# "A Diet For All Reasons" by Michael Klaper, M.D. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 23, 2004, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-diet-for-all-reasons-by-michael-klaper-m-d/230675 "2004-02-23T14:59:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sheri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sheri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sheri)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-diet-for-all-reasons-by-michael-klaper-m-d/230675/1 "2004-02-23T14:59:47Z")
Hello; This is in response to the article: Is cow’s milk “the worst beverage on earth?” 21-Mar-2003 - [http://www.straightdope.com/columns/030321.html](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/030321.html) Please see: [http://www.drday.com/healthbooks.htm](http://www.drday.com/healthbooks.htm) A DIET FOR ALL REASONS by Michael Klaper, M.D. “This outstanding video reveals why eating meat, poultry and dairy products overloads the body with fat and protein, causing many diseases including CANCER and HEART DISEASE and how you can begin changing to a more healthful diet.” This video is excellent! I even lent it out to my brother-in-law who is a medical doctor. After watching it, he said he agreed with all of it and became vegan himself. This video is chok full of excellent research results. And, well, it just makes sense! Please check ALL facts. Sincerely, Sheri ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-diet-for-all-reasons-by-michael-klaper-m-d/230675/2 "2004-02-23T23:40:40Z")
Was this video published in a scientific peer-reviewed blockbusters? ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-diet-for-all-reasons-by-michael-klaper-m-d/230675/3 "2004-02-24T00:27:04Z")
Welcome to the Straight Dope Message Boards, **Sheri** , we’re glad to have you with us. If you will pardon me for being somewhat suspicious, however, your first post is basically an advertisement and a link to a product to be purchased. This is permissable on our Boards within certain parameters,and I guess we won’t know whether your post fits within those parameters until/unless we see more from you. So, being optimistic that you are more than a shill, welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-diet-for-all-reasons-by-michael-klaper-m-d/230675/4 "2004-02-24T02:50:53Z")
Well, hey, if Sherri’s BIL is convinced, that’s good enough for me… for some reason I’m flashing on Mark Twain’s _Roughing It_, Chapter 17: “And when I am far on the road to conviction, and eight men, be they grammatical or otherwise, come forward and tell me that they have seen the plates too; and not only seen those plates but “hefted” them, I am convinced. I could not feel more satisfied and at rest if the entire Whitmer family had testified…” ---
**Author:** ![Sheri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sheri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sheri)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-diet-for-all-reasons-by-michael-klaper-m-d/230675/5 "2004-02-24T03:26:16Z")
> [@C K Dexter Haven](#): > > Welcome to the Straight Dope Message Boards, **Sheri** , we’re glad to have you with us. > > If you will pardon me for being somewhat suspicious, however, your first post is basically an advertisement and a link to a product to be purchased. This is permissable on our Boards within certain parameters,and I guess we won’t know whether your post fits within those parameters until/unless we see more from you. > > So, being optimistic that you are more than a shill, welcome. Hello and thank you. No, not an ad. I have nothing to gain from this whatsoever. I bought the video a long time ago. Then I came across the 2003 article on milk by Cecil Adams, so I thought I’d share the video and where to get it if anyone’s interested. It really is excellent. I’ve shared it with several friends and family and they are always extremely impressed. Sheri ---
**Author:** ![Sheri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sheri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sheri)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-diet-for-all-reasons-by-michael-klaper-m-d/230675/6 "2004-02-24T03:33:21Z")
> [@Duck Duck Goose](#): > > Well, hey, if Sherri’s BIL is convinced, that’s good enough for me… > > for some reason I’m flashing on Mark Twain’s _Roughing It_, Chapter 17: > > “And when I am far on the road to conviction, and eight men, be they > grammatical or otherwise, come forward and tell me that they have seen > the plates too; and not only seen those plates but “hefted” them, I am > convinced. I could not feel more satisfied and at rest if the entire > Whitmer family had testified…” Hello; I noticed the above quote about “the plates” and the “Whitmer family”. Might you be LDS? If so, then know that the Word of Wisdom comes into play in my post about “A Diet For All Reasons” too. I don’t believe Dr. Klaper is LDS, but everything he says goes right along with the Word of Wisdom and that’s where all this started in the first place. Just curious, Sheri ---
**Author:** ![Sheri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sheri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sheri)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-diet-for-all-reasons-by-michael-klaper-m-d/230675/7 "2004-02-24T04:59:49Z")
> [@moriah](#): > > Was this video published in a scientific peer-reviewed blockbusters? Hello; I don’t know, but let me quote what it says on the back of the video, which may help with the info. you’re looking for: \*Michael Klaper, M.D. is the Director of the Institue for Nutrition Education and Research, a non-profit organization that provides CME seminars for physicians and other health professionals, on utilizing nutrition in therapy and prevention of disease. Dr. Klaper gives public lectures throughout North America and frequently appears on radio and television, in addition to his private practice. He’s also a consultant to numerous corporations and their Wellness programs. He is the author of a series of audio-tapes and books, that provides complete information on transitioning to a health supporting diet.\* “There is absolutely no nutrient, no protein, no vitamin, no mineral that can’t be obtained from plant-based foods.” -Michael Klaper, M.D. Sheri ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-diet-for-all-reasons-by-michael-klaper-m-d/230675/8 "2004-02-24T07:01:56Z")
> [@](#): > > “There is absolutely no nutrient, no protein, no vitamin, no mineral that can’t be obtained from plant-based foods.” -Michael Klaper, M.D. If he said that then the man is a quack. There are a whole range of nutrients and proteins that can’t be obtained from plants based foods. Can you tell us what plant we can obtain the protein haemoglobin from for example? What plant produces cholesterol? ---
**Author:** ![Sheri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sheri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sheri)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-diet-for-all-reasons-by-michael-klaper-m-d/230675/9 "2004-02-24T14:27:51Z")
> [@Blake](#): > > If he said that then the man is a quack. There are a whole range of nutrients and proteins that can’t be obtained from plants based foods. > > Can you tell us what plant we can obtain the protein haemoglobin from for example? > What plant produces cholesterol? Where does the cow get all her protein, calcium, vitamins, minerals, etc.? She’s vegan too. Sheri ---
**Author:** ![Sheri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sheri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sheri)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-diet-for-all-reasons-by-michael-klaper-m-d/230675/10 "2004-02-24T14:42:23Z")
Does anyone else have a hard time getting to this message board? I know it’s not my Internet connection, because everything else comes up really fast. Sometimes everything just freezes and I cannot even get here. So I wait and try again later. Sometimes it’s fast and sometimes it’s slow, and sometimes I just give up. Thanks, Sheri ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-diet-for-all-reasons-by-michael-klaper-m-d/230675/11 "2004-02-24T15:09:17Z")
**Sheri** : Termites can eat wood, and vultures can eat offal. Humans can do neither without becoming gravely ill and dying if they persist. Cattle can gain all they need from grass and plants because their physiology is markedly different from humans’. Oh, and the SDMB is powered by a pack of hamsters. That makes it slow but unreliable. Good tradeoff, if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![Sheri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sheri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sheri)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-diet-for-all-reasons-by-michael-klaper-m-d/230675/12 "2004-02-24T16:19:38Z")
[QUOTE=Derleth] **Sheri** : Termites can eat wood, and vultures can eat offal. Humans can do neither without becoming gravely ill and dying if they persist. Cattle can gain all they need from grass and plants because their physiology is markedly different from humans’. Compare a horse and a lion. We are more like the horse than the lion. The lion’s intestines are very, very short so they get rid of the meat they eat quickly so it doesn’t sit around in the gut for very long. The horse’s intestines are very, very long (same for humans) so that high fiberous food (plant food) has time to move through (slowly) and break down. When we humans with our very long intestines eat meat, it sits around in that very long gut and takes a very long time to digest and exit the body, therefore creating a large amount of health problems. As an aside, I, for one, noticed that when I gave up eating meat (and dairy products) my breath became fresher (just ask my husband - and his breath became fresher too when he became vegan). Is it any wonder? When you don’t have meat sitting around in the gut things just get better, including the breath. But I am not here to convince you. That’s why I shared the video. If you really want to know the “WHYs”, there’s where you need to go. I cannot do this topic justice as Dr. Klaper can. It’s up to you and how much you want to learn. Regards, Sheri ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-diet-for-all-reasons-by-michael-klaper-m-d/230675/13 "2004-02-24T18:17:14Z")
> [@Sheri](#): > > As an aside, I, for one, noticed that when I gave up eating meat (and dairy products) my breath became fresher (just ask my husband - and his breath became fresher too when he became vegan). Is it any wonder? When you don’t have meat sitting around in the gut things just get better, including the breath. First of all, there are many complex carbohydrates from vegetables that sit in your ‘gut’ much longer than most proteins. They’re called fiber, and their fermentation and dissolution is no bed of roses. Besides, how’s your breath after eating onions, garlic, or asparagus? I’m glad you gave us the name of the doctor’s institute. I checked out his website and found out that he’s a dyed in the wool crazy quack. He spouts such psuedoscience such as: > [@](#): > > Consider herbal immune support. Preparations made from plants like echinacea are reported to strengthen the immune system in general, and herbs like lemon balm are reported to have anti-viral properties. Consuming tea or juice from the elderberry plant has been shown to shorten the duration of influenza attacks. Consider using these herbal preparations, alone or in combination, at the earliest signs of infection. Of course, the old standby of Vitamin C, 250-1000 mg. 2 to 4 times per day, is still probably a good idea. ([From here.](http://www.vegsource.com/klaper/qa03.htm)) > [@](#): > > It’s up to you and how much you want to learn. Exactly. Try adding science to the curriculum. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-diet-for-all-reasons-by-michael-klaper-m-d/230675/14 "2004-02-24T18:34:40Z")
Any responsible doctor would tell you that vegans are at risk for deficiencies in the various B vitamins and need to take special care to obtain them. Anyone who doesn’t mention that–well, things aren’t looking too good for them… ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2004, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-diet-for-all-reasons-by-michael-klaper-m-d/230675/15 "2004-02-25T05:25:17Z")
**Sheri** , the intestine length argument is bunk. Cecil Adams himself has debunked it, with actual science as opposed to sales hype. Reason and evidence and such. [He devoted an entire column to a guy who brought it up.](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_087.html) A particularly relevant quote: > [@Cecil Adams](#): > > Like the hard-core carnivores, we have fairly simple digestive systems well suited to the consumption of animal protein, which breaks down quickly. Contrary to what your magazine article says, the human small intestine, at 23 feet, is a little under eight times body length (assuming a mouth-to-anus “body length” of three feet). This is about midway between cats (three times body length), dogs (3-1/2 times), and other well-known meat eaters on the one hand and plant eaters such as cattle (20 to 1) and horses (12 to 1) on the other. This tends to support the idea that we are omnivores. He isn’t anti-vegetarian, just anti-bunk. He even went so far as to say this: > [@](#): > > To clarify a point that eluded many who wrote me about this: the issue is not whether vegetarianism is healthier, better for the planet, etc., than the standard U.S. diet. I don’t doubt it is. It’s whether humans are naturally vegetarians. I disagree with him about vegetarianism. I prefer a more natural diet, and for humans natural includes meat. But that’s a point about which reasonable people can disagree. What isn’t is the junk about intestine length you mentioned: It’s false, and beware the person who tries to sell you something based on lies like that. ---
**Author:** ![Sheri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sheri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sheri)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2004, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-diet-for-all-reasons-by-michael-klaper-m-d/230675/16 "2004-02-25T06:15:32Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > Any responsible doctor would tell you that vegans are at risk for deficiencies in the various B vitamins and need to take special care to obtain them. Anyone who doesn’t mention that–well, things aren’t looking too good for them… He does talk about that on the videotape, but not the way you’ve heard it. ---
**Author:** ![Sheri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sheri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sheri)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2004, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-diet-for-all-reasons-by-michael-klaper-m-d/230675/17 "2004-02-25T06:23:51Z")
Everything I’ve just read from all these different posts is not new to me. I’ve heard it ALL before. I’m not here to argue these things out. All I did was share a video that I’ve found to be true (because I put it to the test in my own life). If you really want to know what he says, I suggest you get the tape. If not, oh well. But if you’re not vegan, then you have had no experience with it and how it makes the body feel. I am healthier now than I’ve ever been in my life. I’m speaking from pure experience here - not from a book or tape or someone else’s words. I put it to the test. That was the only way for me to truly know for myself. Until you have lived both side, you cannot truly know - you’re only taking somebody’s word for it. Sheri ---
**Author:** ![Sheri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sheri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sheri)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2004, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-diet-for-all-reasons-by-michael-klaper-m-d/230675/18 "2004-02-25T06:30:33Z")
“Consider herbal immune support. Preparations made from plants like echinacea are reported to strengthen the immune system in general, and herbs like lemon balm are reported to have anti-viral properties. Consuming tea or juice from the elderberry plant has been shown to shorten the duration of influenza attacks. Consider using these herbal preparations, alone or in combination, at the earliest signs of infection. Of course, the old standby of Vitamin C, 250-1000 mg. 2 to 4 times per day, is still probably a good idea. (From here.)” If you think this is quackery, then you don’t know much about nutrition. At the onset of a cold, I do take echinacea, etc. and I beat it. I don’t get the cold. Nope - not quacery - it works! ---
**Author:** ![Sheri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sheri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sheri)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2004, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-diet-for-all-reasons-by-michael-klaper-m-d/230675/19 "2004-02-25T06:34:20Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > **Sheri** , the intestine length argument is bunk. Cecil Adams himself has debunked it, with actual science as opposed to sales hype. Reason and evidence and such. [He devoted an entire column to a guy who brought it up.](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_087.html) A particularly relevant quote: He isn’t anti-vegetarian, just anti-bunk. He even went so far as to say this: I disagree with him about vegetarianism. I prefer a more natural diet, and for humans natural includes meat. But that’s a point about which reasonable people can disagree. What isn’t is the junk about intestine length you mentioned: It’s false, and beware the person who tries to sell you something based on lies like that. So you’re taking Cecil’s word for it? That’s fine. I choose to take a doctor’s word for it. ---
**Author:** ![Sheri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sheri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sheri)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2004, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-diet-for-all-reasons-by-michael-klaper-m-d/230675/20 "2004-02-25T06:36:51Z")
[QUOTE=moriah] First of all, there are many complex carbohydrates from vegetables that sit in your ‘gut’ much longer than most proteins. They’re called fiber, and their fermentation and dissolution is no bed of roses. Besides, how’s your breath after eating onions, garlic, or asparagus? Well I know it doesn’t smell like rotting meat anymore. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-diet-for-all-reasons-by-michael-klaper-m-d/230675.md?page=2)