Much adieu today about eating only plants. Even Canada's Food Guide leans this way. But to regard such guides as reliable, just look at the past ones in Canada/U.S. - see how they change with the dietocrats' words. With little scientific basis, they are mainly the result of persuasive people, organizations and corporations. The bed-fellows of the FDA, USDA, Monsanto, and other toxic pesticide companies do a lot to ensure that we eat poisoned food from toxic soil. Monsanto has been sued numerous times - so perhaps some justice is being done.
Looking at the work of Weston A. Price [and others], a Canadian dentist who traveled the world examining groups who ate a "primitive" diet, high in fat: around 60% mainly from animals, found people without cancer, heart disease, no cavities and well shaped faces/jaws, and entire bodies. Compare today, how many us don't have room for 'wisdom teeth', other teeth crowding, cavities, root canals, etc. Yet when he, and others, examined those eating the "civilized diet", consisting more of processed grains, sugar, and less animal products, he found unhealthy teeth, heads and entire bodies.
The Masai, an African tribe ate only meat, raw milk [lots of it], and blood. They are/were stronger than other tribes that did not follow that diet and had great hearts too! And few cases of cancer! Compare that with today!
But here is where science comes in. We can not draw "cause and affect" relationships based on epidemiological studies. They were not designed to study nutrition and certainly not long term stories. Yet this is oft the case with support for diets of all kinds. There are too many factors involved to pin point just one. Yet we can certainly see clear correlations.
And many of these studies do show that societies that ate more of a plant based diet, did not live as long as those in the vicinity that ate more animal products. Teicholz has well documented that it is the low fat and vegan diet that has caused the cancer and heart problems we see today.
We must remember that anecdotal evidence is not scientific. It should lead us to clinical trials. These are very expensive and difficult. But when we come across anecdotal stories, we need to look at the starting point of the person's diet/lifestyle. It is common to hear of the fast food guru with high blood pressure, no exercise and a tummy that you swear has 3 full grown kids in it. And I'm referring, just to men here! Then they "go vegan" and feel great. They exercise regularly, have secret vegan facebook friends/groups [for real] = social support, have purpose....No wonder they feel great! Is it the food or the other factors? All of them! But this doesn't prove plant based diets [or any other] are the real 'fixes' here. Correlated perhaps.
So now you eat a vegan burger. You feel great. You are helping "the planet" too. Actually these are worse for the "planet". See article in this blog and also here for discussion. But what is missing that healthy, sustainable [local, grass-fed, etc.] meat would provide? Meat is high in vitamin A, B12, Iron and many minerals. Talk to doctors, including naturopaths and they will tell you the multitudes of vegans and vegetarians lacking iron and B12, among other essentials.
Homo sapiens have evolved eating 45-65 per cent animal products. But "we" have chosen the fatty parts - especially the organs - which are far more nutrient dense than plants. Some argue this is why we have the brain powerhouses that we do.
Many vitamins are soluble [ie. assimilated] in fat. Vitamins A, D, E, K all need to be eaten with fat. And if you're importing coconuts oil from far far off, this is not sustainable, the workers have no rights, and huge corporations steal land from peasants to grow your fat. See my articles that deal with such issues.
Indigenous cultures are lauded around the world today. Yet few want to praise their food systems: all animal products, with a few berries. Some in tropical areas would also have eaten some grains, tubers, fruit and other plants.
But to get plant protein, one needs to eat grains and beans. Many can not digest these and are allergic to gluten. They also are high in phytic acid which leaches minerals when eaten. These anti-nutrients can be removed by fermenting, sprouting, soaking, and some argue, by cooking. The same is true for nuts.
To change one's diet or to recommend a nation to go more plant based is not looking at the history of homo sapiens. The polyunsaturate oil push did [as is still doing] just that. To alter our evolved foods must have dire consequences. I am not arguing in support of factory farming, of course not. But plants are being grown in the same manner today: production, toxic chemicals applied, speed, money! Meat/fish provide dense nutrition that we were made/evolved to assimilate. Iron from heme in meat is easily absorbed, while plant based iron is not.
Watch for more on this topic. This is a huge topic. But to put forth the claims about the wonder of plant based diets we hear today. without clear LONG TERM clinical studies [which include affects on offspring], we can not truth-fully claim much at all. Remember that epidemiological studies do not show cause and affect!
If you do rely on plant based proteins, be sure to prepare as described above. And grow your own food! Even in apartments you can grow a few herbs or veg. And support small scale local organic growers that are building the soil. Animals poop is actually needed to do this [see articles in this blog and here ]. You can also compost your poop and use to build the soil and grow food in. See here.
I am uncertain of the abosolute merits of any particular diet including meat vs. plant-protein. Although I have decided on a lacto-ovo diet with occasional fish for a variety of personal and ethical reasons.
ReplyDeleteOne of the problems with plant-based protein foods is that it tries to emulate the taste, flavour and texture of animal meat. So a veggie burger is made to resemble beef patty, or tofu dog to taste close to a hot dog. Often to achieve this resemblance many processed ingredients are added. Maybe a veggie burger could taste authentic. For example, we grilled watermelon slices for a burger and it tasted great!
Vegetarians, particularly vegans, certainly need to consider supplementing in order to get all the nutrients needed for bodies to properly function.
I kind of think our picture of human evolution has overplayed hunting and meat as major factor of our origins when in fact gathering is probably what sustained many societies. While meat was part of the diet of many early humans but it may not have been the largest part of even the paleo diet. Most of the diet was vegetables, fruits and occasional meat (especially opportunistic food such as eggs or fish). Hunting large games was rare and it often came at the risk of injury or death. So this was probably rare event and that is why it was such a high event often depicted in cave art. Gathering was common, daily occurrence and so lacked the ritual elements of the hunt.