WHY HUMANS ARE MEANT TO EAT GRASS-FED MEAT!!!
"Vegetarianism has recently acheived political correctness, and nutritionists advocating a restriction or complete elimination of animal products garner good reviews in the popular press. Their influence is reflected in the new Food Pyramid with its emphasis on grains: but the scientific evidence , honestly evaluated, argues against relying too heavily on grains and legumes as sources of protein or for severely reducing animal products in the diet.
Our primitive ancestors subsisted on a diet composed largely of meat and fat, augmented with vegetable, fruit, seeds, and nuts. Studies of their remains reveal that they had excellent bone structure, heavy musculature and flawless teeth. Agricultural man added milk, grains and legumes to this diet. These foods allowed him to pursue a more comfortable lifestyle than the hunter-gatherer, but at a price. In his studies of isolated primitive peoples, Dr. Weston Price found that those whose diet consisted largely of grains and legumes, while far healthier than civilized moderns, had, nevertheless more caries than those living primarily on meat and fish. Skulls of prehistoric peoples subsisted almost entirely on vegetable foods have teeth containing caries and abscesses and show evidence of bone problems as well.
Vegetarians often claim that animal products shorten life span, but the most cursory look at long-lived ethnic groups proves that this is not the case. Russians from the Caucasus Mountains, an area famous for longevity eat lots of fatty meat and whole milk products. Studies of Soviet Georgian populations show that those who have the most meat and fat in their diets live the longest. Inhabitants of Vilcabamba in Ecuador, known for their longevity, consume a variety of animal foods including whole milk and fatty pork. On the other hand, the vegetarian inhabitants of southern India have one of the shortestr life spans in the world.
Not only is it difficult to obtain adequate protein on a diet devoid of animal products, but such a diet leads to deficiencies in many important minerals as well. This is because a largely vegetarian diet lacks the fat-soluble catalysts needed for mineral absorption.
*Zinc, iron, calcium and other minerals from animal sources are more easily and readily absorbed.
*Man's best source of zinc is animal products.
*Usable vitamin B12 occurs only in animal products.
Vitamin B12 deficiency has been found in breast-fed infants of strict vegetarians.
Fermented soy food and spirulina contain compounds that resemble B12 but these forms are not absorbed by humans because they are not picked up by the "intrinsic factor", a specialized protein secreted in the stomach that allows B12 to be assimilated. In fact, the plant forms may even create B12 deficiencies.
Vegetarian diets also tend to be deficient in phosphorus as meat is the principle source of phosphorus for most people. This is another reason that vegetarianism has been linked to tooth decay.
A few highly publicized studies have claimed a link between consumption of red meat and saturated fats with cancer, especially cancer of the colon. Studies claiming a correlation of animal product consumption with cancer do not stand up to careful scrutiny. In many of these studies, the data bases combined saturated fats from animal sources with hydrogenated vegetable oils, known to be carcinogenic. Furthermore, these studies did not include sugar and white flour in their surveys, even though researcher Lopez and others have shown that in so-called civilized countries high meat consumption and high sugar intake often occur together.
In summary, animal products are important sources of bodybuilding elements in the diet. Furthermore, animal fats supply vitamin A and vitamin D and animal protein is rich in minerals , vitamin B6 and vitamin B12.
Any discussion of meat-eating should include the observation that temporary abstinence from animal products has been traditionally valued as a cleansing, healing practice. This is reflected in the dietary laws of many traditions and in the practices of primitive peoples who engage in periods of sparse eating or complete fasting, often in late winter or early spring when food is scarce. This wisdom is justified by the fact that meatless diets prove beneficial in the treatment of cancer and other disease such as arthritis, kidney problems and gout. But the problems arise when the practice is continued too long. These include caries, bone loss, nervous disorders, and reproductive ailments. Strict vegetarianism is particularly dangerous for growing children and for women--and men--during their child-producing years. "
A small excerpt from "Nourishing Traditions" by SallyFallon
Our primitive ancestors subsisted on a diet composed largely of meat and fat, augmented with vegetable, fruit, seeds, and nuts. Studies of their remains reveal that they had excellent bone structure, heavy musculature and flawless teeth. Agricultural man added milk, grains and legumes to this diet. These foods allowed him to pursue a more comfortable lifestyle than the hunter-gatherer, but at a price. In his studies of isolated primitive peoples, Dr. Weston Price found that those whose diet consisted largely of grains and legumes, while far healthier than civilized moderns, had, nevertheless more caries than those living primarily on meat and fish. Skulls of prehistoric peoples subsisted almost entirely on vegetable foods have teeth containing caries and abscesses and show evidence of bone problems as well.
Vegetarians often claim that animal products shorten life span, but the most cursory look at long-lived ethnic groups proves that this is not the case. Russians from the Caucasus Mountains, an area famous for longevity eat lots of fatty meat and whole milk products. Studies of Soviet Georgian populations show that those who have the most meat and fat in their diets live the longest. Inhabitants of Vilcabamba in Ecuador, known for their longevity, consume a variety of animal foods including whole milk and fatty pork. On the other hand, the vegetarian inhabitants of southern India have one of the shortestr life spans in the world.
Not only is it difficult to obtain adequate protein on a diet devoid of animal products, but such a diet leads to deficiencies in many important minerals as well. This is because a largely vegetarian diet lacks the fat-soluble catalysts needed for mineral absorption.
*Zinc, iron, calcium and other minerals from animal sources are more easily and readily absorbed.
*Man's best source of zinc is animal products.
*Usable vitamin B12 occurs only in animal products.
Vitamin B12 deficiency has been found in breast-fed infants of strict vegetarians.
Fermented soy food and spirulina contain compounds that resemble B12 but these forms are not absorbed by humans because they are not picked up by the "intrinsic factor", a specialized protein secreted in the stomach that allows B12 to be assimilated. In fact, the plant forms may even create B12 deficiencies.
Vegetarian diets also tend to be deficient in phosphorus as meat is the principle source of phosphorus for most people. This is another reason that vegetarianism has been linked to tooth decay.
A few highly publicized studies have claimed a link between consumption of red meat and saturated fats with cancer, especially cancer of the colon. Studies claiming a correlation of animal product consumption with cancer do not stand up to careful scrutiny. In many of these studies, the data bases combined saturated fats from animal sources with hydrogenated vegetable oils, known to be carcinogenic. Furthermore, these studies did not include sugar and white flour in their surveys, even though researcher Lopez and others have shown that in so-called civilized countries high meat consumption and high sugar intake often occur together.
In summary, animal products are important sources of bodybuilding elements in the diet. Furthermore, animal fats supply vitamin A and vitamin D and animal protein is rich in minerals , vitamin B6 and vitamin B12.
Any discussion of meat-eating should include the observation that temporary abstinence from animal products has been traditionally valued as a cleansing, healing practice. This is reflected in the dietary laws of many traditions and in the practices of primitive peoples who engage in periods of sparse eating or complete fasting, often in late winter or early spring when food is scarce. This wisdom is justified by the fact that meatless diets prove beneficial in the treatment of cancer and other disease such as arthritis, kidney problems and gout. But the problems arise when the practice is continued too long. These include caries, bone loss, nervous disorders, and reproductive ailments. Strict vegetarianism is particularly dangerous for growing children and for women--and men--during their child-producing years. "
A small excerpt from "Nourishing Traditions" by SallyFallon
Tags: meat, vegetarian
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Olive on -
Yes, well that is compelling, but that same web site also had a section on b12 from bacteria too...and said something to the contrary. Im mostly ticked at the fact that
not one of the health people who's articles I read, has mentioned spirulina and the fact that it could cause b12 deficiencies. If your going to be telling people to take it every day, then you should in all fairness, let them know that there are concerns among some, present those concerns, address the issue, and let them decide for themselves.
Yes b12 takes a while to get depleted, so its not like im going to be gobbling up a whole lot of meat, but i do enjoy my fish from time to time. And I love eggs. And dont have a heart attack Mellisa, but I do on rare occasion eat a juicy medium rare steak (please dont shoot me) . Maybe Ill turn from my evil ways some day : ) But only if your nice to me...lol
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Permalink Reply by naturenut on -
Sure Holly, I already know it will be me...unless you balance your proteins and fats with all of your carbs! You guys don't see that point yet!!!
As for B12, one of my recent schoolbooks on nutrition written by a vegetarian biased author stated initially that vegetarians don't suffer from B12 deficiency. He had to include an insert in the book, since it was already published, apologizing for being wrong. Long term studies prove for good that, yes, they do, and he urged vegetarians to take a B12 supplement. So, the deficiency danger is very real and sometimes irreversible. Damage to your nervous system is what can happen. The damage won't be apparent for a while because of the high folic acid levels of a veg diet masking it.
I, for one, won't have to worry about it because I include animal products, the best source of B12 and many other nutrients, and no, not to extreme ;)
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Permalink Reply by Tammy on -
Exactly .. no one has stated that one should live on meat alone, and no one should live on plants alone. Balance, and moderation is key.
There are plenty of people that ate meat all their lives and lived to be over 100 years old.
I know that no one wants to hear this, but if my Bible said that we should not eat meat, then I would be in agreement with those that say we shouldn't eat it. I do not put any study, done by man, above my creators guidance. It's simple to me, but my faith is very strong, and for many good reasons.
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Permalink Reply by KnowNow on -
My great grandmother lived til 92 and my grandmother lived to 95 both ate meat.
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Permalink Reply by KnowNow on
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I thought the subject was about eating meat. My grandmother died 2 years ago so for todays standard that is along time.
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Permalink Reply by Tammy on
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If this reply is to me, I'm not sure what your point is. I'm aware that people in the Bible lived to be much older.
My post was about people in todays world, eating meat and living to be 100 or over.
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Permalink Reply by naturenut on
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Recycled? Lol!
I guess the post "evolved". My point in the post was to dispute some of the myths that meat-eaters are somehow less spiritual, less healthy or that meat/animal products are even bad to eat (healthy meat/animal products).
It's not entirely necessary if you know what you are doing as a vegetarian. Too many people, and I've seen first-hand, go into it without knowing how to properly eat a balanced non-animal-foods diet and end up with serious problems. I hate to see that.
It seems vegetarianism has taken on somewhat of a religion in itself! Someone offering a different viewpoint and information may be coming as a shock here!
Anyone answer yet if they know if KT is a vegetarian???
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Permalink Reply by Olive on
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according to his weight loss infomercial, Kevin isnt a vegetarian.
woo hoo...can we invite him to the outback too, Bobby ? lol
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Permalink Reply by naturenut on
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Let's go in that case! Good night all. Hopefully no hard feelings, just a lively spirited debate with opposing strong viewpoints and differing education. Hasta manana.
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Permalink Reply by mherzog on -
Both diets have their weaknesses. But all in all the mortality rate for vegetarians and meat eaters is about the same (though I think vegetarians live a little longer). I think the main argument against a meat based diet is that is causes an incredible amount of needless suffering to animals. Here's a video if you want to know more: http://meat.org
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