Paleo Protest: The Great American Meat-Out.

From the Detroit News:

Jerry Schneble, the Michigan director of the Great American Meatout, asked Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm to proclaim a Michigan Meat-Out, an "eat meatless meals" day in Michigan. This sparked a protest from Michiganders , many of whom produce beef, pork, or other meats for a living.  Schneble responded to the controversy like a typical misinformed vegetarian:

"I would point out that two-thirds of all Americans are either overweight or obese, and I can guarantee you they did not get that way by overeating fruits and vegetables," he said.

"Meat has no fiber, no phytochemicals, or antioxidants -- all critical for good health."

These vegetarians continually attack meat because it contains fat, cholesterol, and animal protein, but no fiber, phytochemicals, or antioxidants.  My response to Schneble and all the other meat-bashers:

1. Fiber has never been proven “critical” for good health–mother's milk doesn't have any fiber either–but in case you didn't notice, no one prevents a meat-eater from also eating vegetables rich in fiber. 

2.  Meat contains CLA, which is an antioxidant and has anticancer potential: “...studies on mice and rats show encouraging results in hindering the growth of tumors in mammary, skin, and colon tissues.”   Grass-fattened meat contains larger amounts of CLA than grain-finished.  Meat also contains vitamin E, and more if grass-finished.

Meat also contains cholesterol, which may also act as an antioxidant.

Again, nothing prevents a meat-eater from also eating vegetables and fruits rich in antioxidants. 

3.  Even grain-finished meat contains some carotenes and vitamin E, which are phytochemicals, and grass-fattened beef contains twice as much carotene and nearly three times as much vitamin E as grain-finished meat.

Again, nothing prevents a meat-eater from also eating vegetables and fruits rich in phytochemicals. 

4.  Meat contains vitamin B-12, critical for good health.   Plant foods contain very little if any functional cobalamin (B-12), but that doesn't mean you shouldn't eat plant foods.

5.  I can guarantee people in American did not get overweight by overeating meat, which is actually a bit difficult to do because of the satiating power of protein and fat. 


According to the USDA (page 15), in 2005 meat, fish, and poultry altogether contributed only 15% of all energy (calories) to the US food supply, dairy products only about 8%, eggs only 1.3%, and animal fats (lard, tallow, and butter) only 2.5%, whereas grain products contributed 23%, sweeteners 17%, and plant-sourced oils and fats 23%. 

Hence all animal products contributed only 27% of energy to the U.S. food supply, which means that plants provide 73% of energy in the U.S. food supply.  Plant oils and sweeteners form 40% of the energy supply, 50% greater than all animal products together, and the grain products, sweeteners, and plant fats sum total 63% of total energy, more than double the contribution of all animal products. 

6.  I don't recall any one ever proving that humans must eat only foods that contain fiber, or only foods that contain vitamin B-12.

Finally, human mother's milk contains lots of fat, lots of saturated fat, lots of cholesterol, animal proteins (lactalbumin and casein), and no fiber.  Shall we stage a "breast milk out" also?

Now sugar, that has no fiber, phytonutrients, or antioxidants.  Plant oils have almost no micronutrient value.  So how about a "sugar and vegetable oil out"?

I hope they get their facts straight some day.  I wonder if B-12 deficiency causes delusions?