 This is a list of diseases commonly found here, and in populations that eat and live like the U.S., but were rare or even non-existent in populations eating diets centered around whole plant foods. These are among our most common diseases, like obesity, hiatal hernia, one of the most common stomach problems, hemorrhoids and varicose veins, the most common venous problems, polorectal cancer, the number two cause of cancer death, diverticulosis, the number one disease of the intestine appendicis, the number one cause of emergency abdominal surgery, gallbladder disease, the number one cause for non-emergency abdominal surgery, and ischemic heart disease, the commonest cause of death here, but a rarity in plant-based populations. This landmark study suggesting that coronary heart disease was practically non-existent among those eating traditional plant-based diets in Africa, claimed that there was adequate autopsy evidence to confirm that fact. Let's look at it. Doctors in Sub-Saharan Africa during the 30s and 40s recognized that certain diseases commonly met in Western communities were rare in rural African peasants. This hearsay talk greeted any new doctor on arrival in Africa. Even a teaching manual stated that diabetes, coronary heart disease, appendicis, peptic ulcers, gallstones, hemorrhoids, and constipation were rare in African blacks who eat foods that contain many skins and fibers, such as beans and corn, and effortlessly pass a bulky stool two or three times a day. Surgeons noticed that the common acute abdominal emergencies like appendicis in Western communities were virtually absent in rural African peasants. But do we have hard data to back that up? Yes. Major autopsy series were performed, 1,000 Kenyan autopsies. Not a single case of appendicitis, not a single heart attack. Three diabetics out of 1,001 peptic ulcers, no gallstones, and no evidence of high blood pressure, which alone affects one out of three Americans. Maybe the Africans were just dying early of other diseases, and so never lived long enough to get heart disease? No. Here's age-matched heart attack rates in Uganda versus St. Louis. Out of 632 autopsies in Uganda, one myocardial infarction. Out of 632 Missourans, same age and gender distribution, 136 myocardial infarctions. More than 100 times the rate of our number one killer. In fact, they were so blown away they did another 800 autopsies in Uganda, and still just that one small healed infarct, meaning it wasn't even the cause of death, out of 1,427 patients, less than one in 1,000, whereas in the U.S. it's an epidemic. How do the doctors even know what to look for over there then? Though practically unheard of among the native population, the physicians are quite familiar with heart disease because of all the folks that immigrate to the countries in Africa. The famous surgeon, Dr. Birket, insisted that modern medicine is going about it all wrong. A highly unacceptable fact that is rarely considered yet indisputable is that with rare exceptions there is no evidence that the incidence of any disease was ever reduced by treatment. Improved therapies may reduce mortality, but may not reduce the incidence of the disease. Understand what he's saying? Take cancer, for example. The vast majority of effort is devoted to advances in treatment, second priority given to screening programs attempting early diagnosis. But is there any evidence that the incidence of any form of cancer has ever been reduced by improved treatment or early detection? Early diagnosis may reduce mortality rates, and medical services can certainly profoundly benefit sick people, but have little, if any, effect on the number of people becoming ill in the first place. No matter how fancy heart disease surgery gets, it's never going to reduce the number of people falling victim to the disease. He compares it to an engine left out in the rain. If an engine repeatedly stops as a consequence of being exposed to the elements, it is of limited value to rely on the aid of mechanics to detect and remedy the fault. Examination of all engines would reveal that those out in the rain were stopping, but those under cover were running well, so the correct approach would then be to provide protection from the offending environment. However, considering the failing engine as the ailing patient, this has seldom the priority of modern medicine. He sums it up with the cliff or the ambulance. If people are falling over the edge of a cliff and sustaining injuries, the problem could be dealt with by stationing ambulances at the bottom or erecting a fence at the top. Unfortunately, we put way too much effort into the provision of ambulances and far too little into the simple approach of erecting fences. And then, of course, there are all the industries enticing people to the edge and profiting from pushing people off.