It is a mental bias. People who eat flesh foods from birth and grow up in societies that glorify animal protein are simply scared to change. It is total nonsense. It is like saying it is extreme to skip fine wines, cheese plates, and charcuterie before dinner, or to pass on cognac and sherry afterward. Some cultures are obsessed with old European eating traditions with a few “healthy” tweaks to make them feel modern. But the truth is that the entire high protein paradigm is anxiety based from the start.
Animal protein was never supposed to be a key component of the human diet. It is a supplement at best, and even then it is unnecessary when humans have access to the full spectrum of plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, sprouts, and seeds. Add a few herbs and roots and you have all the flavors, colors, and healing compounds nature ever intended.
Hey, that was a big science word, remedial. Ever heard of animal protein being used as a remedy for anything? No. Only plants are remedial. Plants contain the compounds that are actually medicinal. Animal protein offers only the macros, protein and fat, for growth and repair. But have you ever looked closely at what animal based foods do to degrade the body over time? No? That is because the data is buried in controversy, and society does not want you questioning the dinner plate.
Culturally, we have been trained to act like carnivores, even though we do not have the anatomy of one. It is not just the lack of fangs and claws, it is the length of our digestive canal that makes meat of any kind a poor match for our system. More on that later.
Too much protein is a big thing in wealthy countries that love the “jacked up” feeling protein gives. We also love coffee, alcohol, and smartphone screen time. None of that is ideal for the human condition. Nature designed us to thrive on plants, with the ability to eat insects, rats, cattle, fish, or monkey hands if we absolutely have to. That is adaptation, not the ideal.
Just take a look at the crappy AI illustration below and remember the abundance that plants offer us. Humans should regard this as something sacred, and if that word still holds any meaning, I use it to express the deepest kind of gratitude.
Take a look at this list I created using artificial intelligence in order to optimize search engine results by using keywords in the health industry like organic, gluten free, and healthy food on the upper east side.
The range of edible plants on Earth is astonishing. It includes leafy greens such as spinach, kale, collard greens, mustard greens, Swiss chard, arugula, lettuce, endive, dandelion greens, purslane, and watercress, along with cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, radish greens, and turnip greens.
Root vegetables and tubers include carrots, beets, parsnips, rutabaga, turnips, sweet potatoes, yams, taro, cassava, Jerusalem artichoke, ginger, turmeric, galangal, garlic, onions, shallots, leeks, and scallions.
Edible fruits span bananas, plantains, apples, pears, peaches, plums, apricots, nectarines, cherries, mangoes, papayas, pineapples, melons, watermelons, cantaloupes, honeydew, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, cranberries, currants, figs, dates, kiwis, grapes, citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, tangerines, pomelo, and exotic fruits like dragon fruit, passion fruit, lychee, rambutan, jackfruit, guava, soursop, durian, and starfruit.
Legumes include lentils, chickpeas, peas, black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, navy beans, mung beans, adzuki beans, soybeans, edamame, and peanuts. Grains and cereals encompass rice, wheat, barley, oats, rye, millet, quinoa, amaranth, teff, buckwheat, and corn.
Nuts and seeds include almonds, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, cashews, pistachios, Brazil nuts, macadamia nuts, chestnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, flaxseeds, poppy seeds, and pine nuts.
Other edible plants include coconuts, olives, avocados, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchinis, squashes, pumpkins, eggplants, bell peppers, chili peppers, okra, and all varieties of legumes and gourds. Herbs and aromatic plants include basil, parsley, cilantro, dill, oregano, thyme, rosemary, sage, mint, chives, tarragon, marjoram, bay leaf, lemongrass, and fennel.
Spices and flavor plants include black pepper, white pepper, cumin, coriander, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, anise, star anise, turmeric, paprika, saffron, mustard seed, fenugreek, and caraway. Beverage and stimulant plants include coffee, tea, cacao, yerba mate, rooibos, hibiscus, chamomile, peppermint, spearmint, lavender, and ginger.
Sea vegetables include kelp, nori, wakame, kombu, and sea lettuce. Edible mushrooms and fungi include shiitake, maitake, oyster, portobello, enoki, chanterelle, porcini, morel, and button mushrooms.
Medicinal and tonic plants include ashwagandha, ginseng, maca, reishi, chaga, holy basil, nettle, echinacea, licorice root, dandelion root, burdock root, and milk thistle. Finally, edible flowers and exotic plant parts include nasturtiums, violets, pansies, rose petals, chamomile blossoms, hibiscus, banana blossoms, artichokes, and lotus root.