In Defense of Food Part 8 of 10: Food Ratios, Eat Less Meat and Eat Quality Meat
August 25, 2009 by dr. lam
Sometimes it is not what we are eating that is bad but what we are eating that is shoving out what we are not that is the problem. Conventional wisdom today says, “Give me a big slab of meat and garnish it with a twig of vegetable on the side.” Some of the nitrosamines in the meat could lead to risks over the long haul (then again so can the mercury in fish), but also the absence of vegetables could be equally lethal. Perhaps we should challenge the Western concept of the large dead animal in the center of our plate with a side dish of some miniscule vegetable item.
Think about cutting down the dead animal portion (not necessarily getting rid of it unless you are already a vegetarian) and increasing our focus on vegetables. I myself am a big fan of the big dead animal in front of me and don’t quite feel it constitutes a meal unless I have that carcass in front of me. However, having finished my journeys through Europe and seeing a more egalitarian representation of food items, I am beginning to appreciate that we need to save room not for dessert but for green stuff in our bellies and perhaps make it the centerpiece of our meals.
It is not only important to cut down meat but to eat only quality meat. Meat that is fed grain instead of plant leaves has higher Omega 6s than Omega 3s, which as we discussed last Friday is bad for you. Cows were meant to eat grass as they are ruminators. Instead, man has forced cows to eat grain to get fatter faster at the expense of Omega 3s. Eating grains make a cow sick and therefore require antibiotics to keep them from getting sick. So it is not only important to eat quality animals but it is important what food your animal eats too. Pay more for pastured animals even chickens or other livestock. The more grass they eat the better it is for you. Obviously, eating organic products that are free from pesticides and other chemicals is very important too but hard to be certain if you are getting the real deal.
He encourages once you find great quality meat, get a deep freezer and keep it there. The elements of produce and meat do not get affected from freezing. That will help in the long run.
Interestingly, we can attain all the ingredients we need from plants without meat except for B12. But there is trace amounts of B12 in produce that also is manufactured from your own bacteria in your gut. Although great amounts of meat can lead to heart disease, a single serving a day has not been established to be detrimental to your health. If one does not want to get rid of meat from the diet, one does not need to do so. It is just important to eat better meat in smaller quantities with enough leafy plants along with that meat.
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Great information, Dr. Lam. One of the habits I have established in my life is to eat a salad for lunch and dinner as the main meal and then have chicken or something as the “side”, but I’m not a salad dressing gal so it works for me. I guess someone could try low cal salad dressing. Hey, great advice, Dr. Lam!!
cool. thanks heather. unfortunately, today of all days i violated this rule. had some nice dry rubbed ribs. mmmmmm!