There has been much talk these days about plant based diets. This is MY personal take on the subject. The fad seems to be, eat more plant based foods, cut out animal products and you’ll get rid of every disease and feel better! I tried a vegetarian diet for several months a few years back. And I felt like I got hit by a truck. Every Day. Here is the reason. If you suffer from chronic illness that is caused by viruses, bacteria, fungus or parasites, starchy vegetables, grains and fruits will only feed the critters because of all the starch, carbohydrates and sugar. For me, I was eating beans, beets, pineapple, carrots and lots of sweet potatoes and butternut squash. It was way too much starch and sugar for me to handle and only made my symptoms flare up.
When people talk about “meat” these days, I feel like that is such a broad subject. I feel that there is “meat” that is very bad for us and some “meat” that is good for us. We’ve come to eat meat in the form of fried and battered chicken, cured meats filled with chemicals, beef from cows that are fed unnatural diets, chickens that have been sent over to China and back and cleaned with bleach, and even a burger is served on a bun with ketchup, condiments and usually a side of fries. These meats are bad! And if you give them up, you will undoubtedly feel much better, which is why some people start out on a vegetarian diet and immediately feel better.
In my personal experience, I see nothing wrong with the good meat. Grass fed beef, lamb, wild game, organic cage free chicken and eggs. One thing that came up a few times in my research is that people with Lyme disease should eat grass fed beef a couple times a week and I’ve noticed that I do feel better when I eat it. I recently read “The Plant Paradox” which was an interesting book. It talks about how many plants emit lectins to stop the invaders from coming in. These lectins can be like poison to humans. So for some people, many plants like beans and seeds will actually make them sick.
A side note about seafood. This has also become hazardous to our health because of the mercury content, the shellfish that are “bottom feeders”, the way some fish is left to sit out before it is frozen or sold, and the fish that are farm fed. Did you know that one of the most common ways to get parasites is from sushi? And some people claim that eating farm raised fish like tilapia or salmon is like eating poison.
It is very sad what has become of our world’s food sources. We can’t change it and we just have to do make the best choices and eat the best we can. Of course if you start researching you will find a case on why you should eat only fruits and vegetables and another case arguing why you should eat meat. My best advice is do what’s best for you.
The mistake many people make if they decide to go gluten free or vegan, is they start eating a bunch of processed foods. Just because they are labeled vegan or gluten free does not mean they are good for you! Or vegetarians start eating a ton of grains, like pasta, which are not good for you either. Stick to whole, natural foods as much as possible. I am allergic to most raw fruits and vegetables, so clearly that limits me right there. By keeping a food journal along with my reactions I was able to find what works for me.
Desperate for Health 