witness statement



name: Doctor David Ryde, MB BS FRCGP
section: Nutrition
for: The Defence
experience: General practice for 37 years

summary:

In my clinical experience, the changes that I observed were significantly positive and dramatic, when dietary modification was used, to define all previous clinical experience in treating those diseases. Changes in longstanding conditions such as angina, obesity, dyspepsia, arthritis and diabetes could often be observed, even in some cases, in a matter of weeks or days. Thus I was highly flattered on discovering that that was a well developed, scientific literature emanating from America from medical professors, epidemiologists, psychiatrists, biochemists, physicians, pathologists, cardiologists, nutritionists and general practitioners. The point I wish to make is that all these eminent people had made the same observations as myself, though to a much greater extent.

cv:

MB BS FRCGP, GP for 37 years- now retired,

elected to the fellowship of the royal college of general practice in 1979

Full cv:
Available for this witness

full statement:

Introduction

My name is Doctor David Ryde MB BS FRCGP and I operate a small private practice from (ADDRESS OMITTED). I retired about four years ago after 37 years of general practice.

I am an MB BS (1952) and I was elected to the fellowship of the royal college of general practice in 1979.

Experiences As A GP

As a vegetarian myself, I initially became interested in the scientific links between diet and health for personal and professional reasons. I undertook a study of available Literature, and realised that matters that I had observed, such as a general tendency for vegetarians to be slimmer, had a sound nutritional basis. That is, that the fat content of their diets was, in general, much lower than the average western diet. I began to build up clinical experience, and by treating people with dietary modifications, I was able to improve the outcome, of many common western diseases including angina, obesity, hypertension, pre-menstrual tension, chronic dyspepsia and acne amongst others. This situation became even more impressive when patients made a move towards vegan nutrition.

It will be appreciated that a vegan diet, or near vegan diet is relatively low in fat, sodium and protein. At this point it should be stressed that a balanced vegan diet is not too low in any of these nutrients, rather the standard western fare, to which the vegan diet is compared is excessively high in these nutrients. Any observant person is surely aware of the recent exhortations by nutritional bodies for the public to greatly increase their fruit and vegetable intake and cut down on fat, salt, red meat and dairy products. Such statements are increasingly quoted in medical literature.

In my clinical experience, the changes that I observed were significantly positive and dramatic, when dietary modification was used, to define all previous clinical experience in treating those diseases. Changes in longstanding conditions such as angina, obesity, dyspepsia, arthritis and diabetes could often be observed, even in some cases, in a matter of weeks or days. Thus I was highly flattered on discovering that that was a well developed, scientific literature emanating from America from medical professors, epidemiologists, psychiatrists, biochemists, physicians, pathologists, cardiologists, nutritionists and general practitioners. The point I wish to make is that all these eminent people had made the same observations as myself, though to a much greater extent.

date signed: July 20, 1993
status: ?
references: Not applicable/ available
exhibits: Not applicable/ available

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