just be about living longer, it should also be more fulfilling. Don't tell me people with their guts hanging out have a good quality of life, not when they are panting climbing up a few stairs, can't turn fast on their feet, have to drive short distances because their knees and legs are taking a beating. The number of people getting knee and hip replacements is going up. Why are those joints giving out? Why, despite a big increase in dairy consumption (more as cheese and ice cream than milk) are more people, specially women, getting osteoporosis? Why isn't the calcium in milk protecting them?