The Bay Point Pilot Study as referenced in the June 20, 2006 broadcast of Helping Troubled Teens with Veganism: The Link Between Food and Behaviour and published by The Food Studies Institute. Selected journal entries follow (published with permission from Dr. Antonia Demas).
Miami, Florida
February - May, 2001
The Bay Point Pilot Study was conducted as part of a food, nutrition, and cooking program to educate staff and students about healthy eating and the role food plays in health, academic performance, and behavior. The Bay Point School for Boys in Miami, Florida, is a residential school for teenage males who have been sent to Bay Point by the courts.
Dr. Demas was invited by the administration to develop healthier options in the cafeteria and design a culinary arts/nutrition curriculum as a vocational choice for students. Nineteen students signed up to take the culinary arts course, along with the kitchen staff. Because the interest and cooperation students and staff showed in nutrition, Dr. Demas suggested that she design a pilot study to evaluate the effect healthy food has upon student health, behavior, and academic performance.
Nineteen (19) students participated in the study. For three weeks they prepared and ate only plant-based meals, drank eight glasses of water a day and kept journals to document personal experience. All of these students reported improvements in: grade point averages, athletic performance, aggressive behavior, acne, strength, and overall well being. Most of the students also reported weight loss.
Results
Medical results interpreted by Dr. Harvey Zarren, cardiologist, Lynn, MA.
Four (4) students of the eleven (11) who had pre and post study blood levels had starting total cholesterol levels above 150mgm/dl. All of these students had decreased levels of total cholesterol at the end of the three week study period. The decreases varied from 3 to 23%, average 15%. Traditional preventive cardiology wisdom teaches that a 1% drop in total cholesterol results in a 2% drop in risk of future heart attacks. Thus a 15% drop in total cholesterol, if sustained, might decrease the risk of future heart disease by 30%, a significant reduction in risk.
Homocysteine levels dropped an average of 28%, but levels were not measured fasting, so the results are interesting but not clearly significant. Elevated homocysteine is implicated in arterial and venous disease and Alzheimer's disease. Animal source proteins contain three (3) times the amount of methionine compared to plant source protein. Methionine is the precursor of homocysteine. It is reasonable that changing from an animal source food diet to a plant based diet will lower homocysteine levels and likely lower the risk of vascular disease and possibly Alzheimer's disease.
Seven (7) of the eleven (11) patients who had blood work done had weight loss ranging from one (1) to two (2) kilograms over the month long study. The average weight loss was 1.4 kilograms or three (3) pounds. Obesity is epidemic in young people in the United States. A dietary change that can result in weight loss will help to prevent diabetes and cardiovascular disease and can likely cut the risk of common cancers such as colon cancer.
The Bay Point Study is very interesting for its behavioral and subjective results. The small amount of data, while not statistically significant is also very interesting. The idea that such a short term study can decrease weight, decrease elevated cholesterol levels quite significantly and might also decrease homocysteine levels need further research.
Among the benefits of changing to plant based diets is the potential improvement in vascular function affecting skeletal muscles and the blood supply to organs such as the heart. Arteries which supply oxygenated blood and fuel to muscles in the body are constantly opening and closing to alter blood supply to various parts of the body. The arteries open or enlarge under the influence of a substance called endothelial derived relaxing factor which signals the muscle cuff around arteries to relax, allowing the arteries to open or dilate. Studies have shown that ingestion of a fatty meal can decrease or stop production of relaxing factor for up to six hours in normal subjects. Such people have decreased muscle blood supply during that time. Plant based diets are intrinsically lower in fat than are animal based diets and would be expected to affect blood vessel function less adversely.
Journal Entries
Warren K
As I started progressing in this diet I learned a lot. The first thing was how to cook, what not to do, what not to eat. I mean that certain foods like cow, chicken and all these other foods carry lots of fat, hormones, chemicals that they feed them. I learned how to make delicious shakes. As I would come every day I would learn more, I would observe things and me. I was eating things that I never thought of even eating while I was on this diet. I realized many changes education wise. My grades have sky-rocketed big, I have felt way better towards myself. I would wake up with a natural high every morning. I would think positive, always have a positive mind frame. I would no longer have a craving towards meat, chicken. I just wanted to eat vegetarian food, especially I fell in love with fruits. I would love to make fruit cake with organic crust. I feel that this diet has effect on my life. It also has shown me my talent. I never knew I can cook so good. So I am not going to go out back in society and do what I did to come to Bay Point, no. I am going to use my talent and take it to another level.
Luis P
When I started I thought they were just going to teach us how to cook. But to my surprise, I learned how a kitchen runs, how to maintain a kitchen, how to prepare food for a large number of people, and most importantly, they taught us nutrient value. We had field trips to an organic farm where they showed us how they grow their crops completely natural. No fertilizers, no pesticides, not even pipe water. They watered their plants with underground water, where they extracted with a pump under the ground. They used dead leaves to stop weeds from growing and at the same time as a fertilizer.
Plus we had a field trip to Henry Lee stock and warehouse company and to Wild Oats, a store where they sell only all natural and organic foods. After this experience I did not realize how important eating healthy is. I learned how pesticides and fertilizers can effect your body in harmful ways as in cancer and other illnesses after a period of time. And I also learned that the animals we eat as in chicken, cow, pork, and so on, are raised in a factory and are fed steroids until they are slaughtered to eat. It made me really want to stop eating meat. Then they told me about how there is a veggie substitute of almost every meat product including dairy products. So they introduced me to a vegetarian diet and asked me to stick to it for a month. Now I come from a different type of culture and environment so I automatically thought to myself I might not stick to this diet but when I found out the benefits as in health and energy wise, I decided to try something new. While I was on the diet it took me a couple of days to adjust to the food but I already felt different like I had more energy and felt more energetic. It was like I didnât even need meat anymore. The soy milk was just as good as regular milk. It even tasted better with the breakfast we ate.
I enjoyed the experience and felt kind of bad when the diet was over. I have decided to keep on being a vegetarian when I leave Bay Point and might even be a nutritional chef if I get a chance to. I am very grateful for this experience -- it made me realize how important my health is. Now with all this experience I will take it with me at the age of 18 and make a career from it.
Rodney M
How did I like it? Well you know I had a fun time with the diet. It had me thinking faster and wiser. It was like I was just born. At first I didnât want to do it but I had to and it turned out good. I was like man, Iâm not going to give up my meat for this stupid junk, and I find out this was like something I never experienced before. It was amazing. And at the same time I was like thinking back and when I was eating meats I was falling asleep and getting Fâs, and as soon as my body got use to the veggie diet, I was fully energized and not [only] had time to do all my work but did all my work plus more. When I realized that I was like work, I have to keep doing this cause it was a great idea for sports and it kept me up and ready to go on to the next step of my life. I couldnât believe that I did that, but I did so I was really proud of myself. It had me on another level. I was a happier person, but on the meat I was always mean and lazy. So it helped me turn my life around and stop eating meats. That is the experience I had with the dietâ¦if you get to know this program, you will love it, go ahead try it and see whatâs your outcome. And it also showed me how to cook all types of good veggie foods.
Brian H
I am doing this diet because I believe it makes my body healthier, keeps my skin clearer, and keeps me thinking more positively than usual. I was motivated to try this diet because a lot of people were telling me it could help the way I felt about life, keep me healthy, and because it is enjoyable food. At first I didnât believe any of this at first so I decided to try it myself and I am happy I made this decision. All the results I thought could never happen from this diet ended up working plus more so I have decided to continue the diet, and try and talk to my family and friends into trying it as well.
Today I woke up with more energy and felt good about the day. I worked all day long in the cafeteria cleaning and stocking things and I didnât get as tired as I felt I would. When I finished cleaning the cafeteria I went out and played basketball and still felt a lot of strength in my body. In a way I donât believe this because it doesnât seem that food could do so much good for the way I think, feel, and act. This was the first day in Bay Point since I havenât felt tired for the whole day. I think I feel this way because from drinking all of the water I am running all of the red meat and unhealthy foods through my body and cleaning it out.
I am communicating well with other people around the campus and getting along very good with my counselor as well. It seems like it takes a lot more to get me angry now than it did a few days ago.
Today I woke up with a sinus cold but worse. By the time I ate breakfast and lunch and drank a lot of water I felt the cold start to go away. Now I feel much better and feel energy in my body again. My sinuses were very clogged and I was gonna take some medicine but I decided to just get some food and water in me and see how that works out. The water seemed to clear out my sinuses and give me back strength in my body as well as the fruit and vegetables helping out as well.
My skin is starting to clear up so much because I am not eating any kinds of food with grease or fat. I am also starting to feel a little more sure of myself and completing my daily goals that I make for myself. It almost feel like as each day goes by on this diet my confidence gets stronger and stronger.
It feels very good to be able to get along with everyone and not get upset over little things that happen around here. Physically I am also feeling very good and energetic. I lifted my max weight 3 times while bench pressing which is very good.
I am feeling better and better as days go on. I feel like I have more confidence in myself to complete small daily goals that I have. I as well feel like I am making more mature decisions for myself. When I say âmature decisionsâ I mean that I think about what I am gonna do and I donât just jump right into it and make a decision I would regret. I can physically feel my body working better as well. When I was running laps today at P.E. I didnât get too tired and I could easily lift more weights as well.
Today I felt good about the day as soon as I woke up. I was keeping a positive mindset and things that usually would get me angry I just laughed at. I was expressing my feelings more easily as well during GFI which is something that I usually have trouble doing. Expressing the way I feel also helps me communicate. I noticed because when I have problems with someone, I tell them in a sincere way so we can work on the problems.
It seems this diet is also making my mind feel like when I feel bad I should just tell myself not to feel that way cause I have all healthy things in my body, energy, and I get along with others better as well. I feel I am having a lot more endurance when it comes to active sports or even standing up for a long time. It feels good to have so much energy and be able to run more than others and still have breath and energy left.
I feel very good today. I realize the diet is ending soon and I have chose to continue with the diet cause it helps me out going through each day feeling better about myself. I also want to try and talk others into doing this diet because not only does it do a lot for the body and mind but it tastes good too. This makes me feel real good about myself that I am able to make a decision about bettering my life and making my body even more healthy.
Today was a good day for me. I was thankful that my graduation for this study is this week and I will be able to tell other people how food can make an affect on the mind as well as the body. Iâm just keeping my focus on making a goal to stay with this diet. I will be completing my goal to stay on this diet for sure cause I enjoy it and I have learned a lot of how to cook my own food and about health as well.
Willie W
Today Iâm starting a new experiment. I am very skeptical about this experiment. I am going to be a vegan vegetarian for one month. I think this is not going to affect my body in any way. I hope I survive through this experiment. I really hope the food donât be nasty. I really am skeptical about this.
Today I woke up feeling much better than yesterday. It is like I am getting more and more energy each day. I have been noticing also that I am now using the restroom more often now than when I was a meat eater. I am still skeptical about this.
This day I am really feeling many changes. Sometimes when I want to be mad, I just be calm. My body is also feeling like it is a big battery that is slowly recharging.
Today I woke up with a wide sum of energy. Also I would like to add that I feel that I have slept much better. This is the best sleep I had since Iâve been here. I also noticed that I am using the restroom a whole lot now. I donât know whatâs going on with my digestive system. The food weâre eating is much better. I think I can do this for one month.
Today I woke up feeling very energized. On the football field I feel like Iâm unstoppable. My body feels like it is adjusting very well to this experiment .I am starting to feel like this diet is cleaning my body. Today I had energy to last me the whole day. Usually I be tired and weary. Now I feel just energized.
Today I woke up feeling cleansed. I really feel that I am a new person. I feel that my body is purified from head to toe. Kids still tease me but I think this is for the best. I am not even skeptical about this no more because I feel much better mentally and physically. I like the food we cook. We have gotten better at cooking it. I hope no one is cheating.
This morning I woke up just feeling like I can run a mile. I was just ready to go through the day. Today in class itâs like we had a test. I felt like everything that I study was memorized in my head. I think that this research has something to do with this, because I never could of remembered like that in the past.
Today I aroused this morning feeling spectacular. I am noticing that I now have unlimited energy. I think I can give people loans on energy. I donât get tired no more in football practice. When its time to go to sleep I go straight to sleep with no problems. I really like this experiment. I love the way I feel ever since I got on this diet.
This nineteenth day of May was a special day. We had a running competition in football and I won. I think this new diet played a special part in this contest. I feel exuberant. I am considering making this diet not just an experiment but making it a commitment. I really love the way this diet makes me feel.
Today I felt really good. I just was thinking. At the beginning I was skeptical about this experiment. Now I want to make this diet a habit. Also today I noticed that my body has completely adjusted to this diet. Iâm not going to even lie. I donât crave any meat no more. At the beginning I thought it was going to be impossible for me to complete this diet successfully but now I know if you set your mind to something, you achieve it.
This morning I woke up feeling exuberant! I really love this diet. I am so happy that I have chose this right decision to be participating in this research. I now have so much energy, I really canât explain. I really just want to go donate some of this energy to the people here who is always weary.
Today I feel like Iâm full of strength. I feel like Hercules. Last night I did push-ups, and itâs like I woke up feeling the affect. I now feel like my body is just 100% purified blood and organs. I never knew such a diet like this can make a tremendous effect like this. I always thought vegetables was nasty. You just have to know how to cook them.
This morning I aroused up feeling like I was full of just stamina. I wish I could incite the whole world about this very spectacular experience. I feel now when I run I move very swift now. Ever since I have been participating in this diet, I can just feel my brain thinking better. I feel myself just doing much better on the field and court ever since I started this diet.
Today I got my daily report. I have noticed that I have went up in my grades tremendously. I use to have all Câs now I have only Aâs and Bâs. I think this diet played a big part in my thinking habits. I think well and clear now. What evers on my mind, I state it now.
Today I felt excellent. I woke up in the middle of the night and did exercise. Itâs like I have energy at all times of the day. Itâs like in the morning, and evening and night. I always have energy. I think personally that I can run all day and night. I advise everyone in the world to go on this diet or at least try it.
This morning I woke up feeling invincible. I went to school full of nothing but energy. I also had a test today. Itâs like I remembered everything that I studied in the previous night. I wish I would of started this diet earlier in my life. This diet makes me feel great.
Today I had a big football game. Itâs like I felt like a whole new man on that field. When people was tired, I still had energy. Today I used the restroom about four times. My inside was completely cleansed. I know we are only going to do this for one month. I am considering doing this for a long term life span.
Today I woke up feeling happy. Today I also saw the football game on tape. I observed that I did an excellent job. I was running all over the field like I was a run away dog. I never ran out of energy. You can tell people was tired but you also can tell I had unlimited energy.
Today I woke up quick and in a hurry. I couldnât wait to eat our vegetarian breakfast today. I am full of energy like always. Today in school I played a memory game on the computer. I got the highest score I ever achieved. Usually I get a 120. Today I got a 260. I think this is one of the major effects of this diet.
This morning when I woke up I was craving some salad. I donât know why. I think itâs because my body is use to eating vegetables now. I donât even think about meats anymore. I really like how my body has adjusted to this diet so quickly. My body is like a big battery, I keep energy stored now.
Today when I woke up this morning, I actually was mad. Because I knew the experiment was almost officially over. I really love how now I have unlimited energy. I can just go right to sleep when itâs time to go to sleep. I wake up with a large sum of energy. I just like this diet overall.
The experiment is officially over. But not for me. I have made my mind up to try my hardest to stay a vegan vegetarian, if I canât, I know that I can be a regular vegetarian. I still feel that my organs in my body is 100% cleansed, thanks to this experiment.
