One of my most often asked questions…
When I start talking to people about the type of diet my family and I enjoy; which is truly just very fresh whole foods and no dairy (with the exception of goat cheese), no wheat, no pork, beef, chicken, fast food or anything processed, I’m always asked, “Where do you get your protein?”
Answer: We still consume some organic farmed eggs from here in town about 3-4 times per month and we enjoy wild fish, consume lots of raw nuts, seeds, their butters and milks, but the majority of the protein in our diets comes from the same place elephants, bulls, and buffalos get their protein — from eating plants.
For many of us, we have been misguided and programmed to believe that the only source of protein is from meat — aka, animal tissue. But in reality, plant-based foods contain plenty of extremely high-quality protein that is actually easier for your body to digest and assimilate. The reason they are higher quality is simple: Plant proteins are found inside plant cells, the walls of which are made of the rigid material we call fiber. Fiber passes through our system in a nice, orderly fashion, giving us healthy, regular bowel movements. In contrast, animal proteins are inside of animal cells, the walls of which are made of cholesterol, which our bodies aren’t well-equipped to break down. It coats our gut with grease, making absorption difficult. It constipates us. And when absorbed into our blood, cholesterol makes our blood thick, clogs our arteries, and leads to major inflammation, digestive and intestinal upset and disease. By eating a variety of plants in your diet, including plenty of greens, it is very easy to get 100% “complete” protein, meaning all 8 essential amino acids are present in abundance.
Furthermore, heat damages proteins, causing the amino acid chains to congeal. Damaged protein is for the most part unusable and can be harmful to your body, causing inflammation and other problems. When food is cooked above 118 F, essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals and enzymes are lost. Amino acids, the building blocks of protein, begin to deteriorate at that temperature and are completely destroyed at 160 F. Too much protein in your body actually causes harm, but you almost never hear about that. It harms your digestive tract, your kidneys and much more by making your system too acidic. For those of you who think eating a high protein diet aids in weight loss, take note: The American Cancer Society conducted a study over a 10-year period with nearly 80,000 people trying to lose weight. Participants who ate meat three times a week or more gained substantially more weight than those who avoided meat and consumed more vegetables. And studies published in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition and the New England Journal of Medicine found that meat-eaters are much more likely to be overweight than vegetarians.
And, there is not one educational advocate on preventing and healing a body from cancer that I know that EVER recommends anything but a more plant-based diet.
For you maybe its not about becoming a vegetarian, I don’t think that is necessarily the point. I have seen a lot of people try to go vegetarian and it just simply did not fit their constitution and instead of becoming heather and more vital, they became weak, have loads of cravings and are pretty friggin cranky. At the end of the day you need to feel your way through your own body, trial and learn and go from there.
That being said, after studying and working with hundreds of clients over the years and working with my own body, I believe and educate that if you can greatly reduce your animal protein sources and meat consumption you will notice a radical change in your health at a cellular level; meaning your body’s healing process will be more rapid even from your workouts, your joints won’t ache and cause you pain, your bloating and digestive upset will greatly improve, your hormones will become more balanced, your skin and hair will shine with brilliance and strength and your overall level of acidity in your body will decrease, decreasing your risk of disease.
The reality is this; if we were to go back many, many years ago when the animal protein being consumed was actually raised and treated the way it should be and you were eating this meat, your body would probably respond to it in a healthier way. However, in todays’ society of mass production and zero regard to the treatment of animals, it is no longer about maintaining the integrity of a product for your health and is instead an industry, a business that is more concerned with their profits then your health.
Just a little food for thought:)
Spend some time on the internet today roaming different vegetarian recipes to try this weekend or make it even easier and simply add a beautiful big raw salad to your meal tonight and a few lightly steamed veggies on the side drizzled with some walnut oil and a little sea and fresh ground black pepper.
It doesn’t have to be all or nothing, just start somewhere today and feel better tomorrow!
To learn more about this topic and so much more please join myself and Dr Laura Foster on saturday March 9th for SHIFT Ur Life Express ~ 4 hours ~ 4 Topics ~ Huge Impact
www.shifturlifeexpress/eventbrite.ca
Stay tuned for the upcoming release of my new book The Simplicity Project ~ A No-Nonsense Guide to Losing Weight and Changing your Body Forever!
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Jenn Pike and Simplicity Yoga & Fitness Therapy Studio
also on twitter @simplicityjenn