The American Cancer Society’s 1996 report emphasized that “diets high in foods from plant sources [vegetables, fruits, whole gains, beans] have been associated with a decreased risk, whereas diets high in fat and red meat have been associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer.” Further, “intake of animal fat, red meats, and dairy products has been found to be associated with an increase in the risk of prostate cancer.” ^{51CA/1996, pp. 332, 333.}MOL 323.13

Dietary patterns in fifteen countries were compared with lymphoma death rates. A positive correlation existed between beef and all animal protein (fish being an exception). Vegetable protein foods were negatively correlated. ^{52A. S. Cunningham, The Lancet, 2:1184-1186, (1976).}MOL 323.14

Seventh-day Adventists in the United States consume as much fat as the general population. ^{53B. M. Calkins, D. J. Whittaker, P. P. Nair, A. A. Rider, and N. Turjman, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 40:896-905, October, 1984.} Yet, Adventists have only half as many cancers, even cancers not related to tobacco and alcohol. The explanation apparently lies in the difference in the kind of fat consumed. The National Research Council stated that cancer is most closely related to total fat and saturated fat. ^{54“Diet, Nutrition, and Cancer,” Cancer Research, June, 1983, 43:3018-3023.}MOL 323.15

Meat and cancer germs: When Ellen White wrote that “tuberculosis, cancer, and other fatal diseases” are caused by “tuberculosis and cancerous germs,” the medical world scoffed, and continued to do so for many decades. But not today. ^{55See p. 329.} In 1974, milk from leukemic cows was fed to six chimpanzees. Two died with leukemia at nine months of age, demonstrating that cancer viruses can be transmitted, even between different species. ^{56M. F. Stanton, CA.—A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, (1974), 24:189.} The chicken leukosis virus can be found in five to ten percent of all eggs. ^{57Personal communication from the Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture Regional Poultry Laboratory, East Lansing, Mich., to John Scharffenberg, M.D., (1982).}MOL 323.16

Meat and diabetes: In the Adventist Health Study, those who consumed meat six or more days a week had a 3.8 times greater risk than vegetarians of dying of diabetes. ^{58D. A. Snowden and R. L. Phillips, American Journal of Public Health 75:507-512, 1985.}MOL 323.17

Meat and endurance: A three-day, high-carbohydrate diet (such as the original diet, Genesis 1-3) produced almost three times the endurance (167 minutes) as the three-day, high-protein, fat diet (57 minutes) in a study of Swedish athletes. ^{59Nutrition Today, 3:9-11, 1968. A high animal-fat diet reduces diphosphoglycerate (DPG) in the red blood cells which indicates less oxygen is available for the tissue cells, whereas plant fats do not reduce the DPG.}MOL 323.18

Meat and essential fatty acids: God’s original diet (Genesis 1-3) contained no animal fat but had sufficient essential poly-unsaturated fatty acids from plant sources. Adequate linoleic acid, found in grains, reduces hypertension (high blood pressure) ^{60Preventive Medicine, 12:60-69, (1983).} and platelet stickiness, and the aggregation of red blood cells ^{61A. J. Vergroesen, “Physiological Effects of Dietary Linoleic Acid,” Nutrition Review, 335:1-5, (1977).} lowers blood cholesterol ^{62Journal of Nutrition, 62:421-424.} and reduces the risk of heart attacks ^{63CVD Epidemiology Newsletter, 27:81, (1979).} and ventricular fibrillation. ^{64Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, 3:847-853, 1981; Lancet, 2:285, July 30, 1988.}MOL 324.1

Meat and longevity: Non-meat-eaters have an increased life expectancy beyond eighty years although there does not appear to be an increase in maximal life-span. ^{65K. D. Linsted., S. Tonstad, and J. W. Kuzma, Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 44:363.}MOL 324.2

Salt. Although Ellen White stated that salt was “essential for the blood,” ^{66Counsels on Diet and Foods, 207.} she also advised against using “an undue amount of salt.” ^{67Counsels on Diet and Foods, 340.} Further, “a free use of” salt (as well as sugar and milk) “is positively injurious.” ^{68Counsels on Diet and Foods, 468. See T. Antonios and G. A. MacGregor, “Salt—more adverse effects,” Lancet, 1996, 348:250, 251.}MOL 324.3

Tea and coffee. For Ellen White, using tea and coffee as a beverage “is a sin, an injurious indulgence.” ^{69Counsels on Diet and Foods, 425.} After the immediate stimulating effect “a feeling of depression” sets in. ^{70Counsels on Diet and Foods, 425.} With continual use, the abuser of the nervous system will experience “headaches, wakefulness, palpitation of the heart, indigestion, trembling, and many other evils, for they [tea, coffee, and “many other popular drinks”] wear away the life forces.” ^{71Counsels on Diet and Foods, 424.} Both tea and coffee are “poisonous,” and “Christians should let it [them] alone,” ^{72Counsels on Diet and Foods, 421.} a position validated in current research. ^{73Counsels on Diet and Foods, 421. Coffee has been positively associated with factors that promote coronary heart disease (Preventive Medicine 1994), 23:377-384); cholesterol increased with even one cup of regular coffee daily (Journal of Clinical Epidemiology [1995], 48:1189-1196); the risk of myocardial infarction (American Journal of Epidemiology [1995] 14:724-731); accelerated bone loss from the spine and total body in women with calcium intakes below recommended dietary allowance of 800 mg. (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition [1994] 60:573-578); the risk of ovarian cancer (International Journal of Cancer [1981] 28:691-693); and “exhibits the features of a typical psychoactive substance of dependence.” Journal of the American Medical Association (1994) 272:1043-1048.}MOL 324.4

Caffeine, a major culprit in tea and coffee, is easily available in many popular drinks (cola drinks) and over-the-counter medications. Physiological effects of caffeine are apparent in adults at doses of only 100-200 mg.—the equivalent of one to three cups of coffee. But for a child (age 1-5) one can of caffeinated soda is equal to four cups of coffee!MOL 324.5

The Adventist Health Study found that the use of even one cup of coffee daily was associated with a 33 percent increase in the risk of fatal heart disease in men. Adventists who use two or more cups of coffee daily are reported to have a greater risk of fatal colon and bladder cancer. ^{74D. A. Snowden, R. L. Phillips, American Journal of Public Health, 74:820-823, August, 1984; K. D. Lindsted, J. W. Kuzma, J. E. Anderson, Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 1992, 45:733-742.}MOL 324.6

The caffeine syndrome is recognized by aggressiveness, hyperactivity, and sometimes psychotic behavior. Caffeine and the excess ingestion of xanthine alkaloids (found in coffee, tea, cocoa, and some popular beverages) affect people differently, usually observed in the abnormal stimulation of the nervous system and the inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. ^{75H. A. Reimann, “Caffeinism,” Journal of the American Medical Association, Dec. 18, 1967, 202:12, pp. 131, 132.}MOL 324.7

What Scientific Research Indicates Regarding a Meat Diet

Humanity’s Original Diet