Comments on: Delicious Beef Satay Stir-Fry

By: Kat

Kat — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:20:26 +0000

Thanks

By: Just another Gen Y

Just another Gen Y — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:22:47 +0000

Oh Kat, LOVE LOVE LOVE this! Another spot on recipe!

By: Mike Consol

Mike Consol — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:28:10 +0000

Thanks, Kat. We agree on what counts. Incredible health and the moral treatment of all living things.

And thanks to you, Frances. I’m not in Melbourne but appreciate you thinking of me with a recommendation. I live in the San Francisco area so there are many excellent options here, I’m happy to say.

Cheers.

By: Kat

Kat — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:19:15 +0000

Hi Mike – thanks for your comments, discussion is always welcome! And certainly I don’t expect everyone to agree with me on every aspect of health. As you know I definitely do not agree that we’re designed to be vegetarian, and my reasons for that are copious. I do plan to write an article about it rather than try and detail everything here. Again, I’d point you to The Vegetarian Myth as it covers all of your points and many more.

I definitely agree that factory farming is horrific and that we shouldn’t support it. that’s another reason I only eat organic and grass-reared meat.

By: Frances

Frances — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 06:45:05 +0000

YUUUUUMMMMMMM!!!! I’ve been wondering about a healthy satay sauce recipe & beef is just divine

For Mike – If ur in Melbourne check out vege2go (www.vege2go.com.au) absolutely brilliant vegetarian food – which of course I add a protein to & limite the carbs…enjoy!

By: Mike Consol

Mike Consol — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:09:23 +0000

Kat:

I don’t claim to be an nutrition expert, but I do read what experts have to say. Based on at least three critical factors we actually are designed to be vegetarians — or so I’ve been told. Those factors are…

1) Our teeth have no resemblance to carnivores in the rest of the animal/mammal kingdom
2) We have lower levels of hydrochloric acid in our stomachs than carnivors
3) Our digestive track is much longer than carnivores

This last point is especially important because meat goes putrid quickly, which is why carnivores have short digestive tracks and can eliminate it from their system before it goes toxic. This is also why some people believe we have high rates of colon cancer.

That aside, there are many good reasons for not eating meat, including the horrific conditions animals are subject to in factory farms, and that our food supply is diminished by feeding animals more plant life than they produce in consumable meat.

I’m not fanatical about it, though I might sound that way. My wife eats meat and fish and I give her no grief about it.

And I applaud you for promoting healthy living (even if we have a disagreement about this one issue).

Cheers.

By: Kat

Kat — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 03:18:44 +0000

HI Mike
I have to disagree quite strongly on beef being hard to digest. Our bodies are designed to eat meat and fat, with plant-based foods playing a very small part. Hence we have essential fats and essential proteins, but there are no essential carbohydrates. You’re right, beef contains saturated fat, although I wouldn’t say it’s loaded with it. A typical cut of beef contains less than 10 grams of fat per 100 grams (not including any rind). About half of the fat in beef is monounsaturated fat, the remaining half saturated. Of the saturated fat, about one third is in the form of stearic acid, which has a neutral effect on blood cholesterol. So we’re talking about an allegedly ‘bad’ saturated fat component of 3 or 4 grams per 100 grams. And then there is the question of whether saturated fat is in fact bad. Saturated fat is vital to a number of important functions in the body, including maintaining stiffness and integrity of cell walls, supporting the heart and vital organs, and forming the basis of a healthy hormonal system. As fat does store toxins, it’s important to always choose organic meats. Grass-fed organic meats will also contain naturally higher levels of CLA (an essential fatty acid) than grain-fed cuts. Long story short – if the meat is organic and grass-fed, not only is the saturated fat not a bad thing it’s actually a very good thing. To the point where we should be eating any extra fat and rind.

As a vegetarian it’s crucial to fully research the history of a natural human diet and (if you do choose not to eat meat regardless) to fully understand how best to combine plant proteins and fats. Personally I don’t believe that a vegetarian diet is what we’re designed for, or that it can be healthy. At all. I realize this may get me some heated responses! The book The Vegetarian Myth is a great read for anyone who wants to be fully educated on all the ins and outs of this topic.

By: Mike Consol

Mike Consol — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:38:56 +0000

Kat:

Stay away from beef. It loaded with saturated fat and is too hard for the body to digest. Of course, this opinion is coming from a strict vegetarian. Would this dish work without the beef?