Today many people do not easily assimilate dairy and or beans. If this is your situation, then until you regain your digestive prowess, perhaps it’s time for a spoonful of chicken soup. Simply put, if you’re not feeling your best then
the protein in a bite of fish, poultry or meat is easier to digest than is the more challenging protein found in grains, beans, nuts and seeds. This is because meat’s protein is in shorter, and therefore easier to assimilate, amino acid chains whereas the chains in plants are longer.
Or if you eat dairy but if your gastrointestinal tract isn’t happy, then perhaps you’ll find it useful to experiment. You might be one of the many people who do not tolerate milk protein (casein) and or carbohydrate (lactose).
So if you prefer being vegetarian but your health is worse instead of better; perhaps it’s time to reconsider. Just because a neighbor is a healthy vegetarian, doesn’t mean that you also will be. One woman’s bagel is another woman’s poison.
I speak from personal experience. I was vegetarian from 1969 until I developed invasive cervical cancer 20 years later. I raised my family accordingly and even taught and wrote about the benefits of a meat-free diet. It took cancer for me to rethink by diet. I shed my no-meat bias and my cancer as well. By changing my diet, I didn’t need surgery, chemo or radiation.
If you’re not thriving as a vegetarian, here’s how to set up an experiment to discern if meat might support your health:
1. First set aside your preferences for a few days; you can always pick them back up, but right now you’re exploring. Imagine that if you were to eat meat again, what sounds the most appetizing? Perhaps you’ll recall your granny’s chicken noodle soup, a tuna sandwich on rye or a long simmered pot roast with potatoes. Imagine all the steps necessary to create such a dish: from writing the shopping list to actually preparing the dish, setting the table, offering thanks and tucking in. But—before taking a bite—here’s step #2.
2. If you’ve not eaten meat in a while, or if you’ve tried meat but found it too heavy then you’ll find two supplements of value: hydrochloric acid with betaine and digestive enzymes. These supplements also help resolve compromised digestion. Take one of each at the beginning of a meal. Also note that as meat is more substantial and energetically more potent than lentils or cheese, so expect it to “feel different” in your stomach.
3. Now sit down to a bowl of chicken soup and let yourself be surprised by its flavor. Now here’s the important last step: note how you feel. Over the next few weeks, continue to experiment and note how your energy and digestion are after a meal with meat versus a vegetarian meal. In time, you’ll discern your own truth.
This is how, in three easy steps you can discover what best serves you. Rather than relying on an outside source, you’ll know from within yourself. How empowering!
May you be well nourished!
Thank you for sharing your wisdom. I wish I had been learning from someone with your background a long while ago. Doctors have been telling me I was fine for years and later that I had IBS. It went downhill until 2.5 years ago when I learned about food sensitivities.
I was only vegetarian for a year because I was starving. I don’t need a lot of animal protein, but I have to have some or I’m exhausted and thinking about food. I’m glad you share the information that our digestive systems are unique and have varied requirements.
Hi Rebecca,
I recently had an experience of becoming quite ill — physically (my pelvic wall gave out) and mentally (I became quite depressed with dark thoughts) because my body was NOT doing well on too much raw food. Once more, I have realized that I need warm, cooked or lightly-cooked food with some animal protein. Although a big raw salad every day and a raw (but room temp) smoothie in the morning do well for me. With no animal protein, my brain stops working and I become quite depressed with thoughts that are definitely NOT me. Once I start with a complete amino acid profile and Omegas, I feel completely different. I believe I have finally learned that I need to feed myself a certain way rather than trying to go along with the fads or the “ideas” of what might work. Thank you for teaching about BALANCE and about finding what it means for each of us.
In contrast to a rather scathing comment left in response to this article, I would agree that carefully selected happy meat (local, properly fed) is very nourishing and easy to digest. I find beans difficult to digest and require enzymes when I eat them, but a local, slow cooked chicken provides us much protein for several meals. I also believe in the benefits of bone broth, and cook and use it frequently. Thank you for an informative blog.
I really liked your article, Rebecca. Poor Albert – may his mind open sooner rather than later and allow room for us all.
I was vegetarian for many years and until my 4th pregnancy in 1984 when my body demanded I eat meat. I have done so in moderation ever since. A year a go I eliminated all wheat and now I restrict other grains and legumes, soaking them first. We are gradually reducing all CAFO-products and shifting to local, organic, not easy in a small town in northern Canada.
I would also love to hear your thoughts about the blood type diet.
The Blood Type diet has value. However more important than the list of foods that goes with your blood type is for you to know whether or not you are digesting those foods. Many people have dairy and gluten on their “list” but are allergic to them. It is naive to build a whole diet on one particular characteristic (blood type). To do so does not take into account other important factors regarding your unique system. Today so many people are suffering from food sensitivities and/or allergies and these first must be identified and then eliminated in order to have a healthy diet. In my ebook, Clean and Free, I detail how you can discern the diet that best suits you.
I am very surprised, even astonished, that you wrote an article about the benefits of eating meat. Even if some doctors recommend it, it doesn’t mean that it’s healthy and beneficial. Did you know that humans are not carnivorous? Instead of degrading yourself by becoming a meat-eater, you should have given yourself a promotion to become a raw foodits abolishing meat, processed and cooked foods. But it’s never too late to educate yourself and see the light on overall wellness.
I have lost all faith in your books and articles; you have lost your integrity among us, the healthy eaters. It’s very unfortunate that you influence so many people in the wrong direction by suggesting meat, an acidic dead ‘food’, a good source of illnesses. By the way, your books will be given to charity to people who don’t know the truth about health, energy and longevity.
Please cancel my subscription; I don’t want more toxic contamination.
You should live up to your own words, “May you be well nourished!”
We should all be careful of self righteous responses. What is good for one, in not necessarily good for all when it comes to diet. As God says in the bible ” Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.”
Matthew 15:10-12
We need to all have a heart which serves others, and Rebecca, I am happy to see it in your heart and your willingness to change your mind and diet as needed.
I, myself, thinking it was healthier, once upon a time, tried a vegetarian diet. I have always worked outdoor physical jobs, and frankly, eating totally vegetarian left me HUNGRY! It seem that I just could not eat enough to supply my needs, especially in the winter. And I am sure that a vegetarian diet for some is totally appropriate, but let’s have grace for one another, and understand that we are all imperfect people, making mistakes and hopefully learning and growing.
Hi Ms. Wood,
I was wondering what you think of the Ayurvedia eating lifestyle. From India an holistic approach to eat according to your dosha.
There’s so much conflicting, different eating lifestyles ie blood type, ayurvedia a person can get confused.
Yes, there’s a lot of different ways/paradigms to look at diet and Ayurveda has some useful information. In my New Whole Foods Encyclopedia I type foods using both Chinese 5-Elements and Ayurveda.
In my ebook, Clean and Free, I map out the guidelines so you can determine what diet best suits you and your specific health needs.
I have gradually re-introduced wild fish and free range chicken/turkey back into my diet (about 1 oz at a time) after being vegan for about 7 years. Following those years of cleansing and healing, I have found my ability to digest animal protein is better than before. I have also learned that 2 oz once a day is often enough to benefit my body without taxing it. I “do not take in anything that causes harm” or my body would have to heal from it. I feel much better about not wasting or over eating the animal tissue so as not to cause more harm than needed. I will in no way contribute to mass animal breeding, penning, treatment etc. My local farmers support conservative use through small packaging availability also. Start with broth & then just leave a bit of meat.
Dear Ms. Wood,
I always find your news letters very helpful. I have also bought your book ‘whole foods encyclopedia”
I just wanted your advise if possible if you could please shed some light on ‘ blood type diet’.
Your opinion will be very appreciated.
Thanking you,
Kind regards,
Sharmeen
Dear Rebecca-La
what a great post about meat eating! You manage to say the things I would like to be able to say to people but with the gentleness and authority of someone who was such a committed vegetarian as well as someone who is so experienced with nutrition and health.My diet for SLE (lupus) for the past 25 years eliminated all beans and dairy (and eggs) so I have always relied on the animals and fish to feed me (not beef).
I am grateful for that and for you!
Penny
Penny-la,
Thank you for sharing your own example. Yes, it’s important for each of us to shed concepts that don’t serve us and then to discern our own dietary truth.