No, you are not what you eat

“You are what you eat” is a mantra that suits many vegetarians and even vegans as they make their food choices. Their simple premise being that food sources should be non-violent in procurement and that livestock maintenance and sustenance is a considerable drain on the environment.

This logic is right yet simplistic in nature.

Yes, chicken, cows, goats and lambs are often ill-treated and kept in terrible conditions. This often leads to a deterioration in food obtained from them. And, then, there is also the question of ethics. Why should your life end up harming other living creatures?

These ideas hold some credence undoubtedly but we need to pause and look at the bigger picture.

There are animals such as dolphins and even some species of monkeys who can imitate human behavior in terms of their primal instincts and sensitivity. However, while they may have their unique ways and means of communication, their language skills and physical abilities pale in terms of what humans are blessed with.

So, then, what is it that makes humans unique?

Obviously, we started off as hunter-gatherers and meat was a big part of our diet and culture. About 10,000 years back we became a largely agrarian society in most parts of the world. We domesticated animals and used milk from cows and goats, eggs from chicken and also meat from these animals for our dietary needs.

Now, one may argue that population pressures and market demands have meant that the animal husbandry industry is in a terrible state. But then, so is the state of vegetarian sources of food. All our food is either genetically modified, heavily fertilized or ill-treated because there are simply too many people on the planet.

What then is the solution?

It really depends on your level of awareness and consciousness. If you are vegan by choice, please take vitamin B12 supplements or injections as well as monitor your iron and vitamin D count. You can be a healthy and productive vegan but it is neither easy nor cheap to achieve this feat.

If you are vegetarian by choice then consider eating eggs. Eggs are an excellent source of vitamin B12, zinc and iron along with being a great source of protein. Ensure that you are consuming enough milk, cheese, tofu or cottage cheese so that you get enough protein in your system. However, if you are a vegetarian athlete then the process is expensive and requires considerable research. You need to have a personalized diet plan and choose your foods very carefully.

So, then, do meat eaters have it easy?

Absolutely not.

Non-vegetarians need to probably be even more conscious of their food intake. Excessive eating can lead to issues such as uric acid problems, liver issues and even diabetes.

The mantra should be to eat clean, eat light and eat right. Ethics do have a place in the world but not at the cost of your health. Our gut bacteria is millions of years old and needs animal protein in order to function properly. And, our gut is like a second brain since the vagus nerve directly connects it to the brain. A happy gut means a happy brain.

In my view, not enough is made of the gut-brain axis. Given that our brains are the heaviest parts of the body and do all the heavy lifting for most people, it needs adequate nutrients which it receives from the gut. This seamless and healthy traffic of nutrients is critical for long-term health and efficiency.

Diseases such as diabetes, thyroid, bipolar, depression and anxiety all occur because of issues in diet and the gut-brain axis. Sadly, we ignore our dietary needs because of issues like ethics or being bound to our childhood upbringing or simply because we are clueless about nutrition science. With information at a click away in this day and age, struggling because we lack information is not true and it is also tragic that instead of using the internet for knowledge, we are busy scrolling through social media all day long.

What lies ahead then?

It all depends on individual choices. I grew up eggetarian and wasn’t an athlete in school. I started eating meat in college and for some years during the early part of my working life. Then, I took up distance running with gusto and did various experiments with my diet. I realized that too much chicken can weigh you down while occasionally eating mutton can really refresh you. It all depends on your body type, metabolism and brain activity.

As a person with bipolar disorder, I need to be especially careful about my health habits. While I am overweight and do smoke cigarettes, I don’t do drugs. I also eat three eggs every day and have decided to occasionally eat meat through the week.

I’ve always looked at life as an experiment and have been unafraid to make myself the guinea pig. What’s the worst that could happen? I’ll end up in a hospital? Been there, done that.

This is not to say that everybody’s journey needs to be winding and as complex as mine. We all have our idiosyncrasies, addictions and preferences. Along the way, when it comes to food, we need to decide whether it is our personal health that matters or ethics and ideologies.

Ask your gut instinct. You will get your answer. ??