Heart Healthy Choices?

I apologize if (ok, when) I got up on my soap box . I just want to make sure when i make my decisions that they are based on sound info and not just a marketing ploy. I resent the dairy industry's "Got milk?" campaign after learning that drinking more milk or using more dairy may be contributing to an osteoporosis problem. We've been told we need milk to "build strong bones 12 ways!" and the research tells us that it just isn't true. I am sure the beef industry is culprit in trying to convince us we NEED more meat in our diet than we actually do.

Please, everyone, eat what you want but the original poster was concerned about her cardiovascular health and that seems important enough to get some accurate info.

Wow, a whole page of arguing about being vegetarian and I wasn't even in it.

I'm all for people making their own food choices. I really don't care what anyone else eats. I only threw the initial link out there in case she wanted to check it out or consider more ways to eat a heart healthy diet. It was intended in a "take it or leave it," if you're interested, kind of thing.

All I know is that I feel awesome, I'm the fittest I have ever been, and I don't spend hours laying on the couch trying to find a comfortable position while my body struggles to process animal fats. I'm so glad I went vegan and I will never go back. (And I don't even miss cheese anymore.)

As a post note, I read the article Steve H posted by the former vegetarian and found it very interesting. It, however, did not address the health issue of a meat free diet, only the social and emotional aspect. I, myself, don't carry an emotional burden about eating meat. I can look at a cute waggley duck and envision it in orange sauce IN A SPLIT SECOND. ("Here ducky ducky. Stand on this platter for Carla and see how it fits.") On the other hand, (shrugging) I rarely miss meat now. Consider just dropping your meat intake by half if you simply can't give it up entirely. And don't get me started about th dairy industry and how the need for dairy in our diet is nothing more than marketing hype. Jeez!

Here Ducky, Ducky... You and me both.
Deb

I don't spend hours laying on the couch trying to find a comfortable position while my body struggles to process animal fats.

The only thing that does this to me is muy Margaritas.

Geez, guys............I didn't mean to start a war.

As far as meat goes, I get my meat from my father's farm where it is born, raised, naturally fed, and is never given steroids nor antibiotics. It is then processed in my brother's processing business. I know EXACTLY where my meat comes from and how it's lived. Hell....I've even been known to pick my beef out of the herd myself.

I did NOT eat meat the first 16 years of my life. I grew up on a farm that had cows, chickens, turkeys, ducks, sheep, and pigs. All were raised for our consumption. Because of seeing them every day, I wouldn't touch it. I've slaughtered animals, cleaned them, and cooked them all long before I would eat them.

When I was 16, I took my first job as a waitress in a steak restaurant. Yep....I started eating steaks. Then well done took too long, and it gradually became medium rare.

For ME, meat is important. I feel too sluggish with too many grains in my diet. I become anemic without meat. I chose to eat red meat over taking more pills.

Those of you that answered the originally question (3 of you?), THANK YOU. To the rest, sorry to start an argument.

[Robin Garr]

Those of you that answered the originally question (3 of you?), THANK YOU. To the rest, sorry to start an argument.

I don't think you started an argument, Trisha. I think it got going on its own without any help from the original poster.

Glad you got some helpful answers, though. I hope mine was one of them ...

There are some serious doubts as to whether a low sodium diet is useful or healthy. http://www.scientificamerican.com/artic ... ar-on-salt

Here's an interesting article about milk consumption.

http://saveourbones.com/osteoporosis-milk-myth/

And another.