SHOULD WE BE VEGETARIANS?

SHOULD WE BE VEGETARIANS?

These days it is a very popular practice to be a vegetarian, that is, to eat no meat or fish. Some people even adopt a vegan diet, eating no animal foods at all, not even dairy products or eggs.

People who promote vegetarianism and veganism claim that this diet is healthier than a diet containing animal foods. Sometimes they say that if you don’t eat meat, you won’t get cancer or heart disease. This claim is not true. The heart is a muscle that requires the nutrients found in animal foods. And vegetarians and vegans can develop cancer; in fact, some types of cancer are more common in vegetarians than non-vegetarians.

The problem with a vegetarian, and especially a vegan, diet is that sooner or later it leads to deficiencies. Complete protein, healthy fats, important minerals like iron and zinc, and critical vitamins A, D, K2 and B12 will be lacking in a diet low in animal foods. Over time these deficiencies can lead to low energy, difficulty concentrating and then to serious health problems.

Vegetarianism and veganism are especially popular among teenagers and young adults. Unfortunately, this is just the age when these future parents need a nutrient-dense diet containing animal foods to prepare them for having healthy children. Vegetarianism can often lead to infertility and, in children, can result in failure to grow properly. One of the earliest signs of deficiency in children raised on a vegan or vegetarian diet is serious tooth decay.

Many people embrace vegetarianism out of concern for the welfare of animals. They reason that if they don’t eat animal foods, they will not contribute to the suffering of animals. It is true that our modern agricultural system treats animals very cruelly, keeping them in confinement in deplorable conditions. However, an alternative exists in the pasture-based farming system, where animals live happy, healthy lives in the open, eating green grass and enjoying the sunlight. They are then killed quickly and painlessly. Animals living in the wild often die of starvation or are painfully killed by predators.

Human beings are omnivores, meaning that they need both animal and plant foods to be healthy. Animals that eat only plants have several stomachs, while human beings and other omnivores have only one stomach. And in many other ways, humans resemble meat-eating animals like dogs more than plant-eating animals like cows and sheep.

NUTRIENTS IN ANIMAL FOODS THAT PROTECT AGAINST CANCER

VITAMIN A - strengthens the immune system and helps the body detoxify.
VITAMIN D - is very protective against breast and colon cancer.
VITAMIN B6 - is needed for special enzymes that protect us against cancer.
VITAMIN B12 - is found only in animal foods; deficiencies of this vitamin are associated with higher rates of cancer. CLA - conjugated linoleic acid is a special fat found in the fats of grass-fed animals; it protects against breast cancer and possibly other types of cancer.
CHOLESTEROL - is a potent antioxidant that protects against free radicals in cell membranes. People with low levels of cholesterol tend to be more prone to cancer.
CO-ENZYME Q10 - is highly protective against cancer.
SATURATED FATS - help the immune system to function properly.

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ABOUT ANIMAL FOOD

ABOUT ANIMAL FOOD

All cultures, from all over the world, eat animal foods, usually on a daily basis. Animal products include:

RED MEAT like beef, lamb, pork, buffalo and game

ORGAN MEATS like liver, bone marrow and kidney

POULTRY like chicken, turkey, duck and goose, including the skin

FISH like salmon, trout, halibut, tilapia and sole

SHELLFISH like crab, lobster, shrimp, oysters and mussels

EGGS fixed scrambled, fried, boiled, poached, in omelets, and

added to other foods

WHOLE MILK and dairy products like cheese and yogurt

Animal foods supply important nutrients that we cannot get from other foods. These nutrients include:

COMPLETE PROTEIN for building the body

VITAMIN B12 for healthy blood and brain

VITAMIN A for healthy eyes, skin and brain

VITAMIN D for protection against depression and disease

VITAMIN K2 for healthy blood, bones and brain

CHOLESTEROL for building the brain and intestinal tract in

growing children

SPECIAL TYPES OF FATS for normal growth, learning and memory, and protection against disease

Animal foods are also better sources of many nutrients than plant foods. These nutrients include:

CALCIUM for healthy bones

COPPER for healthy blood

MAGNESIUM for healthy cells

IRON for healthy blood and good energy

ZINC for healthy brains and protection against infection

VITAMIN B6 for freedom from disease

These are important nutrients for building a healthy body and keeping it strong!

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foods to avoid & Healthy Choices

These foods can cause many health problems including poor growth in children, learning disabilities and behavior problems, allergies, asthma, arthritis, heart disease, cancer and auto-immune problems.

foods to avoid

Polyunsaturated and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils used in processed foods, chips, snack foods, cookies, pastries, for cooking oils and for fried foods, which science has shown to cause numerous serious health problems.

Foods containing refined sweeteners such as candies, sodas, cookies, ice cream and cakes.

White flour products such as pasta, white bread, rolls and bagels.

Processed foods and fast foods containing many additives, including MSG and hydrolyzed vegetable protein; these are poisonous to the nervous system and can cause weight gain.

Modern soy foods, such as soy protein, soy protein isolate, soy milk, tofu and hydrolyzed vegetable protein, which can cause digestive problems, hormone disruption and thyroid disease.

Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame (Equal and Nutrasweet) and sucralose (Splenda), which are added to diet sodas and weight loss foods. These are toxic to the nervous system and may even cause weight gain.

Stimulating foods containing caffeine and caffeine-like substances, such as coffee, tea, sodas, energy drinks and chocolate.

Healthy Choices

INSTEAD OF vegetable oil, margarine, spreads and vegetable shortening, use butter, lard, bacon drippings, meat fats, olive oil and coconut oil.

INSTEAD OF foods containing refined sweeteners such as candies, sodas, cookies, ice cream and cakes, use natural sweeteners like honey and maple syrup to make homemade cookies, ice cream and other nutritious desserts.

INSTEAD OF white flour products such as pasta, white bread, rolls and bagels, use whole grain sourdough or sprouted grain breads and minimize white flour products.

INSTEAD OF processed foods and fast foods containing many additives like MSG and hydrolyzed vegetable protein, use natural home-cooked foods, real herbs and spices, and sauces made from homemade bone broths.

INSTEAD OF modern soy foods, such as soy protein, soy protein isolate, soy milk, tofu and hydrolyzed vegetable protein, drink whole raw milk and eat nourishing foods like cheese, eggs and meat.

INSTEAD OF polyunsaturated and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils for cooking and for fried foods,. use butter and olive oil, and cook in healthy traditional fats like lard, poultry fat, butter, ghee and tallow.

INSTEAD OF lowfat and diet foods, use whole, natural foods that contain the fats you need to prevent overeating and maintain a healthy metabolism.

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Healthy for Life...

Healthy for Life...

Every day, eat high quality whole foods to provide an abundance of nutrients, chosen from each of the following four groups....

ANIMAL FOODS: Meat and organ meats, poultry, and eggs from pastured animals; fish and shellfish; whole raw cheese, milk and other dairy products from pastured 1 animals; and broth made from animal bones.

GRAINS, LEGUMES & NUTS: Whole-grain baked goods, breakfast porridges, whole grain rice; beans and lentils; peanuts, cashews and nuts – all properly prepared to improve digestibility

VEGETABLES & FRUIT: Fresh or frozen, preferably locally grown, either raw, cooked or in soups and stews, and also as lacto-fermented condiments.

FATS & OILS: Unrefined saturated and monounsaturated fats including butter, lard, meat fats, poultry fat and other animal fats; palm and coconut oils; olive oil; cod liver oil for vitamins A and D.

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