MEATS
Not eating meat is hard for me, as I grew up with meat as a part of almost every dinner. I was taught that meat was an important source of protein. It was necessary. I could never understand cultures that ate predominately vegetables and fruits and very little meat. I read of one such culture that might share a chicken thigh among 4 to 5 adults, while I would consider 2 to 3 pieces of fried chicken at a meal about right. So, I did a little research to see if I could find out something to convince me to at least cut back my meat consumption.
Did you know that broccoli is about 48% protein? Vegetables and fruits not only contain vitamins and minerals in abundance, but are the best source of fiber that rids the body of excess fats, cleans the intestines and controls hunger. That fiber is produced from proteins, just as our structure of muscles is built from protein. Did you know the strongest animals in the world eat plants? Horses, elephants, elk, gorillas and others are vegetarians.
I was always told that athletes needed animal protein to reach peak performance, but I found that protein from meat is not only hard for the body to digest, but an excess of protein leaches calcium from your body, making your bones weaker. Besides, our bodies produce 70% of the protein we need. If we put stress on our bodies to develop more strength and power, our bodies step up to produce what we need from the foods we eat, especially vegetables. Think about when we have the greatest protein needs in as lives. It is as we are growing. Mother’s milk is only 2% protein. Yet the first years of life are when we grow and develop most.
Consider some world class athletes: Sixto Lenares is a world record holder in the triathalon. He cycled 185 miles, swam 4.8 miles and ran 52.4 miles in one day. Peter Burwash, a Canadian tennis player received the highest physical index of any athlete in Canada. Dave Scott won the Ironman Triathalon six times – that’s a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile cycling and 26.2 mile run. Donna McMahon is a USA athlete who has completed many marathons. These athletes did not eat meat or dairy products. If you want to see more famous vegetarians visit www.ivu.org/people/sports/.
Protein is the last source our bodies use for energy. Carbohydrates are used first; simple sugars from fruits and then more complex carbohydrates. Fats are used next, followed by proteins last. In fact, our bodies don’t like to metabolize protein. They only use protein if there is no other source of energy. Protein is used by the body to build, not to create energy.
Our bodies try to flush animal-based protein from our bodies because of the acidic nature of meat, leading to calcium leaching to maintain a balanced pH. Plant-based protein is so much easier for the body to process for its needs. Even then, excess protein in flushed from the body. Meats are high in protein and difficult for the body to metabolize. We just don’t need the excess protein from meats.
Meat is difficult to digest and requires more enzymes to process through the stomach. Remember those reports about 5 pounds of meat sitting in your intestines? That’s because meat putrifies in your intestines. Last time I checked ‘putrify’ means rot. Yuck!
“Choosing meals built on whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables is the best way to stay healthy.”
- American Dietetic Association
Uric acid is the substance that gives meat its flavor, and actually comes from the urine of the animal that floods the body of the animal when it is killed. No wonder meat, especially beef, is high on the acidity scale of foods. An average piece of meat contains about 2½ times the uric acid the human body can effectively process daily.
The American Cancer Society has ‘two fundamental foundations’ for preventing or treating cancer through diet. Eat more plant-based foods and eat less animal-based foods. Yet, how often do you hear that from your doctor?
Animal products have no fiber.
Environmental Reasons not to eat meat: If Americans cut their meat consumption by just 10%, enough grain could be saved to feed 60 million people. Isn’t that an astounding figure? Imagine if all countries cut back on meat consumption. We would be able to feed the world, with excess. Did you know that 7 out of every 10 acres are used to grow crops for livestock, especially beef. That doesn’t include pasture land. One acre of land produces 165 pounds of meat, while the same acreage can produce 20,000 pounds of potatoes. It requires 2500 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef and just 25 gallons to produce one pound of vegetables. Just imagine the savings in water, fertilizer, gasoline, etc. if we all just cut back consumption by 10%.
I still eat some meat, despite all the evidence against doing so. I applaud all those who do give it up completely. I have cut out about 90% of my former consumption, but I doubt I will ever entirely remove it from my diet.