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
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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.