Minimum amount of meat for health? - Page 2

[lorijds]

I think that evolutionarily, our bodies were made to eat meat/animal protein on a somewhat regular, but perhaps not daily, basis. However, the human body has amazing adaptive capabilities and can work just fine on a variety of diets.

[lisabc311]

I would recommend reading, "The China Study" by T. Colin Campbell. Fascinating research showing when consumption of animal proteins increase so do all the Western illnesses, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, etc.

Looking towards cultures that are the healthiest (lacking disease) and longest living (living active, full lives well into old age), they all consume diets heavy in plant products with just a small amount of animal protein occasionally.

So my answer is, less is more!

[Jennifer Z]

I feel absolutely horrid on a vegetarian diet. I found out in the last year that I am now pre-diabetic and have severe insulin resistance and have been doing a LOT of research on how to best handle this from a nutritional point of view. I was getting to the point that I was nearly (whole foods) vegan, and felt HORRIBLE. Once I started adding meat and dairy back into my diet I feel better, and I have to stop eating starches, pretty much entirely, if I want to delay or prevent diabetes. I will let you know in a few weeks if it actually helps as much as it has seemed to the last few days.

Most of my family (parents, aunts and uncles, cousins) feel really run down if they don't get enough meat, so I think there is a genetic component too. I can follow all the "rules" of a healthy vegetarian/vegan diet and feel like sleeping all day, but I start adding in meat and dairy and I feel human again.

Since I am not doing hard labor, I think that meat/animal protein at least once a day would be sufficient. I try to vary it and include fish two to three times a week, beef once or twice, chicken once or twice, and other random meats as I come across recipes I like.

[Holiztic]

Originally Posted by lisabc311

I would recommend reading, "The China Study" by T. Colin Campbell. Fascinating research showing when consumption of animal proteins increase so do all the Western illnesses, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, etc.

Looking towards cultures that are the healthiest (lacking disease) and longest living (living active, full lives well into old age), they all consume diets heavy in plant products with just a small amount of animal protein occasionally.

So my answer is, less is more!

Be sure also to look at criticisms of the China Study. here's a start:

http://www.westonaprice.org/bookreviews/chinastudy.html
http://www.cholesterol-and-health.co...asterjohn.html

Also, keep in mind it was an epidemiological study, which does very little more than suggest topics for further (controlled) study.

For example: most vegetarians are young (let's say under 40)* so being vegetarian must stop aging (literally stop your birthdays from happening)

* I don't actually know this, just an hypothetical (and simplified) example of how an epid. study works

[chamomeleon]

Originally Posted by avendesora

I read a study that said that the order of mortality was: regular meat eaters, vegans, vegetarians, occasional meat-eaters.

Aven, is there any way you could find and provide a link to this study? I'd be really interested in reading it. Thanks!

[BarnMomma]

My family and I eat some sort of animal protein daily. Usually with dinner. BUT, and this is a HUGE but, we ONLY eat pasture raised, humanely slaughtered local meats. And only wild caught fish. I insist on seeing where my meat comes from and seeing the animals. Luckily, I have lots of great farms within a 2 hour driving radius so getting great meat is easy.

I won't touch "conventional" meat products. But I think the naturally raised animals are very healthy to eat.

[mnnice]

Originally Posted by BarnMomma

My family and I eat some sort of animal protein daily. Usually with dinner. BUT, and this is a HUGE but, we ONLY eat pasture raised, humanely slaughtered local meats. And only wild caught fish. I insist on seeing where my meat comes from and seeing the animals. Luckily, I have lots of great farms within a 2 hour driving radius so getting great meat is easy.

I won't touch "conventional" meat products. But I think the naturally raised animals are very healthy to eat.

This is my take as well. I will eat a little CAFO lunch meat from time to time for convience and sometimes at other people's home so I don't look picky. I end up eating a lot of veggie meals when I travel and try to plan a couple veggie meals per week.

[Tigeresse]

Originally Posted by reducereuserecycle

oh, and i am a strong believer in the blood type diet. if you've never read about it go to www.dadamo.com it is very interesting and can make you feel great!

I agree with this. It goes a long way in explaining why some people do well on very little animal flesh and some people need more.

I need a little animal protein every meal. Veg. diet sent me into a downward spiral leading to all kinds of problems. I'm the type who needs almost no grains, and to keep the animal protein up.

[ambereva]

I don't eat ANY meat or any other animal products and I am healthier than I've ever been in my life. Every single nagging health problem I had before changing my diet has resolved, I've stabilized at a health weight after battling obesity since I was 8, I have become competitively athletic for the first time in my life, I have visible muscle definition from head to foot (never had that when I was eating meat), my energy level is through the roof...I could go on...

All that said, I think every body has different nutritional needs. I clearly thrive on this diet, but that doesn't mean I think everyone else would. I'm blood type AB+, and I'm on the fence about the blood type diet, but my type is supposed to do well on a veggie diet.

[crunchy_mama]

Originally Posted by ambereva

I don't eat ANY meat or any other animal products and I am healthier than I've ever been in my life. Every single nagging health problem I had before changing my diet has resolved, I've stabilized at a health weight after battling obesity since I was 8, I have become competitively athletic for the first time in my life, I have visible muscle definition from head to foot (never had that when I was eating meat), my energy level is through the roof...I could go on...

All that said, I think every body has different nutritional needs. I clearly thrive on this diet, but that doesn't mean I think everyone else would. I'm blood type AB+, and I'm on the fence about the blood type diet, but my type is supposed to do well on a veggie diet.

Interesting. I am AB- and do horrendous with a veggie diet. Everything you said could be said the opposite for me. I do not tolerate grains well and my body needs animal protein a lot of it. How my body will change as it continues to heal from taking out gluten and dairy- who knows it will be interesting, but I just follow the cues and eat accordingly.

[ambereva]

Originally Posted by crunchy_mama

Interesting. I am AB- and do horrendous with a veggie diet. Everything you said could be said the opposite for me. I do not tolerate grains well and my body needs animal protein a lot of it. How my body will change as it continues to heal from taking out gluten and dairy- who knows it will be interesting, but I just follow the cues and eat accordingly.

Yeah, that's why I'm on the fence in regards to the blood type diet. I know too many healthy people who's blood type and diet don't 'match'.

FTR, I don't eat much in the way of grains...a slice of homemade sourdough bread here and there, maybe a small serving of quinoa once or twice a week, that's pretty much it. And I get an ample supply of protein from nut butters, hemp and a little bit of local organic tofu (we're so lucky to have a small local producer who sells at our farmer's market, I've seen the farm where his beans are grown and the kitchen he makes the tofu in). The bulk of my diet is fresh organic produce.

[Leatherette]

I haven't eaten meat in 20 years, and it works for me. I have fish maybe 2-3 times a year. I used to eat too much dairy, but now have a child with a dairy intolerance, so not that much now. I take a vegan multi with iron, and a vegan vit. d supplement. We raise our own chickens for eggs, so I do eat those-2-4 a week.

My son is almost 9, hasn't eaten meat or fish ever, and is very healthy and 99th percentile on growth charts.

To me, one of the health benefits of not eating meat is not having the option of slipping into a fast food rut when busy or travelling.

So, for me, no meat needed.