Human mother's milk contains no more than 5% protein. This is enough protein to enable an infant to double it's weight and size during the first 6 months of life! After that, the need for protein DECREASES. Independent researchers around the world agree that the human need for protein each day is only 25 - 35 GRAMS. (about 1 ounce). Many nutritionists feel that only 20 grams a day are more than enough. Meanwhile, the AVERAGE AMERICAN eats more than 100 GRAMS of protean a day - 5 times the actual need!
Reports in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition say that people do not need to consume more than 2.5% of their daily calorie intake from protein. Even the World Health Organization says people need more than 4.5% calories from protein.
SPINACH = 49%
BROCCOLI = 45%
CAULIFLOWER = 40%
LETTUCE = 34%
PEAS = 30%
GREEN BEANS = 26%
CUCUMBERS = 24%
CELERY = 21%
POTATOES = 11%
SWEET POTATOES = 6%
HONEYDEW MELON = 10%
CANTALOUPE = 9%
STRAWBERRIES = 8%
ORANGES = 8%
WATERMELON = 8%
PEACHES = 6%
BANANAS = 5%
PEARS = 5%
Since our bodies recycle 70% of the protein waste, we lose only about 23 grams of protein a day. To replenish this lost protein, your body needs only about 1.5 pounds of protein a month! So, why do we think we must eat huge amounts of meat to be healthy? Advertising. The meat and dairy industries spend vast sums of money in television and magazine advertising every year to convince Americans that we must eat huge amounts of cow meat, cheese, milk, eggs, chicken and other assorted animal products.
What's the truth about meat as a source of protein? The Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council states, "One of the biggest fallacies ever perpetuated is that there is any need for so-called 'complete protein'."
That fact is that protein is composed of amino acids. Amino acids are literally the building blocks of the human body. There are a total of 23 amino acids needed by the body, of which 15 of these our bodies manufacture in the liver -- provided the liver is in good working order. The other 8 amino acids must come from food so the body can build a complete protein.
The idea that we must eat meat to supply protein for our bodies is a lie. Factually, our bodies CAN NOT assimilate the protein found in meat or any other food. The food must be digested and broken down into amino acids. The liver re-forms the amino acids into useable protein for our bodies. Every one of the amino acids our body requires is found in raw fruits and vegetables!
Furthermore, when meat is cooked the amino acids in the meat are coagulated or destroyed. Meat releases large amounts of uric acid into our bodies when eaten. Uric acid is toxic to the human body. The human body does not even have the enzyme "uricase" to break down uric acid!
In order for humans to get any nutritional value from meat it would have to be eaten raw, like the carnivores. However, carnivorous animals, who can live on raw meat, have very little in common with humans.
Carnivore: long, sharp, pointed teeth for ripping and chewing flesh. Jaw moves up and down ONLY for tearing and biting.
Human: Have molars for crushing and grinding and jaws that move side to side for eating vegetation.
Carnivore: Saliva is acid for digesting animal protein.
Human: Saliva is alkaline and contains ptyalin for digestion of starch.
Carnivore: Stomach is a simple round sack that secretes 10 times more hydrochloric acid than humans.
Human: Stomach is oblong, complex and convoluted with a duodenum, the tube that leads to the small intestine.
Carnivore: Intestines are 3 times the length of the trunk, designed for rapid expulsion of meat, which rots quickly.
Human: Intestines are 12 times the length of our trunks, designed to keep food until all nutrients are extracted.
Carnivore: Liver will eliminate 10 - 15 times more uric acid than the human liver.
Human: Liver produces no "uricase" enzyme to eliminate uric acid.
Carnivore: Do not sweat through their skin and have no pores.
Human: Sweat through the skin to eliminate wastes.
Carnivore: Urine is acid.
Human: Urine is alkaline.
Carnivore: Tongue is rough for licking blood and flesh.
Human: Tongue is smooth.
According the John Robbins, in his video, "Diet For A New America", the average American meat eater pours 100 pounds of ANIMAL FAT into his veins and arteries EVERY YEAR! The Average American during his or her lifetime will chew up and swallow approximately, 12 entire 3,000 pound COWS, 6 WHOLE PIGS, 3,000 CHICKENS, 3,000 FISH and 30,000 quarts of MILK, not to mention all the other meat and dairy products and by-products.
The average American is 25 lb. overweight, has high cholesterol (average level is 200) and will have high blood pressure. Consequently, the leading cause of death in the US is heart disease and stroke. Nearly ONE HALF of all deaths in the US are caused by heart disease! In addition, another 20 percent, which amounts to 500,000 Americans, die of Cancer every year! This number is increasing.
According to Dr. Matthias Rath, Director of the Cardiovascular Research Unit at Linus Pauling Institute, HEART DISEASE, STROKES, CANCERS, DIABETES, LIVER DISEASE and ARTERIAL SCLEROSIS CAUSE 70 PERCENT OF ALL DEATHS IN THE United States EVERY YEAR!
In addition, excessive protein consumption is directly responsible for osteoporosis, teeth and gum disease, high cholesterol, acidosis, constipation, kidney infections and weakness, liver disease, water retention, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, allergies, hypertension and weak immune system, to name a few.
(Reference: " The PRO Vita Plan" by Jack Tips, ND, Ph.D., 1996 Edition.)
The chemicals given to commercially raised animals destined for slaughter are highly dangerous. These include, but are not limited to: penicillin, tetracycline, sewage-sludge which has been "decontaminated" with cesium-137, radioactive nuclear waste and fattening agents. Cattle are often fed hundreds of pounds of CEMENT DUST to increase their weight before going to the slaughter house. Once the cow has been killed, the carcass is dipped in sodium sulfite to kill the stench of decay and turn the meat red instead of the gray of dead flesh. American eat more than 300 million dead cows which have been handled like this every year! (Ref.: Harvey and Marilyn Diamond, "Fit for Life", 1985)
The inhumane atrocities of commercial meat production combined with the tremendous abuse and waste of our shrinking land and water resources are thoroughly documented by John Robbins in his video film and book entitled "Diet for a New America".