Eat right for your needs
I recently watched an interview with a doctor regarding the ongoing argument over vegetarianism and meat-eating. Being a person who has spent countless hours researching health and nutrition, I was stopped in my tracks when she stated, 鈥淧lant food cleanses; animal foods nourish.鈥�
I don鈥檛 know about you, but I am dizzy from all the seemingly expert assertions about diametrically opposed choices being the ONLY right choice. On the one end, we have the 鈥淧aleolithic鈥� crowd who swears we are still cave dwellers so far as our nutritional needs are concerned: this means eating only meat, greens, berries, and nuts鈥he things that were available to cave dwellers. On the other end are the raw food vegans: only non-cooked plant food. Now I view an interview with a serious M.D. with all the credentials telling us all food has indispensable purpose. Both sides claim divine absolute knowledge of what is best for all of us. How are we to make an intelligent decision?
I have been using vegetable juice for cleansing for several years now. It is pretty much universally accepted that fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins and minerals. However, in their raw state, many plant foods are largely undigestable by humans. When we cook them, we break down the plant fibers, which helps us to access those nutrients. This is where some of the controversy is over vegetarianism.
However, in a like fashion we can cite that animals consume meat raw, and we are mostly unable to do this safely, Sushi being a notable exception. So there is some 鈥渃rossover鈥� between the cleansing and nourishing foods, but on the whole, advocates say plants are mainly for cleansing. Except in the case of the people with the very best and well-functioning digestive tracts, plant food is mostly inaccessible unless cooked. But over-cooking or processing destroys the very nutrients we are after.
So, If we are unable to digest plant foods, how can we benefit from the nutrients in them? Some say we can consume products from animals who eat plants and whose bodies are evolutionarily fit to absorb those plants鈥� nutrients. Are you dizzy yet? Can鈥檛 blame you.
To quote another doctor and advocate of this idea:
鈥淸The] human body (without water) is largely made out of protein and fat, these are the 鈥榖ricks and mortar鈥� from which your bones, muscles, brain, heart, lungs, liver and all other organs are made. Laboratory analysis of plants and animal foods show that the best protein and fat for human physiology comes from animal foods. The amino acid profile of animal protein is correct for the human body, while amino acid profile of plant-derived proteins is incomplete and unsuitable for human physiology.
The same with fat: animal fat has the right fatty acid composition for human body to thrive on, while plant oils are unsuitable. So, when it comes to FEEDING your body and BUILDING your bodily tissues and structures, animal foods are the best and the only suitable ones. The human body has a wonderful process which goes on from the moment of conception till death, called Cell Regeneration. Cells in your body (in all of your organs and tissues) constantly get old, die and get replaced by newly-born cells. This way the body maintains itself, rejuvenates itself and heals any damage. In order for your body to give birth to those baby cells to replace the old ones, building materials are needed 鈥� proteins and fats. The best building materials to feed your cell regeneration process come from animal foods: meats, fish, eggs and dairy.鈥�
(This is from Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, author of 鈥淭he GAPS Diet.鈥�)
Of course, this position will be vehemently disputed by advocates of veganism and the like. So how is a well-meaning person to make sense of it? My approach is to try it. And I most certainly did. A few years ago, when I was overweight and showing typical middle-aged signs of bodily failure 鈥� such as elevated blood pressure and cholesterol, insulin resistance, bloating, acid reflux, to name a few 鈥� I did a 10-day vegetable juice detox. This began a journey of weight loss and sensible eating that has lasted the test of time for me, but it has not been without ups and downs, and of course corrections. I tried veganism for about two years. I felt fantastic at first, but over time I felt my muscle mass decreasing, and I was weaker as measured in the weight room.
Now to be fair, my needs are unique to me, as yours are to you. I am a weight-lifter, and I do a good deal of physical work, including chopping and stacking firewood. So, perhaps if you are less physical, you may be able to go longer without any animal food.
This is not a black-and-white choice, however. It is not 鈥渁ll or no meat.鈥� Each individual must find a balance that fits their needs. And these will change yearly, monthly or daily, depending on activity level, stress, toxin exposure and quality of food source. The typical American eats a toxic imbalance of processed, low-quality animal foods, and little or no quality plant food. For reference, the current regimen that I employ, which seems to be working very well, is a daily fresh juice cleanse from after dinner until either lunch or dinner the next day, followed by eating quality animal and plant food. I aim to limit my animal food to small quantities; for example, a small tray of wings over the large, or a four-ounce steak instead of 16 ounce steak. I also aim to limit my intake of processed food, including sugars, grains and fried potatoes. This regimen is based on a combination of several schools of thought. The juicing cleanses me, and the quality eating nourishes me. So far I feel clean and full of energy, and I seem to have all the muscle I need.
As with all things, there is room for adjustment based on listening to my body. Some days I wake up and I REALLY want breakfast, so I have it. Most days, however, I am content to enjoy the benefits of a 24-hour cleanse, which makes my evening meal a sensory carnival of delight.
If you are interested in specific details of my current plan, please email me at nutritionalagnostic@gmail.com.