Vegetarian Health
Vegetarians, in general, will have a hard time healing from adrenal fatigue and most other conditions. The reason has to do with heredity, humans have to eat animal protein to stay healthy or to heal. However, there are things that vegetarians can do. That’s what this article is about.
Humans Need Animal Protein The reason vegetarians have a hard time healing is because humans evolved eating animal protein. Ninety percent according to recent archaeological studies. Even a typical American diet of ninety percent processed foods with animal protein has an impossible time staying healthy. So much harder for people who eat no animal protein at all.
Alkaline Body Another reason has to do with how the body keeps its pH balanced. When there is animal protein in the stomach HCl is released to activate digestive enzymes that digest protein. Once the food moves into the first part of the intestines alkalizers are released to neutralize the acid. More than enough is released which alkalizes the body.
Vegetable protein doesn’t have the same effect in the stomach. In fact, the body recognizes very little vegetable protein as protein that can be used for things like cellular repair and building tissue.
Digestive Enzymes But, there is something that will help break down vegetable protein into amino acids that the body can use. In general enzymes are required to break down grains and legumes (beans). The enzyme that vegetarians need to take with every meal is bromelain.
Two extra strength capsules with each meal. Bromelain comes from pineapple. Unfortunately you couldn’t possibly eat enough pineapple to get the enzymes needed to help a vegetarian. Besides, taking a supplement is much easier.
Perfect Diet Another thing vegetarians have to do is to always eat whole foods. No ground up grains even if they started out whole. No grain is whole anymore after grinding. Far too many vegetarians eat lots of bread and other processed foods. Of course, sugar has to be completely eliminated as well.
Acceptable Protein? Some vegetarians are ok with eating some animal protein like whey and egg white protein powder. Some will eat eggs, others may even eat fish. All these foods will give good protein that will help in healing and maintaining health. My favorite is egg white protein with stevia because it’s more protein dense than whey protein. Just make sure which ever one you get doesn’t contain any sugar or artificial sweeteners.
Eating nuts is also helpful, they help in adding some protein.
In general it is hard to be healthy without eating animal protein. But, eating a perfect diet free from processed foods, eating more nuts, eating as much animal protein as is acceptable to the individual and taking bromelain with each meal can help to keep a vegetarian healthy.
Be sure to share this article on your social sites so your vegetarian friends can benefit. I also like comments!
What about fat-soluable vitamins? I think eating the egg yolks will have far more value to a vegetarian than the whites.
You’re right, Anuradha, fat is essential for good health and absorbing fat soluble vitamins. And, egg yolk is a great source of vitamins and fats. I recommend egg white protein for the protein content since many vegetarians are willing to use it.
Hi! I have been readng your posts and articles for a while now.
I have enjoyed them and started putting a lot of thought into your belief system, including your book.
However I am a vegetarian and have been for years now, i know a lot of vegetarians and they too are all healthy, you can find protien in many grains, as well as oils that are good quality containing all the omegas etc that you need and simply add them to your salads and meals.
Im offended by your most recent claims that we must kill and eat animals to remains healthy…..not true at all…..
Aditi, I was a vegetarian for years too. Perfectly healthy until I wasn’t. I almost died. A story I’ve de Unfortunately, most people can not be vegetarians successfully though there are body types that can.
Most people don’t have the enzymes to break down the protein in grains and beans. Some will inherit them though, especially Indians (India) because they have had generations to adapt. That is why I recommend taking bromelain, it is the needed enzyme.
I did not say that it is necessary to eat animals. Animal protein includes eggs and dairy — whey being the safest for sensitivities. Many vegetarians consider non-fertile eggs to be ok to eat.
One thing I have to completely disagree with you on is that oils contain protein. Oils are fats, one of the three macronutrients with absolutely no protein.
People with adrenal fatigue have weak kidneys as well and most people have adrenal fatigue. People with weak kidneys can only have a very small amount of animal protein per day. I don’t believe there is one size fits all for diets. I know with my constitution I could never eat a raw food diet but there are MANY people out there that it works for and has been a miracle for their health challenges. How much animal protein do think a person needs in a day ? I am not sure i agree with this information. I also don’t believe people have enough enzymes to break down animal protein. Please share your thoughts.
Victoria, I agree that people with kidney issues often can not eat a lot of protein. But, it’s not my experience that most people with adrenal fatigue have kidney issues. Definitely something to consider though. Low adrenal function usually means no raw or cold foods as well — low spleen chi tends to go with AF.
Four ounces of protein per meal is usually adequate, though many people can get by with less, especially if they are really healthy. And, most people need extra digestive enzymes, particularly HCl for protein and alkalizing the body.
We are at a place where modern research can tell us much about the viability of a vegetarian/vegan diet. That and my personal experience raising two healthy children on a vegan diet tells me that your information is incorrect… it is based on the evolution of our culture, societies, and mindset, not our bodies, and also assumes that it’s all about US. Selfish to say the least, and we will not heal our bodies and souls by maintaining a selfish mindset. We are but a part of the whole, and what harm we do with keeping and exploiting animals (and it is horrific) we ultimately do to ourselves.
In reading about your healing crisis, I did not see anywhere how you ate a whole fods, balanced vegetarian or vegan diet and developed health problems as a result…I did see where you described eating junk food and got sick (predictably). When you lump the two together like that, it constitutes intellectual dishonesty to say the least. maybe there is more to the the story?
Kevin, In some ways I might agree with you. We are still evolving in ways that are not surprising. Evolving away from needing animal protein is very slow. I’ve treated many people who were raised vegetarian and were healthy, until they weren’t. Then all kinds of problems happened. Usually, children are born very strong and healthy. It takes a lot to get to the point where health starts to fail. For example, children who eat animal protein can eat a LOT of sugar before their health starts to decline. For example, it took over 30 for it to happen to me.
I would be interested in seeing long term studies showing the viability of a vegan or vegetarian diet. My experience is that health starts to show decline by the age of 30, very often much earlier — I’ve treated vegan teenagers who regained health just by eating eggs. But then, people come to me when they are obviously ill. What are the percentages? It would take at least a 40 year study to convince me though 25 would be interesting.
Let me also say that I wrote this article in response to several vegetarians who asked me for it. They wanted to continue with their meat free practice, but wanted something to help them heal and stay healthy. Regardless of my views on eating animal protein (and, animals don’t have to die for me to eat animal protein), I think I gave them a way to increase vitality without compromising their beliefs.
How do I see our continued evolution? People who would have died before bearing children 200 or even 100 years ago are surviving and producing compromised children with issues like immune system dysfunction. As a whole we need to be even more conscious of our diets and where our food comes from or we will continue to pass on problems.
Kevin, You’re right, I may not be the best example. But, I did spend part of my life as a vegetarian eating a pretty good diet — there were a few ground up grains, but mostly I ate whole foods and no sugar of any kind. Though my health was good, I lost lots of muscle mass despite working out. A few eggs later my strength increased, and my muscles increased visibly.
Great article thank you. I think a lot of people assume a vegetarian diet is healthy but it doesn’t fit everyone and your points may help those struggling. Thank you for your article.
Thanks, Ky. You are right, some people can’t be vegetarians. There are some body types that can, but they still need to eat well.
I am happy to hear of your healing back to vibrant health but i have to admit after doing a lot of reading and research i have rarely of ever heard of anyone healing their adrenal fatigue from not eating grains. It could take some years to recover, rebuild and heal from long term adrenal fatigue.
I know many including myself who eats ONLY veg. & lean animal protein that have not had the recovery you speak of.
I was also curious about your new book. Are you suggesting people take all those supplements? Too many at once. People how have compromised immune/digestive systems could actually weaken their systems on an energetic level by doing this.
Victoria, The healing I got did involve some supplements and herbs, it’s just that I wasn’t getting anywhere until I stopped the grains, especially the ground up ones.
In my new weight loss and book the supplements listed in appendix D at the end of the book are the main ones to take — only four or five. Ideally though people would get tested to find the one or two that they need.
would love your input on grains. which ones to eat which ones to avoid. thoughts on basmati rice? i find i do well with it. I know you also mentioned at one point lectins being in grains. is it in Quinoa?
thanks K
Victoria, Lectins are in all grains, but white Basmati rice is free from it. Sprouted grains are ok as well. If not avoiding lectins I’d try to avoid grains with gluten, I’m pretty sure quinoa is gluten free.