The U.S. News and World Report Magazine just published the best diets of 2018. Forty-five million Americans are dieting. I would be comfortable in saying that many of those are experiencing health problems in addition to being overweight. Another common ground is that everyone believes vegetables are healthy. Plant based nutrition is for life and not just a diet. That is the reason it is such a good way to eat, and also the reason why people fear trying it. They do not want to fail, and it is easier to stop a diet than fail at a lifesytle. And apparently the cool kids eat meat or so they think.
Even though I liked being outside more than inside, science, playing in the band and golfing, I did not realize I might be considered a “geek” until after medical school. I had plenty of “cool friends” that were also, apparantly, geeks. I enjoy my world, and I am happy to share my time with those willing to accept me as I am. So becoming vegan or plant based was not a worry. My reasons are sound. I want to eat in a way that allows me to be the healthiest that I can be. A way that allows my body to heal from the stressors of life so that I can experience as many things as I can. Strangely enough no one tries to get me to sway from my nutrition choices.
So why not live and let live. Why feel the need to eat the unhealthy foods just because others do. Why should you be embarrassed eating salads instead of steak? Remember there are 45 million people trying to improve thier health right now with you. However, most of them view nutrition as a punishment for having been a little too cool and gaining a few extra pounds. And as soon as those pounds go away their health will be restored to ground zero, and they can go back to the cool ways of eating. Some people believe, if you only eat the cool things like butter, steak and eggs, you can get healthy again and eat the way cooler things like potato chips and ice cream. But we know that really does not work.
What makes eating meat cool and vegetables uncool? Why do people brag they like meat and make fun of those eating plants? It is certainly not the nutrition profile. The World Health Organization has deemed processed meat as a Level 1 carcinogen and red meat a Level 2 carcinogen. That is compared to fruits and vegetables that provide protection against, and help to reverse lifestyle diseases. I’m thinking it is not any better to be cool now than it was when I wasn’t before. There are a lot of people just like you that want to be healthy and not hurt. They are just not sure they want to leave the cool table in the lunch room.
The lunch table with the overweight, unhealthy people is large. The plant strong table is much smaller. But there are plenty of people happy to sit with you as you eat your kale salad and vegetable soup. They will be breathing easy and full of energy. Their plates will be colorful. They may ask you to go for a walk or run and enjoy the fresh air. They will be smiling because nothing on their plate was mistreated or tortured, and the earth may live another day because it too was nurtured in producing their food. The plant strong table is happy to be healthy and free of medications. They may not know it, but they may be the envy of the cool kids now. You are not alone in the desire to be healthy, and don’t forget to be kind when the cool kids asks to sit with you.
4 Comments
Donna
This blog brought back memories about how women were treated (called “geeks”) for going into science careers ( or better yet, becoming a cardiologist like you Dr. Dulaney). A Geek, according to the dictionary, is a person who has excessive enthusiasm and is an expert in a particular field. I needed to tell girls all the time in school that is was ok to love science and to pursue their passion. I stressed being a geek IS COOL because you are challenging yourself and want to be good at something! Athletes are sport geeks, people that play instruments are music geeks, chefs are food geeks, etc…
If your passion and excessive enthusiasm is to get healthy (get off your meds, lower your cholesterol, lower your blood pressure and lose weight without being hungry) by eating Plant-based—- Just do it— be a proud Plant-based GEEK.
Thanks for showing us by example and through your nutrition classes that being a GEEK is a good thing.
Dr. Dulaney
Thank you for such kind comment.
Janet
Thank you for this great blog post. I just finished reading another post on Facebook in one of the vegan/WFPB groups that I follow. The post talked about the negative comments that a woman was receiving just because she had quietly changed her diet to vegan.
Being in your nutrition group is giving me the support that I need when I am generally surrounded by omnivores. The pressure to conform and to eat the SAD can sometimes be almost overwhelming. I am really thankful for you, Dr. Dulaney, and for your wonderful, supportive nutrition class groups.
I don’t care if I am considered to be cool or not. Nothing should have to die just so I can live.
rochelleqeo
I’m amazed, I must say. Rarely do I come across a blog that’s both equally educative and interesting, and without a doubt, you have hit the nail on the head. The issue is something which not enough people are speaking intelligently about. I’m very happy that I found this in my hunt for something regarding this.