The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, a group that vets the science behind the nation’s Dietary Guidelines, has determined that cholesterol no longer needs to be considered a “nutrient of concern.” Are bacon and eggs back in?
Dr. Dean Ornish (@DeanOrnishMD) says “no.” He suggests that the debate is not as simple as “low-fat versus low-carb.” Ornish cites research that shows that heavy consumption of animal protein may increase the risk of premature death from a number of causes, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and Type 2 diabetes. A diet high in saturated fats and trans fats has also been implicated in increasing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
In an op-ed for the New York Times, Ornish writes:
In addition, what’s good for you is good for our planet. Livestock production causes more disruption of the climate than all forms of transportation combined. And because it takes as much as 10 times more grain to produce the same amount of calories through livestock as through direct grain consumption, eating a plant-based diet could free up resources for the hungry.
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