Let’s Talk About Meat + Why I Started Eating It Again

As much as we would like to believe that there is a perfect diet that will benefit every single person on the planet – health-wise, ecologically, and spiritually – without exception, this just isn’t the case. Literally every “body” is different. We all have a different set of nutrient requirements, for genetic, environmental, physiological, and other reasons. 

Some people thrive on a 100% plant-based diet, because their bodies naturally produce high enough amounts of collagen, certain hormones, or EPA and DHA (essential fatty acids), and so they don’t require the extra amount we get from animal foods, where they are primarily found. There is no question that a plant-based diet is a very healthful one – anti-inflammatory, alkalizing, and rich in vitamins and minerals, as well as beneficial for weight loss and disease prevention. 

This does not mean, however, that EVERYONE can get EVERYTHING they need from plants 100% of the time. Some people can. Others have more trouble – those who have digestive problems, blood sugar imbalances, or trouble absorbing nutrients, for instance. (Personally, I struggled with all three). It also does not mean that meat is inherently “bad for you” or that it does not also contain nutrients that are useful to our bodies. There is a reason bone broth has been a tonic for the sick for centuries, due to its rich healing properties. 

I absolutely loved eating 100% plant foods. It made me feel aligned, emotionally and spiritually. Unfortunately, I did not feel so at peace physically. For the past couple of years, I have struggled with severe bloating and digestive pain, headaches, fatigue, depression and anxiety, skin breakouts, poor immune function, and, more recently, rapid weight- and hair-loss. I managed to control and even remedy some of these symptoms by tweaking my macronutrient ratios, or incorporating certain supplements to safeguard against common deficiencies on a vegan diet. However, my symptoms were always there, just under the surface, even if they lay dormant for a time. It seemed like I was never able to fully heal. Looking back, only now do I realize that these were all symptoms of an underlying candida albicans infection, which only became apparent after a recent round of antibiotics, which resulted in a severe overgrowth.

Here’s the thing: candida is an organism that feeds on sugar and carbohydrates, and part of the treatment protocol involves starving it out. Although it is theoretically POSSIBLE to treat candida on a plant-based diet (lots of leafy greens, non-starchy vegetables, and some nuts and seeds), it was simply not a realistic option for someone as depleted as myself. (I now understood that the reason all of my supplementation had not yielded permanent results was because my body wasn’t able to absorb nutrients properly). A low-carbohydrate approach on a plant-based diet meant minimizing my intake of beans, grains, chickpeas, lentils, and potatoes – essentially, all of my protein sources. So I had to find other ways to sustain myself.

The decision to incorporate some meat back into my diet was not an easy one, as I’m someone who believes strongly in conscious and compassionate living, as well as the principles of non-violence. But I could no longer deny my intuitive and bodily demand for meat. I’d even had dreams about it – smoked fish and game meats drying in the rafters of longhouses built by my ancestors. Then I remembered. This is how we survived.

I already knew that, if I was going to eat meat, I was going to source it as ethically and responsibly as possible. My formal training as a nutritionist had taught me that, when it comes to animal foods, quality matters. Whether we are talking about health, ethics, or sustainability, there is a big, BIG difference between factory-farmed meat and wild or pasture-raised animals, so much so that I would rather eat no meat at all than eat animals raised in CAFO’s (concentrated animal feeding operations). And I tell my clients the same thing.

Besides the indescribable cruelty that feedlot animals are subjected to, they are often fed unnatural diets (genetically modified corn, soy, and/or grain), which make them sick and deplete their nutritional value. They may also be given hormone injections to expedite them to slaughter weight, as well as antibiotics to keep them alive in crowded and unsanitary conditions – toxins which then bioaccumulate in their tissue and are passed right along the food chain to us, along with their stress hormones. Globally, CAFO’s are also the leading cause of species extinction, deforestation, and ground water contamination.  

By contrast, good-quality animal products can be an excellent source of complete protein, immune-boosting minerals, Vitamin D, anti-aging fatty acids, and energy-boosting B-vitamins. The glutamine and collagen present in meat is essential for healing and strengthening connective tissue such as skin, joints and ligaments, as well as the gastrointestinal tract, which allows us to digest fibrous carbohydrates like fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds. Even the saturated fats and cholesterol serve a purpose, as studies are now showing that they aid in nutrient absorption, help us to build cellular membranes, and produce hormones like estrogen and testosterone.

It’s important to remember, though, that too much of anything is not a good thing. We don’t need nearly as much meat as the majority of North Americans currently consume. For most of us, a 2-4 oz. portion just 2-3 times per week is plenty. Meat is an incredibly nutrient- and energy-dense food, so the overconsumption of it will inevitably result in weight gain and increased risk of illnesses such as atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.

So, when it comes to meat, quality AND quantity matters.

I still consider myself “plant-based”, since at least 80% of my diet still consists of fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds. The remainder of what I need comes from local, organic, wild or pasture-raised, and hormone/antibiotic-free eggs, fish, and meat. Yes, it is more expensive than buying a club pack of bleached and chlorinated chicken breasts at the grocery store, but if we are only consuming what we need, the cost is nominal.

For anyone who is interested, I source fish like wild-caught lake trout from Dockside Fisheries in Wheatley, local free-range eggs from Mailloux’s Farm Fresh in Amherstburg, and organic, pastured, grass-fed chicken and beef from InstaHealthBox in Windsor.

The sirloin featured in this post’s photo came from a Black Angus steer that was fed and finished on a strict diet of organic grass in a stress-free, antibiotic-free Ontario pasture. Compared to industry-standard meat, this beef contains 4 times more vitamin E, 10 times more vitamin A, 5 times more heart-healthy Omega-3’s, and has 30% less cholesterol and 80% less fat and calories. It has also been raised in a way that reduces soil degradation and actually sequesters carbon and other greenhouse gases.

I still believe strongly in the benefits of a plant-based diet. I will still support local plant-based businesses, and endorse this way of eating at every opportunity. I do not believe it was the cause of my health problems; only that my health problems were impossible to treat without the conscious and intentional utilization of some other types of foods. Maybe someday I will return to a fully plant-based way of eating. Maybe I won’t.

I believe that if we choose to eat animal foods, it is our responsibility to do so with the utmost reverence and discretion. Today, I find that I actually feel more aligned and connected to the natural world than I did when I was vegan, as if I am participating in something much bigger and more ancient than myself. My symptoms have subsided, and I feel more energetic, vibrant, and engaged than I have in months.

There is a growing number of people in the world who are choosing to be 100% plant-based, and they are thriving. I just happened to fall into the category of individuals who do require some animal foods.

Maybe you do, too. And that’s okay.

Every “body” is different. The important thing is that we listen to our bodies, and nourish them with what they need to heal and thrive, without reservation or judgement, and with the utmost love and respect.