They'll start asking for advice, instead...

Q: ''Blake: A lot of my friends, and a few researchers I've studied, say the vegan diet is 'deficient.' And that we are really natural meat-eaters! What do YOU think about that?''

A: ''Unfortunate for them. Humans are designed specifically for a plant-based diet. From the standpoint of comparative physiology, we share over 25 different traits matching us with other plant-eaters. Like gorillas, apes, chimpanzees. Further, these traits CLEARLY show, without a doubt, that we're NOT meant to be tearing, clawing, catching live prey. Dentition, teeth, digestive tract, affinity for alkaline, not acid-causing foods, and more, all show that we are consumers of the plant, by nature - NOT, the animal. Example? Our digestive tracts, long and winding, do well ONLY on plant-based fare. Put meat in there? It tends to stall, rot, coagulate in that hot environment, leading to every degenerative disease known to man. The primary reason Prof. Ehret (The Mucusless Diet Healing System), refers to the unhealthy, overburdened colon as the, harbinger of all illness.

Agreed.

The 'China Study' (T. Campbell) says quite a bit, as well. In which hundreds of thousands were monitored over several decades in what is know as the most broad study ever done on human nutrition. The meat eaters got cancer, by the thousands. The plant eaters did not. And just to be sure they were 'on the right track,' the researchers on the case, then reversed their test subjects. Guess what? The formerly healthy plant-eaters got sick. And the formerly sick flesh eaters, now eating plants? Well, they got healthy. Quickly. If that's not good enough for a researcher or scientist, in terms of strong circumstantial evidence - which in many cases, as V. Bugliosi has pointed out, is actually far more compelling than a single 'smoking gun' - I'd say, with 'all due respect,' he or she should likely 'grow up.' And do so, quickly.

Preferably before consuming their next 'dawg,' or, 'burger.'

In terms of a vegan fare being 'deficient?' I doubt it. I'm a big believer in the contention that we require, for optimal health, about 80% carbohydrates in our diet; as each and every cell in our body is fueled by these sugars. About 10% protein. And just about 10%, perhaps even less, of fat. I'm faster, stronger, better athletically, in every way, than I was as a high-school athlete. I doubt that'd be the case if my diet was 'deficient,' in any way. Also: I've worked with hundreds of others who've done EXACTLY the same. So I know from personal experience, AND from theirs that, and I don't say this lightly: 'If we did it, you can too!'

Also: We should probably ALWAYS keep in mind that among the biggest, strongest, healthiest animals on earth - particularly ones that appear strikingly similar to us, apes, gorillas, chimps and the like - consume little more than fruits, and green leaves! An ox? a giraffe? A silver back gorilla, about 30 times stronger than a man? The awe-inspiring elephant? From whence does their strength come? Plants! If there was an innate deficiency in such a fare, we'd likely see a whole lot more 'protein deficient' creatures as this, in the wild. Bony. Skinny. Weak. Perhaps, looking for some manner of, 'meat-fix.' Which, of course, is not happening any time soon.

Add it all up?

We look, inside and out, like the plant-eaters which we are, by nature. By the way, the notion that 'everyone needs a bit of a different diet?' Wrong again. That may be true at the 'micro' level. In other words, some of us are blessed, perhaps, with stronger immune systems. And there is some evidence out there that seems to show that naturally heavy people may actually do better than others, in terms of neutralizing body acids. And with dealing with acid-causing foods.

However, and this is a BIG 'however': At the 'macro' level, we human beings ALL require about the same, plant-based fare, for ideal health. No matter our blood type, or other, individual differences. Cows, for example, have more blood types than humans. Would you feed them something other than grass as a result of the fact? Probably not. That is, not unless you want a field full of disturbed, confused, likely ill cows. `

Same with humans. Put them on a diet predominated with meats and processed 'foods,' and you'll end up with an addicted, confused, generally woefully ill 'test group.' Yet switch them to primarily vegan fare, and you'll end up with cases like Dr. Lorraine Day, M.D.'s. Weeks from death, with 'terminal' cancer. And now, years after that diagnosis, and years after refusing traditional chemotherapy, and adopting a vegan diet instead? Supremely fit, and healthy.

And there are thousands of such cases, I could site here. Super-runner Dr. Ruth Heidrich, being another, that comes to mind. The point of all this? The vegan diet, based upon all available intelligence, and current real-world examples, appears to be pretty far from 'deficient' for the human body. In any way. Quite the reverse. It works for our fellow anthropoid primates, who look, inside and out, strikingly like us. It works for those who've developed the unfortunate illnesses so prevalent in modern, 'civilized,' western culture. See the 'China Study,' for more on that front.

Bottom line: If you'd like to get the best of yourself, physically-speaking. If you're sick of being ill, lethargic, lacking in energy, or suffering from other 'nagging' symptoms that won't seem to go away. If you're ready, once and for all, to 'dump' diets that do NOT, and will not ever, work. If you're ready to eat all you care to - the right way - without gaining unhealthy fat, and without having to 'count calories.' Then I can tell you EXACTLY how to do that.

It's a simple as eating, as does the healthy gorilla or chimpanzee in the wild, as much fruit, and green vegetation as you desire. Along with a handful of denser vegan fare, per day. Like nuts, seeds, sprouted beans, and the like. Do that, and you'll achieve a level of health, and energy of which most, only dream. Particularly those friends, researchers I spoke of, a moment or two ago, who mentioned the possible 'deficiencies' inherent in a plant-based diet.

Move past them, my friend, if necessary. Lead by example. Let your body, 'do the talking.' Add vigorous exercise, daily, for best results. Soon - VERY soon - they'll see your results, with their own eyes. And if they have no agenda. If they are true friends. And if they've a true desire to improve themselves, in an area upon which no man can 'place a price.' Then, I bet this: The next time they bring up your dietary choices? Rather than asking about 'deficiencies...'

They'll start asking for advice, instead.