Food Inc.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Ronald Pagan

You'd be better off health wise to get alternate proteins, like from beans and high protein grains like quinoa. Not only do you feel better, you body likes them more.

No you're not.

Animal protein is absorbed better, and builds and repairs muscle tissue better than 'alternative' protein sources.

I liked the book too.....but frankly I think what the author says about NOT eating meat is a load of crap.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Azure

My doctor also said that I should stick to mostly protein.

Ahhh but protein doesn't necessarily mean meat.

Course I know how big you are on eggs so you already know that.

But it is a little worrisome how in our society meat equals protein in so many peoples minds.

(Go ahead an insert a dirty joke here...)

Like anything, it's all about balance. (And sure people's bodies are different, and the one rule isn't universal to everyone.)

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Sowa

Actually if meat was cut out of the diet we would have more food to feed humans because the mass production of animals would cease freeing up tons of grains, greens, etc... for human consumption.

Um, no. Animals are fed what you can't eat. Unless your idea of a good meal are root grubs and corn that's harder than your teeth.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Fast food chains are amongst the worst culprits on so many levels.

I would say fast food chains ARE the problem, and the reason processed meat is processed the way it is.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Plus the balance of the foods we eat is off in most peoples diets anyway. Think of the Canada food guide that says you need 2-3 servings of meat, but 5-12 of veggies and 5-10 of grains or something.

Obviously that's just the most generic information, but I think we can all agree that most westerners eat a much higher % of meat in their diet than is even recommended by our own doctors and nutritionists.

Meat has become a staple, when all along it was supposed to be the side.

I would venture to say that westerners eat more grains or carb related food than they do meat.

Its harder that you think to get 100g+ of protein per day. A large steak only has 50g. And how many people eat a large steak everyday?

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Azure

I would say fast food chains ARE the problem, and the reason processed meat is processed the way it is.

Definitely the biggest part of the problem by a wide margin. It's the highest example of our 'convienance' obsessed society.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Ahhh but protein doesn't necessarily mean meat.

Course I know how big you are on eggs so you already know that.

But it is a little worrisome how in our society meat equals protein in so many peoples minds.

(Go ahead an insert a dirty joke here...)

Like anything, it's all about balance. (And sure people's bodies are different, and the one rule isn't universal to everyone.)

Pretty tough for me to get 200g of protein from eggs, beans, milk, peanuts/almonds, and other non-meat foods.

Eggs are a supplement to a diet based around red meat.

[Shazam]

One egg has 6 grams of protein!

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Shazam

One egg has 6 grams of protein!

And 75 calories. And the protein isn't as good as animal protein.

Plus, while I'm not really concerned about dietary cholesterol, you can get too much from eating 10-15 eggs per day.

I would need to eat over 30 eggs to get enough protein.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Azure

I would venture to say that westerners eat more grains or carb related food than they do meat.

Its harder that you think to get 100g+ of protein per day. A large steak only has 50g. And how many people eat a large steak everyday?

Well that is possible. Course people might not be eating steak. They might be chomping on fast food burgers or frying up brats. (How much meat is in those is debatable, I know... ) But people do tend to think of their meat dish first, and plan the rest of the meal around it.

Most places you go out to eat, (or maybe it's just Alberta and other places in North America) you get a huge portion of meat and a tiny side of veggies.

You're probably right that westerners eat more carbs. But they're supposed to. 3 times more according to the suggestions (grains anyways, not carbs). I'm just trying to figure out the percentages. Now the question is, do you think they eat 3 times more? I would doubt it. I would say they eat roughly the same amount, to just a little bit over. (100-150% of the meat they eat)

Course I have no data and I admit this, but I would love to find out.

And now even as I write this, I'm seeing the overlap. You can't compare meat to carbs, and grains to protein, etc. Because that's comparing the food to the nutrional value/substance inside of it.

There is protein inside grains. Heck there's protein in milk products and eggs. Part of the reason a person is to eat a balanced diet is so you can get all things from different sources. There are carbs inside many different foods too.

One needs to compare meat to non meat items like grains and veggies, and compare carbs, to other nutrional concepts like proteins and vitamins. Cross comparing is just confusing everything up.

You are right in saying, that people eat way too many carbs. But carbs and grains are completely different. There are grains with low carbs, increased fibre and protein.

So I guess when I'm saying that people eat to much meat, I'm looking at other foods, and not their intake of things like carbs and such.

Eating meat for protein is just one part of the puzzle. I do not advocating getting rid of that part, and I get a little annoyed with vegetarians who insist it's best to do just that. I think it is an important part of the puzzle. And my doctor agrees in my case too.

But the amounts I do believe are for the most part, entirely out of whack in most people's diet. People love to say, 'I need to eat meat for protein', when really their just defending that fact that they love to eat it becaue it's delicious.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Azure

And 75 calories. And the protein isn't as good as animal protein.

Plus, while I'm not really concerned about dietary cholesterol, you can get too much from eating 10-15 eggs per day.

I would need to eat over 30 eggs to get enough protein.

Although I agree with you on the other sources of protein (beans etc), protein from eggs is just as good as protein from meat.

I think this is kind of a moot debate anyway, as I don't really see how eating an egg is all that different from eating meat. They're both tissues produced from animals. An egg isn't really all that much ethical either.

I don't think people realize the negative effects of a diet devoid of meat. Not only are you in substantially worse health, you age much faster and there are substantial and negative neurological effects.

Your brain needs that meat protein.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Well that is possible. Course people might not be eating steak. They might be chomping on fast food burgers or frying up brats. (How much meat is in those is debatable, I know... ) But people do tend to think of their meat dish first, and plan the rest of the meal around it.

Well, fast food is notorious for having the bad carbs. Some protein yes, but almost your daily value in carbs. Especially if you take fries.

Most places you go out to eat, (or maybe it's just Alberta and other places in North America) you get a huge portion of meat and a tiny side of veggies.

Yeah, I just thought of that too. You're 100% right.....at least where I eat. But, that portion of meat is perfectly okay. At least for me. A steak, half/full rack of ribs, chicken.....its the perfect serving size. The fries, free refills for drinks, appetizers.....all add unnecessary carbs. Not that everyone should be eating as much protein as I do, or as much meat, but still.

You're probably right that westerners eat more carbs. But they're supposed to. 3 times more according to the suggestions (grains anyways, not carbs). I'm just trying to figure out the percentages.

Well, the numbers vary depending on who you listen too. I have a problem with the food guide, and their suggestions. I think everyone could afford to eat less carbs.....10-20% less. Problem is, the Canadian/American food agencies have vilified 'fat' to the point where people are afraid to include it in their diet. And fat is an important part of any diet.

And now even as I write this, I'm seeing the overlap. You can't compare meat to carbs, and grains to protein, etc. Because that's comparing the food to the nutrional value/substance inside of it.

There is protein inside grains. Heck there's protein in milk products and eggs. Part of the reason a person is to eat a balanced diet is so you can get all things from different sources. There are carbs inside many different foods too.

True, very true.

The idea behind the 'fad'....if one may call it that, to eat more protein is the fact that a higher protein intake reduces your hunger in the longer run.

I would bet money on the fact that if we surveyed 1,000 random people of all sizes and shapes, more than 75% of them could stand to eat less carbs, more protein.

I say that while still realizing there are limits.

[missdpuck]

Originally Posted by flip

I've been to enough farms to know that they do exist. There are also giant slaughter factories and such but the implication of the video that farms and farmers are a myth is pretty misleading.

That video was already misleading. The animals are slaughtered at giant slaughter houses, not raised there. That being said anyone who has been to a slaughter house is probably a vegetarian, it is some scary, disgusting stuff.

My family owned a slaughterhouse/meat packing plant. Ibecame a vegetarian at a very early age but never push my ideas on anyone. I'm a hypocrite in that I wear leather (recently). I can't save the world. Animal products/slaughterhouse by-products are found in some very surprising places .

[Daradon]

Azure Re: Bad Carbs. Yup, your right, I'm not a fry person, but lots of bad stuff in there. Not to mention all the sugar in the drinks. Even outside of fast food, you get a huge steakhouse type burger, and enough fries to feed the whole table. So yeah I get what you mean.

I really don't eat fast food at all. I guess the occasional sub or donair, but I steer way clear of the burger joints. Maybe 1 a year max. Both for my body, and for the planet. As we've agreed, the fast food industry is probably the biggest cog of the problem.

I was focusing on meats mostly for my argument for the environment, but you would be right in saying that people get a lot of bad nutrition outside of meat in a lot of the choices they make. And that the proteins and carbs they may be getting may be from bad sources anyway.

And yup, small amounts of fat are important too. Heck you look at half of the minerals we consume, we need to survive, they've be deadly to us in large doses.

Everything in balance.

[kootenayguy9]

I just finished watching this film and just have to say wow. I knew alot of the information that was already in the film but I guess I will think twice eating my next hamburger or piece of chicken. Probably one of the best documentaries I have seen in a long time.