Possible? A Day or Two Without Poultry, Red Meat or Pork.

Sometimes I go into these modes of not wanting to eat poultry or fish and relying completely on beans, greens, whole grains and dairy for my protein.  I do not eat pork and on a rare occasion, I will consume beef, but it has to be grass fed and it never is ground.

Here are some benefits of not eating poultry, red meat, or pork and increasing vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans and whole grains consumption.

• Diminished consumption of saturated fats and cholesterol.
• Increased consumption of complex carbohydrates that are nutrient dense or provides more health benefits.
• Adequate intake of dietary fiber. Dietary fiber fights a host of disease conditions, ranging from constipation to cancer.
• Fruits and vegetable supply loads of potassium, as against animal based diet.. Potassium rich diet cut down the risk of developing heart diseases.
• A liberal dose of antioxidants. Anti-oxidants are free radical scavengers and destroyers.
• Significant decrease in the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Saturated fats ad trans fats, present in large quantities in meat, increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, angina, raised blood pressure and atherosclerosis.
• Reduced risk of developing diabetes.
• A vegetarian diet wards off various cancer such as, breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer and prostate cancer.
• Macular degeneration can be prevented. Green leafy greens, pumpkin, carrots, mangoes, sweet potatoes, etc., prevent cataract, macular degeneration and vision loss.
• Preventing infection by E. coli. Contaminated red meat is the primary cause of E. coli infection. A vegetarian diet totally rules out this risk.
• Salmonella poisoning. Eating contaminated meat / chicken causes salmonella infection.  (Granted, salmonella has been found in spinach and fruit, however, the overall benefits of consuming more fruits and vegetables outweighs eating animal flesh)

This week was one of those weeks of taking out the animal flesh and feeling a bit of natural cleansing with more vegetables and fruit.  Here is a typical 5 meal menu that I will consume:

Meal 1: Nature's Path Pumpkin Flax Granola with Kefir or soy milk and a nectarine.  

Meal 2: Sandwich thin with peanut butter, banana and a drizzle of honey.

Meal 3: Sautéed vegetables (broccoli, red pepper, onion, carrots) with side of cottage cheese and a whole grain such as brown rice or roasted root vegetables (butternut squash, carrots, red onion, sweet potatoes) with a side salad.

Meal 4: Granny Smith apple with plain yogurt, walnuts and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Meal 5: Homemade bean soup with side of sautéed greens (spinach, kale, swiss chard or collard greens) and a plum or grapes.

It is possible to go without eating meats.  See how your body responds, you might be surprised.  Be Well!