The China Project - and a retraction/apology

[Guest guest]

While I do not want a continued debate on vegetarianism, I have to say that I should have looked into the China Project before making my last post about ending the discussion, because I clearly was wrong to make the statement:"There are studies out there that support just about anything one wishes to find to support their views."Upon looking into the study, which I should have done before making my post - and weariness and hurriedness is no excuse, I found that it is indeed a remarkable work - and so my apologies to Tammatha for opening my mouth and inserting my foot (blush).Here is a pretty good overview of The China Project:

Background This is the most comprehensive project on diet and disease ever undertaken. Two major surveys were undertaken, 1983 and 1989-90. These surveys were undertaken in China because cancers and various other diseases exhibit exceptional geographic localization. Thus, it made sense to examine these local regions to determine the responsible dietary and lifestyle factors. In a 1983 survey, 367 items of information were collected on how people live and how they die in 138 rural Chinese villages; 6500 adults and their families were surveyed. In a 1989-90 survey, more than 1000 items of information were collected in 170 villages in rural China and Taiwan, involving 10,200 adults and their families. These new data, including a large number of socioeconomic characteristics, will be combined with a new survey on causes of death for a population of 100 million (1.4 million death certificates for the years, 1986-88). There are sufficient data available in these combined surveys to interpret for the next 20+ years -- at least. The opportunities for exploration of the causes of disease, both specifically and generally, are incalculable. We believe that these data have the potential to establish a new paradigm for thinking about nutrition and health -- for all countries, rich and poor, East and West, North and South.

Public recognition given to project The project has been featured as a cover or lead story in numerous news print media, including the New York Times, the China Daily, USATodgy, and the Boston Globe, among many others, and at least in part or whole, in several TV documentaries shown in Tokyo, Seoul, Rio de Janeiro, Beijing, London, Frankfurt and US cities.In an analysis of food trends prepared by Smith Barney Shearson, the banking investment firm, the China Project was said to be the "seminal', work driving the current marketplace trends; furthermore, it was said to have been undertaken with "rigorous methodology".

Some findings from the 1983 survey The dietary patterns in China are strikingly different from Western countries, the major difference being the consumption of foods of animal origin. Animal protein intake, for example, is 10-fold greater, on average, in the US. than in China. Although the biology of the diet and disease relationship is infinitely complex and is easily misunderstood when interpreted in a reductionism manner, the main nutritional conclusion from this study is the finding that the greater the consumption of a variety of good quality plant-based foods, the lower the risk of those diseases which are commonly found in western countries (eg., cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes). Based on these and other data, we hypothesize that 80-90% of all such diseases could be prevented before about age 90 years. I can find no argument with that - it is in fact, pretty much what I have preached. I suppose some could look at the study and be compelled to convert entirely to vegetarinism; however, what I gathered from the study was not that it advocates a conversion to a complete vegetarian diet, but rather that it clearly points out how much healthier we could be and how much better the shepherding of the earth's resources could be, the more we replace meat with vegetables.Thanks Tammatha for pointing me towards the study, and sorry I was a grump.Tony

[Guest guest]

Tony, you are a remarkable man.

 

I love you for your courage and lack of ego and posturing.

 

Don't know many men at all who would so humbly and publicly removed their foot from their mouth!

 

Thank you for "being" such a great example to me.

 

Angel

 

 

The China Project - and a retraction/apology

 

Posted by: "Tony"

Mon Jul 21, 2008 8:00 am (PDT)

While I do not want a continued debate on vegetarianism, I have to saythat I should have looked into the China Project before making my lastpost about ending the discussion, because I clearly was wrong to makethe statement:"There are studies out there that support just about anything one wishesto find to support their views."Upon looking into the study, which I should have done before making mypost - and weariness and hurriedness is no excuse, I found that it isindeed a remarkable work - and so my apologies to Tammatha for openingmy mouth and inserting my foot (blush)....

 

.......Thanks Tammatha for pointing me towards the study, and sorry I was agrump.

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[Guest guest]

Indeed Tony! Your're very much appreciated and respected!

 

sunray--- On Mon, 7/21/08, toreadpeoplehealthinfo <toreadpeoplehealthinfo wrote:

toreadpeoplehealthinfo <toreadpeoplehealthinfo Re:The China Project - and a retraction/apologyoleander soup Received: Monday, July 21, 2008, 6:20 PM

 

 

 

 

Tony, you are a remarkable man.

 

I love you for your courage and lack of ego and posturing.

 

Don't know many men at all who would so humbly and publicly removed their foot from their mouth!

 

Thank you for "being" such a great example to me.

 

Angel

 

 

The China Project - and a retraction/apology

 

Posted by: "Tony"

Mon Jul 21, 2008 8:00 am (PDT)

While I do not want a continued debate on vegetarianism, I have to saythat I should have looked into the China Project before making my lastpost about ending the discussion, because I clearly was wrong to makethe statement:"There are studies out there that support just about anything one wishesto find to support their views."Upon looking into the study, which I should have done before making mypost - and weariness and hurriedness is no excuse, I found that it isindeed a remarkable work - and so my apologies to Tammatha for openingmy mouth and inserting my foot (blush)....

 

.......Thanks Tammatha for pointing me towards the study, and sorry I was agrump.

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[Guest guest]

Aww pshaw, maam. Methinks I have too big of an ego sometimes and

posture too much besides. But then I trip over my ego when hopping

about with one foot in my mouth and come crashing back to earth on my

fanny . . .

 

Thanks,

 

 

oleander soup , <toreadpeoplehealthinfo wrote:

>

>

> Tony, you are a remarkable man.

>

> I love you for your courage and lack of ego and posturing.

>

> Don't know many men at all who would so humbly and publicly removed

their foot from their mouth!

>

> Thank you for " being " such a great example to me.

>

> Angel

>

>

> The China Project - and a retraction/apology

> Posted by: " Tony "

> Mon Jul 21, 2008 8:00 am (PDT)

> While I do not want a continued debate on vegetarianism, I have to say

> that I should have looked into the China Project before making my last

> post about ending the discussion, because I clearly was wrong to make

> the statement:

>

> " There are studies out there that support just about anything one wishes

> to find to support their views. "

>

> Upon looking into the study, which I should have done before making my

> post - and weariness and hurriedness is no excuse, I found that it is

> indeed a remarkable work - and so my apologies to Tammatha for opening

> my mouth and inserting my foot (blush)....

>

> ......Thanks Tammatha for pointing me towards the study, and sorry I

was a

> grump.

>

> >

> Back to top

> Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post

>