The Protein Myth

Myth: Humans must eat animal products to take in the needed amount of protein.
Truth: Humans can get all necessary protein from plant sources.  Americans generally eat WAY more protein than actually required.

I've been working on this post about protein for days now, and just can't seem to finish it.  I found this great article on the Vegetarian Resource Group's website, and thought I'd share it.  Read it and let me know what you think.

What the hello does being "vegan" mean anyways?

After several conversations this weekend, it has come to my attention that the term "vegan" is not completely understood by the general public.  Also brought to the forefront of my frontal temporal lobe was the sad truth that many restaurants misunderstand the term "vegetarian".  Always one to create drama out of a perfectly impotent situation, I ranted and raved to my friends about the lack of vegetarian cuisine and the lack of understanding of food service workers.  I mean, hello?!  If I go to the trouble of ordering a side of steamed vegetables, a baked sweet potato (hold the cinnamon butter), a side of green beans, and a salad (asking the chef to remove the cheese and egg), you would think they would alert me to the fact the green beans are cooked with ham and the steamed veggies are doused in butter!!  I'm just sayin'!

But that was in the south, where I've been living for the last few years.  Upon return to my native Los Angeles I was expecting a plethora of vegetarian and vegan fare, as well as informed food servers.  And while I have to admit I've already eaten at three vegan places (one of them twice!) in the week I've been home, I'm disappointed to find as ill equipped food service workers as in Kentucky.

As my friends and family at home have found out about my new healthy eating habits they always ask the titular question.  Here are the big three: What does "vegan" mean?  Why in the world would I do such a thing!  And how do I get my protein (see an upcoming post for the answer to this question).

I've already talked about my personal answer to the "why" question (see the "Reasons to Go Veg" label and my "About Me" page); let me explain exactly what I mean when I shock you with the statement, "I've gone vegan!".

Vegetarian means that the individual in question does not eat meat (this includes beef, poultry, pork, and fish) but may still eat dairy and eggs; this person is referred to as a lacto-ovo vegetarian.     Some vegetarians still eat fish and seafood (called pescatarians).  Others refrain from all types of meat and seafood as well as eggs, but still eat dairy (lacto vegetarian).

Being vegan means that someone refrains from eating all types of animal products, including beef, poultry, pork, fish, seafood, eggs, dairy, and honey.  So when I say I'm vegan, it means I avoid animal products as much as I possibly can.  Hard core vegans who choose to eat this way out of compassion for animals may also avoid purchasing or using any product produced using animal testing or animal products (like leather for example).

There are many reasons why one may choose to go vegan.  Many, like myself, choose to eat this way for health reasons (see the "Reasons to Go Veg" label).  The evidence is overwhelming, well documented and researched, time tested, and compelling.  Others choose to become veg for environmental reasons (Did you know that factory farms account for 80% of greenhouse gas emissions?  We are literally causing global warming by what we choose to feed ourselves).  Yet others choose veganism in protest of the way animals are treated, slaughtered, and prepared before it gets to their plate (Who wants crap in their food?  Have you SEEN Food Inc.?  Come on!).

So now you know.  Why will you choose to become vegan?

Still processing Food Inc

It's been a few days, but I can't stop thinking about Food, Inc.  Connecting the hamburger to its unhappy, factory-farm source is easier when seeing it with my own eyes.  Although I didn't walk through these particular farms with my own two feet, directors Robert Kenner and Eric Schlosser have brought the horrific reality of life on the factory straight to my home.  And it was enough to convince me to jump the vegan fence into green fields of blissful vegetarianism. 
 
If you have ever driven north on I-5 from LA to San Francisco, you've probably noticed the stench of several factory farms that hug the freeway.  I've often thought, as I've passed those baying cows wallowing in mud and their own excrement, that these must not be the happy cows portrayed in certain ads selling cheese from a certain state.  I've wondered where indeed the cows in those commercials come from, as the moo-ers I've seen in my home state certainly aren't meandering across green fields.  The cow living in Kentucky seems to be a little more content, although she may have to contend with January ice storms.  At least she has green fields most of the year!

One thing in particular that stands out from the film is the farmer towards the end of the movie who discusses farming practices.  The camera follows him as he walks through his herd of pigs, saying, "Hey pig!  Hey piggles!" (Saturday Night Live flashback anyone?), fully knowing that they'll soon be ready for slaughter.  The farmer appears in another scene in which he discusses something else; in the background one of his employees is slaughtering chickens.  The chickens are squawking away, fully aware of whats about to happen them, while the farmer was oblivious to the chicken's terror.  While watching this scene I compulsively yelled out, "Nooo!  That chicken DOESN'T WANT to go into that slaughtering cone!".  Good thing it was at home and not in public. 

Sheesh, I sound like a full on vegan now!  But seriously, why eat living, breathing creatures when other options are available?  Doesn't this pig look so happy to be alive?

Food Inc.

I finally watched Food Inc. and I have to admit, I’m a little traumatized.  It gave me flashbacks to my early days of living next door to a pig slaughter house.  The pig pen was literally in my back yard, although my family was not affiliated with it in any way.  My grandpa even built me a little clubhouse that my mom painted with happy, mud-wallowing pigs.  I think I liked having those pigs back there; I enjoyed hearing them snort and root around.  Once in a while one would escape and go tearing around our house, ruining my mom’s flower gardens.  However, several times a year the farmers would slaughter my piggy friends. 

I remember one incident as if it was yesterday.  I was innocently playing in my playhouse when all of a sudden I heard the pigs screaming in terror.  I don’t remember if I knew what exactly was happening, but I sure knew those pigs were suffering.  I sprinted from the back yard to my bedroom, crying hysterically.  My mom was obviously concerned with my level of upset, but I wouldn’t calm down.  I was so disturbed about those pigs, and I can still hear their screams.

From that point on I never liked to eat pork.  I did occasionally, but I especially did not care for ham or pork chops; for some reason, they seemed particularly connected to the pig.  I also could not eat veal (knowing it was baby cow), deer (thanks to Bambi) or lamb (because of that old cartoon “Lambert, The Sheepish Lion”).  Aside from that, I’ve always been a picky eater and squeamish.  Looking back on it, its kind of amazing that its taken me this long to become veg.     

Reasons to go vegan

When I began this journey I initially set out to cut down on the amount of meat I ate.  Growing up, my family didn't eat very much red meat because it was so expensive.  Red meat was reserved for eating at my tri-tip consuming relatives houses and cheeseburgers when we ate out.  I initially thought that I would not really be able to completely cut out meat, but I've surprised myself by working towards being vegan. Here's why:

87% of the protein in milk is made up of casein, a chemical found to be a potent carcinogen in humans.  The China Study details how Dr. T. Colin Campbell conducted several research studies in lab rats that showed how damaging animal protein can be.  His team of researchers injected groups of rats with aflatoxin (one of the most dangerous carcinogens, found in a mold on peanuts).  One group of rats was then fed a diet that included 20% animal protein, and another group was fed a diet that included 5% animal protein.  The group fed the 5% diet showed no signs of tumors caused by aflatoxin, while the group that received 20% showed signs of cancerous growth caused by the carcinigen.

Furthermore, one group of rats was injected with a higher dose of aflatoxin then fed a diet that included 5% animal protein, while another group of rats was injected with a low dose of aflatoxin but fed a diet with 20% animal protein.  The group that received the higher dose of the carcinogen but had a diet with lower animal protein did not develop any cancerous tumors, while the group with the lower dose of the carcinogen but diet higher in animal protein developed tumors.

He did numerous other studies regarding this and found that in all studies, by him and others, the animals fed a diet high in animal protein developed cancerous tumors while the animals fed a diet lower in animal protein did not develop cancerous tumors.

Of course, Dr. Campbell explains it so much better.  I was floored by this info; the evidence is compelling!  Even with the introduction of a carcinogen into the animal's body, diet made a huge difference!  Evidently animal protein was not meant for human consumption in such gigantic quantities.  This also shows that we humans can have some control over our health!  Family members who have heart trouble, diabetes, or cancer seem so hopeless.  In my own family the idea is that we have a propensity for colon cancer, so what difference does lifestyle and diet make if we're going to get it no matter what?  But Dr. Campbell's studies show that we CAN change it!  Our health isn't left up to our ancestors and fate, its in our power to life strong, healthy, and long lives!

Now who doesn't want that?!

(Note on animal studies: To be honest, I don’t feel totally comfortable with animal studies, but I’m grateful for the information that has come by them.  I’m not advocating for animal studies, but am using the evidence produced by these studies nonetheless.)