So WDYT causes cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes? Meat or sugar or carbs?

[Anonymous]

I am putting this here as it is more of a diet topic. I just watched What the Health documentary, and they are adamant that it is the meat that causes all three. No sugar nor carbs at all. But, I also watched documentaries that say eat meat as sugar and carbs cause all of them and not the meat. Webmd clearly states that carbs are bad for diabetes. My NP says she has been vegan for decades, and she is slim and says that is the way to go. I have lately been in favor of a plant-based diet for me, with most fish, but now fish is poison due to mercury and farming!
What are we to eat?
Anyway, all opinions welcome!

[Anonymous]

Seems like some of the healthiest people I know her cancer. You’ll either get it or you won’t. It’s a crapshoot. Don’t think being beg or veg will save you.

[Anonymous]

I think genetics plays a huge role.

[Anonymous]

Well for diabetes, it’s sugar, no question. For cancer - probably many contributors including non-dietary, and genetics. And bad luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well for diabetes, it’s sugar, no question. For cancer - probably many contributors including non-dietary, and genetics. And bad luck.

Hmm.. this is actually not true.

Type 1 diabetes is caused by your immune system attacking the insulin producing cells of your pancreases and has nothing to do with lifestyle.

Type 2 diabetes is related to being overweight but not directly caused by sugar. Sugar/carbs are easier to overeat so make it easier to pack on the pounds but if you eat a lot of sugar without being overweight you are less likely to get type 2 diabetes.

[Anonymous]

Sugar doesn't cause diabetes. Excess weight does. You can eat all the sugar/carbs you want, so long as you use it for energy (burn it off) and it doesn't get stored as fat. If you are gaining weight, you are not burning off what you eating and are eating too much. That puts you at highest risk for health problems.

Meat IS a huge contributor to cancer. Especially red meat. Red meat, charred meats, smoked meats, processed meats have all been linked to several GI cancers.

To optimize health the most important things are:

1) Don't overeat and keep your weight in heathy/normal range
2) Eat a lot of vegetables and fruit
3) Eat whole grains
4) Eat beans and legumes and nuts
5) Eat fish twice per week
6) limit alcohol
7) limit processed foods, store bought garbage
8) limit red meat

But yes, there is a huge role genetics play into whether you will develop cancer regardless of diet and lifestyle. You can only do so much

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems like some of the healthiest people I know her cancer. You’ll either get it or you won’t. It’s a crapshoot. Don’t think being beg or veg will save you.

I'm very sorry to hear that those people got sick.

There are both genetic and lifestyle factors that can contribute to one's risk. There are definitely things that you can do to reduce your risk.

This topic is being studied. https://www.wcrf.org/researchwefund/does-being-a-vegetarian-lower-your-risk-of-cancer/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well for diabetes, it’s sugar, no question. For cancer - probably many contributors including non-dietary, and genetics. And bad luck.

Hmm.. this is actually not true.

Type 1 diabetes is caused by your immune system attacking the insulin producing cells of your pancreases and has nothing to do with lifestyle.

Type 2 diabetes is related to being overweight but not directly caused by sugar. Sugar/carbs are easier to overeat so make it easier to pack on the pounds but if you eat a lot of sugar without being overweight you are less likely to get type 2 diabetes.

OP here. The documentary alleged that it is fat that destroys your pancreas, hence diabetes. That eating a lot of sugar will make you overweight, but that butter in let's say a cookies is the culprit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well for diabetes, it’s sugar, no question. For cancer - probably many contributors including non-dietary, and genetics. And bad luck.

Hmm.. this is actually not true.

Type 1 diabetes is caused by your immune system attacking the insulin producing cells of your pancreases and has nothing to do with lifestyle.

Type 2 diabetes is related to being overweight but not directly caused by sugar. Sugar/carbs are easier to overeat so make it easier to pack on the pounds but if you eat a lot of sugar without being overweight you are less likely to get type 2 diabetes.

OP here. The documentary alleged that it is fat that destroys your pancreas, hence diabetes. That eating a lot of sugar will make you overweight, but that butter in let's say a cookies is the culprit.

Just because a documentary throws it out there doesn't mean it's true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sugar doesn't cause diabetes. Excess weight does. You can eat all the sugar/carbs you want, so long as you use it for energy (burn it off) and it doesn't get stored as fat. If you are gaining weight, you are not burning off what you eating and are eating too much. That puts you at highest risk for health problems.

Meat IS a huge contributor to cancer. Especially red meat. Red meat, charred meats, smoked meats, processed meats have all been linked to several GI cancers.

To optimize health the most important things are:

1) Don't overeat and keep your weight in heathy/normal range
2) Eat a lot of vegetables and fruit
3) Eat whole grains
4) Eat beans and legumes and nuts
5) Eat fish twice per week
6) limit alcohol
7) limit processed foods, store bought garbage
8) limit red meat

But yes, there is a huge role genetics play into whether you will develop cancer regardless of diet and lifestyle. You can only do so much

OP here. Thanks for posting all this! So, What the Health says the same thing, pretty much. Something is in the ground and animals eat it. And no organic or pasture-raised helps at all.
But, how come veggies grow from the same ground, but are better?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well for diabetes, it’s sugar, no question. For cancer - probably many contributors including non-dietary, and genetics. And bad luck.

Hmm.. this is actually not true.

Type 1 diabetes is caused by your immune system attacking the insulin producing cells of your pancreases and has nothing to do with lifestyle.

Type 2 diabetes is related to being overweight but not directly caused by sugar. Sugar/carbs are easier to overeat so make it easier to pack on the pounds but if you eat a lot of sugar without being overweight you are less likely to get type 2 diabetes.

OP here. The documentary alleged that it is fat that destroys your pancreas, hence diabetes. That eating a lot of sugar will make you overweight, but that butter in let's say a cookies is the culprit.

Just because a documentary throws it out there doesn't mean it's true.

Sure. But each different documentary uses studies to reinforce their claim. This one even Harvard and many other studies. Others cite studies that support their claims. So, what is a regular person to think?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sugar doesn't cause diabetes. Excess weight does. You can eat all the sugar/carbs you want, so long as you use it for energy (burn it off) and it doesn't get stored as fat. If you are gaining weight, you are not burning off what you eating and are eating too much. That puts you at highest risk for health problems.

Meat IS a huge contributor to cancer. Especially red meat. Red meat, charred meats, smoked meats, processed meats have all been linked to several GI cancers.

To optimize health the most important things are:

1) Don't overeat and keep your weight in heathy/normal range
2) Eat a lot of vegetables and fruit
3) Eat whole grains
4) Eat beans and legumes and nuts
5) Eat fish twice per week
6) limit alcohol
7) limit processed foods, store bought garbage
8) limit red meat

But yes, there is a huge role genetics play into whether you will develop cancer regardless of diet and lifestyle. You can only do so much

My skinny south Asian in-laws, like many skinny Asians, have type 2 diabetes after a lifetime of eating exactly what you suggest (especially fish, no alcohol at all).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sugar doesn't cause diabetes. Excess weight does. You can eat all the sugar/carbs you want, so long as you use it for energy (burn it off) and it doesn't get stored as fat. If you are gaining weight, you are not burning off what you eating and are eating too much. That puts you at highest risk for health problems.

Meat IS a huge contributor to cancer. Especially red meat. Red meat, charred meats, smoked meats, processed meats have all been linked to several GI cancers.

To optimize health the most important things are:

1) Don't overeat and keep your weight in heathy/normal range
2) Eat a lot of vegetables and fruit
3) Eat whole grains
4) Eat beans and legumes and nuts
5) Eat fish twice per week
6) limit alcohol
7) limit processed foods, store bought garbage
8) limit red meat

But yes, there is a huge role genetics play into whether you will develop cancer regardless of diet and lifestyle. You can only do so much

My skinny south Asian in-laws, like many skinny Asians, have type 2 diabetes after a lifetime of eating exactly what you suggest (especially fish, no alcohol at all).

My DH is super skinny and eats rubbish all the time. 6 Dr peppers per day, not a diet one either! McD crap every day when here, he works overseas a lot. Crap restaurant food. He eats healthily all that I cook though.
I've been telling him that all that sugar will cause him diabetes. Was I wrong?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sugar doesn't cause diabetes. Excess weight does. You can eat all the sugar/carbs you want, so long as you use it for energy (burn it off) and it doesn't get stored as fat. If you are gaining weight, you are not burning off what you eating and are eating too much. That puts you at highest risk for health problems.

Meat IS a huge contributor to cancer. Especially red meat. Red meat, charred meats, smoked meats, processed meats have all been linked to several GI cancers.

To optimize health the most important things are:

1) Don't overeat and keep your weight in heathy/normal range
2) Eat a lot of vegetables and fruit
3) Eat whole grains
4) Eat beans and legumes and nuts
5) Eat fish twice per week
6) limit alcohol
7) limit processed foods, store bought garbage
8) limit red meat

But yes, there is a huge role genetics play into whether you will develop cancer regardless of diet and lifestyle. You can only do so much

My skinny south Asian in-laws, like many skinny Asians, have type 2 diabetes after a lifetime of eating exactly what you suggest (especially fish, no alcohol at all).

I'm sorry to hear that.

What PP wrote is right. Genetics play a large role in one's chance of developing the condition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well for diabetes, it’s sugar, no question. For cancer - probably many contributors including non-dietary, and genetics. And bad luck.

Hmm.. this is actually not true.

Type 1 diabetes is caused by your immune system attacking the insulin producing cells of your pancreases and has nothing to do with lifestyle.

Type 2 diabetes is related to being overweight but not directly caused by sugar. Sugar/carbs are easier to overeat so make it easier to pack on the pounds but if you eat a lot of sugar without being overweight you are less likely to get type 2 diabetes.

OP here. The documentary alleged that it is fat that destroys your pancreas, hence diabetes. That eating a lot of sugar will make you overweight, but that butter in let's say a cookies is the culprit.

Just because a documentary throws it out there doesn't mean it's true.

Sure. But each different documentary uses studies to reinforce their claim. This one even Harvard and many other studies. Others cite studies that support their claims. So, what is a regular person to think?

It’s always a good idea to seek out alternative views rather than relying on one source. Here are a couple of other takes on the documentary.

https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/7/25/16018658/what-the-health-documentary-review-vegan-diet
https://time.com/4897133/vegan-netflix-what-the-health/