There are so many different opinions out there on whether to eat meat or not. We have doctors, specialists, scientists, nutritionists, dieticians, & alternative & holistic health educators, and they all have a different "opinion". First off, just to be clear, medical doctors are not adequately trained in nutrition and/or prevention of disease unless they study it on their own time....so asking a doctor for nutrition advice may not be the best idea......just saying.
I grew up as a meat eater, then became a natural foods vegetarian when I was about 22-24, became a vegan and 90% raw when I was 25-27, then went back to being vegetarian for quite a few years, and now I have a whole foods natural diet of ALL foods! I always thought that being a vegetarian was the best diet for everybody and that human beings are not meant to eat meat...EVER! So over the years I have some very good feedback on the different stages of health my body has gone through by eating meat and not eating meat. I have to say, when I became a vegetarian I felt great! My energy was higher, my digestion was efficient, I was never bloated any more, my elimination habits became more regular, I slept better, my gums were healthier, and I lost a few extra pounds of water/bloat/puffiness. Now, I always attributed this to "no meat" but it really came down to what I had changed in my overall diet. When I became vegetarian I wanted to be healthier, so I ate raw salads with every meal, ate more raw fruits, I started juicing every day, started eating raw nuts and seeds, I added different varieties of beans and legumes, and started learning how to cook natural home made meals and eliminated the junk I ate before....no wonder I felt better, with or without meat! Then came the vegan/raw diet. I felt great for the first year and noticed some more positive changes. I felt cleansed, slept great, woke up refreshed and never tired, and only needed about 5-6 hours of sleep, my bowel habits were very regular with hardly any smell, my eyes, skin, hair, & nails were all healthy and radiant! Then after about a year, I gradually started to notice a big decrease in my energy in the afternoon (I always had to nap at about 3pm), I started to lose lots of hair (even though when it grew back it was shiny and healthy), my front teeth were starting to form brown/grey circles which weakened my enamel, my immune system was starting to crash, my menstruation ceased, I had scalp eczema, and I was skin and bones....BUT, I still would never admit that my vegan diet was "not healthy!"
So over the years of meeting vegan/vegetarian people and observing their health, reading different opinions of renowned health specialists, as well as seeing the way other cultures who have limited diseases eat, I have changed my "opinion"......I definitely believe veganism should NEVER be a lifetime eating plan...and that vegetarians should always include some animal products like organic eggs, wild fish, kefir, organic butter, raw organic cheeses, organic raw milk/cream if you can find some, animal broth soups, & fish oils.
Now saying all that, I do highly recommend a natural vegan or vegetarian diet for limited times during a detox/cleansing program or just to give your digestive system a break for a short time.
There are important fats, minerals, trace minerals, & vitamins that animal products do contain that benefit the health of our organs, especially the Adrenal Glands. If our Adrenals become depleted & burnt out, we can not replenish and heal them without including adequate protein sources from clean organic meats, poultry, eggs, and fish. (combined with a strict natural diet, relaxation, and natural supplementation.) A vegetarian diet and especially a vegan diet, do not supply these glands with enough nutrients to deal with major stresses, especially if you live a constant stressed out life...so gradually over time you may end up with burnt out adrenals which can sometimes take years to heal and replenish. So from my experience as well as studying health and nutrition over the years, I recommend a whole food natural diet with some organic/wild meat and animal products included. I no longer believe that the vegetarian diet is the optimal diet for health , but I also do not believe in the over indulgence of meat at every meal either. It's about being knowledgeable and smart about your food choices, doing a bit of research, and also using some common sense....eat to live, don't live to eat! Stay away from things that are not considered food and eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, vegetable & nut proteins, vegetable & nut fats, animal protein, animal fats, complex carbohydrates, sprouts, live fresh juices, and super foods!
**(pork and shellfish are NOT in the same category as "meat" and "fish".....they should always be avoided and NEVER considered as food)
Cathy Francilia
Cathy's Corner
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