Edwynn
Posts: 4105
Joined: 10/26/2008
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~FR~
A theme that I have seen more than a few times is that some vegetarians I've known who go that route strictly for 'humanitarian' reasons have pretty lousy diets, as they still don't give anymore thought to what they eat than they did when meat was included. The usual suspects of processed foods, sometimes high sugar, lots of animal fat (cheese/butter/milk etc.), large pasta/cheese dishes, lots of potatoes and maybe one or two green vegetables, etc.
The myriad needs of the body can indeed lead to myriad approaches to diet and the studies behind investigation into all that. While on that subject, someone writing a book about it does not a priori disqualify them because they are selling a book. In many cases it might indeed be purely for that purpose but there are more than a few decent books on the subject that are backed by good research and provide much needed information you won't get from the standard government sources, being that the FDA and USDA are inextricably linked with pharma and agro-chem, in fact being 'enforcers' in the latter case.
The fact that I went 10 years with out any animal products and my health improved noticeably and I gained 10-12 (needed) pounds and other good things says that ... I went 10 years with out animal products and it went great. It says some things and doesn't say other things about anybody else's situation. It doesn't 'prove' very much that could be applied across the board, though it does dispel some myths. The other factors that went along with were (mostly) eliminating refined sugar, salt, etc. and in the early going there were more smoothies and more juicing. The best part about it all was that I found out who my local growers were and my cooking improved a lot as did my salad making and especially salad dressing concoctions (thank you Eden Spanish extra virgin olive oil and raw cider or balsamic vinegar and couple squirts of Bragg Liquid Aminos and bit of dried basil twisted in and a spoon or so of lecithin for thickening to taste, shaken and left overnight to fully emulsify).
Humans are omnivores but any body type does better with less protein than the 'standard' diet and more fruits/vegetables/grains/legumes than the other way around. The omnivorous bears are by far the largest and strongest NA predators and their diet is normally ~18% animal, 20% at most (not counting polar bears, who nevertheless still eat lots of grass and veggies in summer). Bears do not have a sausage & egg biscuit in the morning, a double bacon cheeseburger for lunch, and meatloaf/mac & cheese/potatoes/greenbeans for dinner.
Speaking of polar bears and Eskimos ...
Did I mention omega-3 fatty acids yet? Part of the reason that the Inuit 'get away with' eating so much meat is that they actually eat more blubber than meat, the ultimate high animal fat diet. The fat from the northern fish, seals, etc. however contain large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which do a tremendous amount of good things for the cardiovascular system and the brain. Lowers 'bad' colesteral, disperses fatty build-up in the blood vessels, etc., so then somewhat ironically especially needed for a high animal fat diet, being that usual 'land meat' doesn't have much omega-3, especially in proportion to omega-6. The Inuit never have heart problems (and they always seem happy, though I think being naked when indoors most of the time has something to do with that), but occasionally an instance of osteoporosis, which is caused by insufficient minerals in a a higher protein diet. Bottles of northern fish oils can be bought at reasonable price in the natural food stores (I trust them more than standard grocery stores), the emulsified versions being better but costing a tad more. Flax seed oil is a bit more costly but it tastes great and is good to put on or in so many things. A spoon or two can go in many smoothies and especially nut milks, on rice, on beans, some cooked vegetables, etc. The soft gel omega-3 supplements are usually the most costly, but I found a good deal at Sam's Club (where a friend has an account), Member's Mark Omega 3,6,9; equal amounts (400 mg ea.) fish oil & flax seed oil plus an essential oil blend (200 mg) of evening primrose/black currant/ borage oils. About $14 for a large plastic bottle of 325 soft gels, which at two a day should last ~ 5 months. That is a steal.
One thing I would like to say to those learning about all this for the first time, and especially those trying to adhere to a particular diet is ...
Don't worry!
The worst thing you can do is put food in your mouth while thinking "this is bad for me." Whatever table at which you find yourself, whatever you've decided to have because maybe you haven't had it in a long time, whatever is in front of you; just enjoy the heck out of it. As long as you are eating better than you have in the past overall, and if the regime you are in is any good at all, then occasional straying off the path should not be a big deal.
I think that the very good and comprehensive list that kali gave a few posts above is the best 'one stop shopping' advice overall. More local, more fresh, less GMO foods and growth hormone dairy, etc. Some of this is more expensive but certainly not all of it. When you eat less meat than in the standard diet, you can afford better cuts of meat, even organically/biodynamically raised, and still spend less overall than previously. Once you spend 3-6 months learning about all this and learning where to shop and what you like and don't like, then the 'new way' is just as easy as the old way, and hardly more expensive much of the time.
Don't worry, be happy.
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RE: Restaurants and dieting - 
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The man said so.. and the cats agreed!!!
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