Re: Denise
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 7:35 am
As someone who has been on both sides, low carb and plant based, one observation really resonates with me: the LC side was always in rebuttal mode. Taubes, Eades, or Mingers, it didn't matter. Every few weeks, some new piece of research came out linking meat consumption with poor health/morbidity, and the LC doctors and advocates had to attack this research, usually on the basis of methodology.
This can be done with almost any study, and most of us are laypeople and can't effectively argue with the analysis, but the frequency that these "fires" had to be extinguished on the other side was striking. Regardless of what they said, the fact they had to say it so often certainly made it seem that the preponderance of evidence was not supportive of that WOE (which, in fact, it isn't).
By contrast, the plant-based advocates rarely have to do this. Their challenge is mainly convincing people they'll thrive on a plant-based diet and to give it a try. But there's a calm confidence on this side. Dr. McDougall, Dr. Esselstyn, Dr. Campbell and the other plant-based advocates know they have the science behind them, and this, compared to the other side, is really apparent in their demeanors. They have the peace of mind that comes from dealing in truth not justifications.
This can be done with almost any study, and most of us are laypeople and can't effectively argue with the analysis, but the frequency that these "fires" had to be extinguished on the other side was striking. Regardless of what they said, the fact they had to say it so often certainly made it seem that the preponderance of evidence was not supportive of that WOE (which, in fact, it isn't).
By contrast, the plant-based advocates rarely have to do this. Their challenge is mainly convincing people they'll thrive on a plant-based diet and to give it a try. But there's a calm confidence on this side. Dr. McDougall, Dr. Esselstyn, Dr. Campbell and the other plant-based advocates know they have the science behind them, and this, compared to the other side, is really apparent in their demeanors. They have the peace of mind that comes from dealing in truth not justifications.