living without fruits and veg

[Guest guest]

I'm poking my head out from lurkdom to post a snippet and link to

this article. Not sure if it's ever been discussed here; my

apologies if it has. I just wondered what folks here might think of

it.

http://health.msn.com/dietfitness/articlepage.aspx?cp-

documentid=100142240

" Who Needs Vegetables Anyway?

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No produce has passed his lips in more than 25 years. And by all

outward appearances, he's as healthy as the next guy. Now he finds

out what's been going on inside—and if his carnivorous ways are

killing him.

By Matt n; Photo Illustration by Eddie Guy

Long before Atkins drew up his diet, Vilhjalmur Stefansson

met the Inuit. In 1928, the Arctic explorer turned high-protein

pioneer when he tested whether man can live by meat alone. He wasn't

exactly sweating the results; he'd already survived in the wild by

adopting the Inuit food plan of caribou, fish, and whale fat. But he

was trying to win over the nonbelievers. And, sure enough, after a

year of eating carnivorously, he emerged 5 1/2 pounds lighter but

otherwise intact. To be truthful, a researcher did report one issue

early on: " [stefansson] developed a stubborn constipation coincident

with a craving for special foods, particularly calves' brains. "

My own hankerings for veal are more likely to involve spaghetti than

cerebrum. Still, I view Stefansson as something of a kindred spirit.

See, I, too, eat like the Inuit.

Granted, there are no caribou burgers on my menu, but neither are

there are any fruits or vegetables. It's estimated that produce

makes up 4 percent of the traditional Inuit diet—roughly equal to my

own intake, if you count ketchup. For nearly three decades, I've

eschewed chewing anything that sprouts from the ground or falls from

a tree. Whereas most children grow out of their vegetable-loathing

phase, I regressed into mine. When I was old enough to choose my

foods, I chose not to eat vegetables.

I know there must be downsides to my diet. Then again, I should,

having served as the Men's Health nutrition editor for several

years. But there's just one " problem " : I feel fine. Can't be? It's

true. I've had two kidney stones, but otherwise my medical history

is unremarkable. I realize there are several possible explanations

for my asymptomatic existence, but I'm betting my life on the most

controversial one: Fruits and vegetables simply aren't necessary for

our survival. " (full article at link above)

~Jill