The eternal debate of meat consumption versus vegetarianism/veganism…
I am often faced with this concern when consulting patients, friends, and family members. Over the past 18 years in practice, my professional observations and personal experiences have led me to conclude that vegetarianism or veganism does not serve most people well. While there are many factors to consider before making such a significant dietary change, I’d like to share some basic information as food for your thoughts.
- Know your blood type and read about blood type dieting. If you are anything other than an A type, I would not go down the vegetarian/vegan road. If you are an A, I would tread lightly down that path.
- Understand your Ayurvedic Dosha and delve deeply into maintaining balance within your system by identifying the foods that are beneficial and detrimental to your specific type.
- Consider genetic profiling to identify the mutations you have and assess their potential impact on the absence of animal proteins in your body.
- Have a thorough evaluation of the function of your entire endocrine system, along with a comprehensive blood panel. It’s common for hormones to be disrupted when someone follows a vegetarian or vegan diet.
Many studies on the pros and cons of veganism have been conducted, but none factor in high-quality meat. These studies produce misleading results that don’t accurately portray the abundance and significant health benefits of various meats.
Studies indicate that a diet rich in animal proteins can contribute to several health benefits, including:
- Weight loss
- Enhanced mental clarity and focus
- Reduced inflammation
- Improved cardiovascular health
- Increased testosterone levels
- Decreased autoimmunity
- Decreased gut issues
- Better glucose and insulin control
- Increased energy levels
- Support for adrenal-cortisol balance
Some additional benefits to consuming 100% grass-fed pasture-raised meats are:
- Lower pesticide loads
- Prevention of antibiotic resistance
- Higher antioxidant levels
- Higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids
- Lower cholesterol levels
- Support for environmental health
- Mitigation of climate change effects
To share my personal journey of adopting a vegan diet, as a blood type A, I believed a plant-based diet would be my best chance of success. I committed to it for about 18 months, during which I experienced the following:
- I gained approximately 15 pounds.
- I experienced reduced sleep quality, averaging around 11 hours per night, which led to persistent fatigue throughout the day.
- My hormone levels became imbalanced.
- I noticed increased inflammation in my body, resulting in joint pain and discomfort, as well as an unsettling feeling in my abdomen.
After numerous pro-vegan documentaries have been released in recent years, many people’s decision to abstain from consuming animal products is unfortunately guided by very slanted perspectives on animal treatment, primarily based on factory farming. The mistreatment and mishandling of animals significantly impact the quality and overall healthiness of the meat we consume. Factory farming prioritizes cost-cutting measures, even at the expense of the animals and consumers.
This led my husband and me down a journey to explore better-quality meat options. Initially, we began in the grocery store and sought out “USDA Organic” symbols. However, upon further research, we discovered that the certification primarily focuses on the food animals eat. Chickens can live in cramped coops and never see the light of day, but if they’re fed organic feed, the meat company can be certified “organic.” Even terms like “Free-Range” are now being misused to boost profits.
Seeking a more transparent and ethical meat source, we ventured outside the grocery store. We stumbled upon Grass Roots Farmers Co-op, which seemed like the holy grail of meat companies. Animal welfare is paramount to us, and supporting companies like GRFC is crucial because they uphold exceptionally high standards for animal welfare, regenerative agriculture, and complete transparency in their process. GRFC stands out as one of only a handful of processors in the U.S. that doesn’t use chlorine to bathe their products. They believe in knowing exactly where your food comes from and partner directly with small farmers using regenerative practices, many of which are verified by or in the process of becoming verified by Land 2 Market. All product labels have the farm the product originated from listed so you always know your farmer! Notably, all their animals are 100% USA-raised and processed. Their meats even underwent testing for Omega-3 levels, and their products were up to 10 times higher than industrially-raised meats. This is just one of countless other health benefits GRFC meat provides.
This is why I highly recommend Grass Roots Farmers Co-op to all of my patients, friends, and family members, as it aligns with my strong conscience and professional standards.
I hope this inspires everyone who reads this to conduct their own research and discover what each of their individual needs are, and how to meet those needs in a way that aligns with their values and morals. After extensive research on this topic and with my unwavering support for Grass Roots Farmers Co-op, we have mutually decided to collaborate. As a token of gratitude, I am delighted to offer a special 15% discount to all readers of this blog! Just use code HL15 at checkout. You may visit their website here to learn more and to make your first purchase! Your body and taste buds will thank you for a lifetime of better health.
Happy grazing!