“Antithetical to that of the cat, our digestive tract is long, the same as in those creatures who digest plant foods.”
To answer the question of how beneficial it is to eat large amounts of meat, we must look at the human body. Cats, being true carnivores, secrete ten times more hydrochloric acid than humans do. Their digestive tracts are short and smooth for the rapid expulsion of fibreless flesh. They can easily eliminate copious amounts of cholesterol and possess sharp teeth for ripping flesh, all of which humans do not have. Antithetical to that of the cat, our digestive tract is long, the same as in those creatures who digest plant foods. This is why it is important to also eat high-fiber foods like a raw salad or steamed vegetables when eating meat.
The two types of digestive juices the stomach produces to break down food are alkaloid and acidic. Carbohydrates such as fruits, vegetables, breads and grains use an alkaloid for digestion, but strong hydrochloric acid is needed to digest meat. To neutralize these digestive acids, the body utilizes its internal resource of calcium. Osteoporosis is the result, not of a lack of milk intake, but of a negative calcium balance caused by the body using its internal store of calcium to neutralize an acid-producing diet. We are going to deal with the milk later.
The Bantu women of Africa live on a sparse diet of vegetable sources, free of dairy foods. Their average intake of calcium is 250 to 400 mg a day. This is far lower than the 800 mg. recommended by the RDA. They give birth to as many as ten babies during their life, each child breast-fed for ten months. Although childbearing causes an intense calcium drain, osteoporosis is unknown to these people. When Bantu women migrate to the city and adopt a protein-rich diet, osteoporosis and other diseases become a threat to their health.
In 1984, the Medical Tribune reported studies by Michigan State and other universities regarding bone densities. It was the most extensive study yet undertaken. They discovered that in the United States, at age 65, male vegetarians averaged a three percent bone loss compared to male meat-eaters, who averaged a seven percent bone loss. The study among women was even more revealing. Female vegetarians averaged an 18 percent bone loss compared to female meat-eaters, who averaged a 35 percent bone loss. The conclusion was that vegetarians had significantly stronger bones. The Inuit people, who live on a very high-protein diet, have the greatest calcium intake of any population and have one of the highest rates of osteoporosis. Clearly the rampant problem with osteoporosis is a byproduct of a nation addicted to meat.
A human’s digestive system is not genetically designed for a high meat diet. This should not surprise a biblical creationist; after all, man’s intended diet was laid out in Genesis 1: 29-30 and frankly, it reads like a proverbial Vegan For Life diet plan. We have cleared the moral question of meat eating in the article: What Does The Bible Say About Eating Meat? God has made all things clean. But the words of Paul apply so well here, “Everything is permissible for me but not everything is beneficial.” (1 Cor. 6:12)
Clearly, a diet high in meat is not a good fit to the human body. Am I advocating that we all become vegan vegetarians? No. But some will make that decision, not from guilt or duty, but simply because they find that when they completely eliminate animal foods, they feel healthier and more energetic. Others will reduce their intake and only eat naturally raised meat and fish, finding perceptible health dividends.
You may be surprised to discover that I do eat animal products in moderation. I have fish a few times a week, but always with a large salad. Every so often I will have organic eggs for breakfast, and when eating out I may have some seafood; on rare occasions I may even have a steak. Animal products are a small part of my diet; my grocery cart is predominantly populated with fresh fruit and vegetables.
Related Article: Flesh Versus Plant Protein