Many folks just can't swing the change to The Real Diet of Man. The reason is mostly due to the fact that they don't have a support system. Their friends don't get it. Even one or all of their family members don't get it. And for sure their doctor doesn't get it nor the chefs at their favorite restaurants. Some of these people are suffering big time with ailments that can be cured by eating exclusively the foods from The Real Diet of Man.
I'm going to invite readers of the newsletter to the blog to see if any of them want to ask questions that can be answered by members of the blog. Maybe by discussing our experiences with others we can help them and in the process help ourselves too. What do you say?
I am one of those people who definiely needs support. I have adjusted some but haven't quite made it there. Lately have actually not felt well. I definitely think i agree with the whole balancing of the omegas! And.........i KNOW that my body is out of whack. HELP! Any chance you would consider writing.....even if it's short....a cookbook containing let's say even a two week menu for us out here trying hard and needing a little push??? I know for me that would be sooooo helpful. From there I think i could more easily make other adjustment to menus. THANK YOU in advance! Crossing my fingers on this one.
ReplyDeleteYou're in luck! A couple of days ago Linda started writing down what we eat at every meal. She was thinking it may help some folks and here you are asking for it. The list will be posted here in ten days or so.
ReplyDeleteBTW, are you familiar with the Herxheimer reaction? If not, check out this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herxheimer_reaction
When reading this think fungus. Fungi release mycotoxins when they are dying or when they are fed sugars and grain. Consequently when one shifts away from improper high glycemic and grain-based foods they can get a "relapse" in their symptoms making them think they are on the wrong track. In actual fact they are subduing the fungi in their system and in a few days they end up feeling a lot better. Then, as long as they do not revisit the improper foods, they remain symptom free. Revisit the improper foods and . . . wham! The health issues return with a vengeance and one must start the whole process all over again.
Hi Ted,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, thank you so much for this blog and for all that you are doing to change our food!! I have a question about eggs. On your site you talk about Christopher Eggs as being the best eggs to buy from a grocery store. I also read that eggs from an actual local farm are better for you. I buy both, but am wondering which you feel are truly the best to buy. Christopher Eggs don't claim to be organic or free range. I know that "free range" doesn't always mean truly free range, but I'm looking for your opinion. Are you strictly just looking for the high Omega content? Thanks!! Claire
"Organic" and "free range" are absolutely meaningless words/phrases in terms of food safety and nutrition. In the egg department we can also add "brown eggs," "vegetable fed," "hormone free," and "cage free" to the same meaningless category. For instance, it’s been against the law to feed hormones to chickens for well over 50 years now. And “free range” means in most cases that the birds live in a building that has a door to a small pen outside. The pen is nothing but dirt, but that doesn’t matter – it earns the “free range” definition. I could continue . . .
ReplyDeleteThe best eggs are probably eggs from chickens that literally roam wild without any feed supplementation whatsoever. The overall nutrient profile of those eggs cannot be duplicated by man concocting ingredients in a feed.
Even so, eggs from “wild” chickens will fluctuate up and down in their EFA ratios with what the birds find to eat. Unfortunately just about every farmer believes they must feed some grain to their chickens. Therefore they don't let their chickens range at large fending for themselves. When chickens are not corralled, so to speak, instead of sticking close to a chicken coop the chickens can make a mess of the place because they like to roost up around the house with its frequently cut grass, raid the garden, eat the fruit on and under the fruit trees, spend leisure time on the back or front porch, etc. How do we know, because our chickens run “wild.” In addition, they don’t lay as many eggs as the supplemented chickens. So there is less income for the trouble.
On the other hand, Christopher Eggs come from chickens fed a particular diet that makes the EFA ratio a perfect one to one. It’s the same ratio day in and day out so there is no variation. This fits with my goal of trying to get a “perfect” balance of the EFAs (essential fatty acids).
Don’t think for a minute that “organic” means better nutrition or safer food. That’s one of the cruel myths people love. It simplifies their life (similar to “gluten free”) and permits them to eat all the same high glycemic and grain-based foods they have always consumed. Yet it’s the natural chemical compositions of the food they eat that’s the problem, not the agricultural practices that determines the nutritional and/or food safety characteristics. Everything on earth is chemical and there are many toxic “organic” things out there. For instance molds and fungi are organic.
Awesome!!! Thanks for your help!!! I'm also interested in any kind of cookbook or even some ideas about what you eat on a daily basis.
ReplyDeleteIn regard to the list of foods you eat that will be coming soon..........i eat a lot of salad and dressing is a tough one for me. Any help here would be appreciated! THanks again! Also condiments, seasonings etc.
ReplyDeletestill waiting patiently for your foods you eat list.....:0)
ReplyDeleteOk, ok. lol
ReplyDeleteToo many irons in the fire recently but a list is in the works. I'll post it soon. As for a salad dressing, my favorite has become flax seed oil straight from the bottle.
Thank you, Ted...:) Appreciate you taking time to update. Look forward to posting when it gets here.
ReplyDeleteIn regard to Christopher Eggs, if their chickens are pumped with hormones, steroids, and unhealthy antibiotics, then the benefits of high Omega-3 content is offset by the toxins from the hormones,steroids, and antibiotics. What do you think Mr. Slanker? I have not heard yet any verification from the President of the Christopher Eggs on whether their eggs contain those "toxins" or not, but he will be in touch shortly. Your reply is appreciated.
ReplyDeleteWow, what horror story books do you read? Even just a little research reveals that giving hormones and steroids to poultry has been against the law for more decades than you've probably lived. Check this out: http://www.meatpoultrynutrition.org/ht/d/Faqs/pid/26093
ReplyDeleteFar and away the worst chemical "contamination" problems of our nation's foods are the highly skewed EFA balances and the loads of mycotoxins from fungal contamination. Both of these chemical issues are 100% organic by the way. The chemical compositions of grains are in and of themselves damaging to animal body function because they have highly skewed EFA ratios favoring Omega-6 fatty acids. (Plus grains do not have the same chemical composition as green leaves.) Christopher eggs are laid by chickens that are fed a ration that balances the EFAs appropriately so that the ratio is 1:1.
People who have a 1:1 balance of Omega-6 to Omega-3 fatty acids in the membranes of their cells have very strong immune systems that function properly. Therefore their bodies do not react improperly to natural elements and compounds in the environment such as pollen. Hay fever anyone?
When it comes to eating meats produced and processed by conventional Big Businesses, the problem does not lie with "hormones, steroids, and unhealthy antibiotics" or food safety issues. The problem is nutritional and that comes from feeding a grain-based ration. Any animal that does not source its nutrient profile to the green leaf will be deficient in many vitamins and minerals and also the critical Omega-3 fatty acid.
The Real Diet of Man (Paleo Diet) focuses solely on nutrition. The diet only works if people balance the EFAs and avoid high glycemic foods. That's the heart of the diet. That's why grains, nuts, grain-fed animal products are off limits and fruits must be eaten sparingly. If one wants to have optimal health they must follow The Real Diet of Man and Christopher Eggs can be part of that solution. No, I would not eat them exclusive of all other foods like I could grass-fed meats. But for 99% of all egg alternatives they are the best there is today.
Your comments have merit about Omega-3's but your belief about hormones and steroids not being used is completely off base. If you see how chickens are raised in mainstream production, they cannot walk more than two steps because they are so massive in the chest that their legs cannot support the weight. I believe the documentary Food Inc. details this. It is sick how abnormal the chickens look. Somehow protocol is being violated. Mr. Slanker, be careful what you endorse. Yes, you get your high level of Omega-3's in Christopher eggs but you will accumulate in your body synthetic chemicals from the eggs that do massive harm. In fact, more harm than can be compensated for by 660-mg of Omega-3's.
ReplyDeleteI always find it interesting when someone tells me to be careful what I endorse or what I say. Unless I march in step with these proper folks steeped in common knowledge . . . etc., etc..
ReplyDeleteIt's an implied threat from the thought police and I always wonder how these folks think they earned that position. Usually it's not because they know anything. Usually it's because they have a lot of beliefs – beliefs they want others to accept no matter what their validity.
I have been in commercial chicken houses. As a child I was gathering eggs in 1950. I have raised my own chickens since about 1970. I understand genetics and feed conversions and all kinds of stuff related to growing critters. So not only do I speak from experience but I can also toss in a little scientific stuff to boot.
Man has been raising chickens for some time now. In the past 80 years he has made considerable progress in getting the biggest bang for the buck in his meat birds. To understand why chickens grow like they do one has to know something about hybrid vigor and selection for various traits. Man wanted a faster growing bird that ate little feed and put on a lot of muscle. Well, give him enough time and he'll come up with a bird that does just that. For a little more on that please go to: http://www.backyardchickens.com/products/cornish-cross
I could provide some really heavy duty scientific stuff but this brief backyardchicken.com comment is grade school level which may better fit you. That’s right, I can get a little testy.
Now the fast growing birds only live about seven weeks. Up until right near the end, they get around pretty good. But near the end, they are overweight. That’s when they are like 400-pound people. And you know our country is full of really overweight people these days. That makes me wonder, just how much gnashing of the teeth are you doing about all the 400-pound people who can’t get around?
But back to the point. If you want to believe the nonsense about hormones and steroids being used in chicken production, I can't help that. You are insisting on believing in myths and that is your right. The truth is somewhere else and I'll continue with the truth in spite of your implied threats.
This doesn't mean that I like to see overweight chickens. I like it no better than when I see overweight people. But the American consumer demands these overweight chickens and they want them. So that's what they get and they ate millions of pounds of them today – Super Bowl Sunday. The American consumer gets what he wants.
Oh, as for Food Inc. please read my review of that fine movie. I warn you in advance though, be prepared for the truth rather than blatant lies and outright deception. http://www.texasgrassfedbeef.com/food_inc_review.htm
I forgot to mention that meat birds are a totally different breed of bird than are laying hens. Commercial laying hens are usually White Leghorns. For more info on them go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leghorn_%28chicken%29
ReplyDeleteAnother good site on chickens is http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/pearl_white_leghorn.html
Take note that Leghorns are a very thin bird, not suitable for eating other than making soup. But they are great egg layers. They start laying eggs at around five months or so of age. That means they go into production (reach maturity) long after the meat birds have been harvested.
I've never seen a Leghorn that was too fat to walk. In fact, compared to most chicken breeds they are pretty decent flyers!
For more facts about food and agriculture don't miss the chance to read http://www.texasgrassfedbeef.com/food_inc_review.htm
Thank you for your comments Mr. Slanker even though they may have been a bit direct. I do stand corrected that chickens are not allowed to receive steroids and hormones, but it is the egregious use of antibiotics, among other things, that causes harm. Christopher Eggs sold to Kroger are not free range. These chickens are left to fester in their fecal matter. How healthy can that be? As for chickens that lay eggs, I have read that fecal matter falls from the chicken nesting above onto chickens residing below. Aside from safety concerns, how about the cruelty to the chickens? It is about maximizing the land space for profit.
ReplyDeleteThis is the most objective link I can find that you may find interesting: http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/animalwelfare/20910.pdf
In closing, I am not sure why you are arduously defending companies such as Tyson? Obviously these corporations want to maximize profit and at times this compromises safety concerns. I read half of your review of Food Inc. and I will finish reading tomorrow. I believe Eric Schlosser did have an agenda and he did skew the information to a degree. But there is some "bad stuff" going on here in the food industry. Well Mr. Slanker, I appreciate the time you took to write a detail retort to my message. It probably could have been deleted but it was left up and you provided a detailed reply. I respect that. I will continue researching and I will reply with any new findings.
Well, I see that I've made a little progress.
ReplyDeleteThe link you provided is from an outfit that wants everyone to be a vegetarian. They are far from objective. They are more like Eric Schlosser and the gang. They thrive on deception and scare mongering.
The free range chicken most people are familiar with lives in a large building with a small door that lets them into a small "yard" that is a dirt lot. No grass. All the feed, water, and shelter is inside the building. The birds are free to roam in and out. That is a nice setup and it's the way most small family flocks are raised. But it has it's problems since birds can be pretty hostile at times and the more dominate ones can make life miserable for the timid ones.
Laying hens kept in cages do not poop on the birds below. Please, get a grip. The mess would be intolerable for all and would lower egg production. So guess what, the chicken farmer wants the bottom bird to lay just as many eggs as the top bird. Yes, the caged birds do not have the best life, but I know of a lot of caged birds people have in their homes who have similar lives. But who worries about those birds, you know – canaries, finches, parakeets, etc.. The answer, no one.
I am not defending Tyson, I'm explaining how things are. Tyson doesn't raise the birds, farmers do and they sell their birds to Tyson. In addition, just because a business is big that does not make it evil. For instance, about two years ago I attended a Tyson sponsored event featuring only one speaker -- Temple Grandin. Temple is a Tyson advisor by the way. http://www.templegrandin.com/
I can tell you here and now that the largest meat companies in no way compromise safety for profit. They just don't do it. The costs for even little mistakes are too huge. Yes, in any population you will find evil, nasty people. And in Tyson’s ranks there are some I'm sure and top management weeds them out as fast as they can identify them. But overall the largest companies have the best practices because they can afford to have the best people, the best systems, etc. And that's what they do. They get the cream of the crop.
The worst thing the livestock industry does is feed grain. That results in nutritionally deficient livestock which in turn means the livestock food products are not as nutritious as they should be for those who consume them. (There are some exceptions such as in the Christopher Eggs case.) But, before you start pointing fingers at the big companies for feeding grain, keep in mind that 99.999% of all mothers feed grain to their children. So if you think the managers of the large companies are bad people because of grain feeding, then you must also say that ALL mothers are really horrible mothers for feeding grain to their children. By the way, schools feed grain, hospitals feed grain, church socials are almost always all grain, etc.
You can make choices. Instead of pointing fingers at others for doing what they do, just pay attention to what you can do to improve your health and lead by example. When you make unfounded accusations you end up looking foolish and discredit the movement to improve the diets of all Americans. Now check out the Web site for Christopher eggs and I think you will agree that they are on the right track and are doing their best to provide a better food. The folks behind Christopher eggs are our friends, not our enemies. http://www.christophereggs.com/why.php
As always Mr. Slanker, your detailed reply shows how dedicated you are to the products you endorse. I am now a fervent believer in your integrity as businessman. In regard to your comment about making unfounded accusations, I do not believe that is fair as I do not make claims based on a whim, but through research. I do admit, I have more to learn.
ReplyDeleteTo the point, my question is not the diet the hens are fed at Christopher Eggs as the amount of Omega-3 fatty acid content is exceptional. My concern is in regard to antibiotics. The large number of hens in tight quarters causes sanitary conditions to become compromised. A lot of urine and fecal matter in a small place is a breeding ground for germs, sickness, and disease. In order to prevent chickens from getting sick, antibiotics are used repeatedly to the point the hens are overloaded with them. These antibiotics, which are not healthy for humans to consume, get passed from the chicken into the eggs. Now I realize all farmers who sell/produce eggs may need to give their chickens antibiotics when they are sick as humans do when we get sick (although I am leery of taking them), but when chickens cannot roam freely and are confined in tight spaces, the amount of antibiotics needed is increased. If chickens are truly free-range, the chickens do not get sick as often due to better living conditions, hence antibiotics are used infrequently or not at all. I have seen several manufacturers/producers place on their egg cartons, "free of antibiotics," but I do not see that from Christopher Eggs. I would enjoy reading a reply about your take on the topic of antibiotics from Christopher Eggs. Again, I thank you for your detailed reply.
You are on the fringes of knowledge, but being on the fringe means that your guesses and assumptions may or may not have any basis in fact. Here is one of your statements: “In order to prevent chickens from getting sick, antibiotics are used repeatedly to the point the hens are overloaded with them.”
ReplyDeleteWhere is your data? What do you mean by “overloaded”? What makes you think that a treated chicken or its eggs are going into the food system? What makes you think that an insignificant trace of an antibiotic in a food product is dangerous to whomever consumes the product?
I wish that when you get all fired up about how bad food producers are that you take a deep breath and go to the Google Scholar search engine (http://scholar.google.com/) and get some real research. For instance look at this:
http://ps.fass.org/content/82/4/618.full.pdf+html
You are right about poultry producers treating birds that are sick. But those birds are quarantined because there are regulations involving treatments and the production of food products. Your concerns about Christopher eggs, because of what one producer has on its label and what Christopher has or does not have its label, are not a valid measure for evaluation of production practices.
In any case it is actually against the law to advertise “no added hormone” in poultry products UNLESS one also states that no one else does it because it is against the law. But due to misguided public perceptions some producers are so afraid of people’s beliefs they try to gain sales with just simple statements.
99% of all Americans are too far removed from food production these days to even have a remote idea about how it’s done. That too bad. When I was a kid a visit to the farm meant that we’d see a chicken killed, plucked, gutted, and prepared for dinner first thing. Today most homemakers can’t even cut up a whole chicken from the meat market.
So, once again I urge you to worry about yourself and vote with your dollars for the foods you want. Don’t try to bash the rest of the world into some format that you believe is the only format for a proper life. Teaching others by example is far better than trying to herd them with shouts and accusations. Also I urge you to use Google Scholar instead of just plain Google in your search for knowledge. The popular Google main search engine is loaded with conventional knowledge produced by the mob. Some is good and some is horrible and unless you know more than most people you can learn more about myths than facts. That’s actually true of Google Scholar too, but not so much.