20100225

What is draconian and drastic: a vegetarian diet or a western diet?

Which is 'draconian' and 'drastic': a vegetarian diet or a Western diet?

Is going veg something very extreme? Conside these two quotes:

'Some criticize the plant-based diet as extreme or draconian. Webster's dictionary defines draconian as "inhumanly cruel". A closer look reveals that "extreme" or "inhumanely cruel" describes not plant-based nutrition, but the consequences of our present Western diet. Having a sternum divided for bypass surgery or a stroke that renders one an aphasic invalid can be construed as extreme; and having a breast, prostate, colon or rectum removed to reat cancer may seem inhumanly cruel. These diseases are rarely seen in populations consuming a plant-based diet.'
-Doctor Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr.

'I don't understand why asking people to eat a well-based vegetarian diet is considered drastic, while it's medically conservative to cut people open or put them on powerful cholesterol-lowering drugs for the rest of their lives.'
-Doctor Dean Ornish
(Both quotes are from John Robbins's book Health at 100)

Need one say more?

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