Rising Meat & Egg Prices? Never Fear: Amino Acids Are Here!
Understanding the body's need for protein. Lessons from a recent class I took with Dr. Robert Morse, a Naturopath, Biochemist, and Master Herbalist.
Everywhere I turn, I hear news about rising food prices. Most of the panic surrounds the rising cost of meat and eggs. This topic is preoccupying the minds of news journalists, and the “Twitterati” is buzzing.
I’m very concerned about rising food prices and availability too. I’m also concerned that our body’s need for protein is misunderstood and overblown. I’m not promoting one diet over another, ONLY that if you are concerned about the ability to get sufficient protein, especially if you have growing children, then this article may help alleviate your anxiety, on this topic at least. It may help you allocate resources more efficiently. It may also help you to understand some of your health issues. This is not a comprehensive biology or chemistry lesson, but enough of an overview to make the point.
This article is what I learned from sitting in class with Dr. Robert Morse. He is the doctor that helped me when I had severe Rheumatoid Arthritis pain a few years ago. My orthopedic doctor told me it was progressive— it would worsen over time. Medications he suggested had side effects I couldn’t accept. So, I followed Dr. Morse instead, and now I’m pain-free with flexible joints!
What Your Body Needs for Energy and Tissue Repair
Humans are carbon-based life forms. You’ve heard this before. We live on a carbon-based planet. According to Scientific America:
Everything on earth is made up of combinations of different elements (118) - all of which can be found on the periodic table. The main one being carbon. It would be impossible for life on earth to exist without carbon. Carbon is the main component of sugars, proteins, fats, DNA, muscle tissue, pretty much everything in your body.
Just as your conventional automobile needs a carbon-based fuel to run, the same can be said of the physical body. The body requires amino acids, fatty acids, and sugars.
Cultural Heritage
There are books written about how agriculture and diets developed throughout the world. Let’s just say that in my neck of the woods, we like our steaks, sausages, BBQ, summer grilling, and hearty meals— everything from beef, chicken, eggs, and pork to fresh-water fish and seafood. Meat doesn’t taste that great by itself— but add seasoning, butter, flavorful sauces, and a char-grilled flavor and we end up with a gastronomic delight.
It’s no wonder that the idea that protein is a necessity for building strong muscles has taken root.
Many people are fearful that with rising food prices and supply chain shortages, the supply of meat and seafood will become beyond their reach, and consequently, their health will suffer. Understandable, but not true.
If meat is your pleasure, I have no problem with that. I sometimes eat meat. However, consuming meat is not fundamental to maintaining a healthy body. If you want meat in your diet, then the potential of not having it will be stressful enough without adding the additional pressure of being concerned about health consequences if it’s not as readily available. My concern is that you have access to the best possible food that contributes to energy and body structure. People have become dependent on abundant, prepared, and processed foods. We have a different mindset than in previous ages, and need preparation if we are indeed entering a period of food insecurity.
Consuming meat will build your body— it’s just not the only way! It could also be considered “going around the block” and there are health considerations, as well. This is not an article about ethics or dietary preference, but just body chemistry. Let me explain.
Amino Acids are what the body needs to build tissue. Amino acids give food its structure— complex or simple. Therefore, Amino Acids can be obtained in two ways: through complex second-hand sources or simple first-hand sources.
Second-hand vs. First-hand Amino Acids
Foods with a high concentration, or complex structure of amino acids are called proteins. These are second-hand amino acids. Livestock consume first-hand amino acids. When we consume meat (or even nuts and beans), the body must first break down the proteins into their respective amino acids. The separated amino acids are regrouped into the sequences our bodies need and can utilize. This process requires a lot of energy. It’s basic chemistry. This process leaves an acid ash.
First-hand amino acids come from fresh, or frozen, fruits and veggies. They are simple and easy for your body to break apart and use. They are highly energetic foods. When digested, they leave an alkaline ash (unless canned).
It’s debatable whether or not the quality of the amino acids is the same whether you get them from complex or simple sources. It takes more energy for the body to utilize complex sources, and less energy to utilize simple sources. (It’s more complicated than this, but this is sufficient for now.) The point is to focus on amino acids and not protein. All of the largest, and most powerful animals in the world, and a few body builders as well, eat first-hand simple amino acid foods. (Only 8.3% of a grizzly bear’s diet is meats. They eat almost twice as many ants.)
If you are concerned about protein availability or have a chronic health condition, it may be helpful to know how the body reacts, corresponding to what you eat. Consuming fruits and veggies quickly adjusts pH balance, helps the body to detox (don’t suppress the sniffles with medications that stop the benefits of detox), builds and supports cell integrity, all of which leads to improved organ function. When your organs are functioning well, the result is a healthy immune system and eradication of disease! Know the signs your body is giving you.
It’s important to note that the body does not burn amino acids for energy. Sugar mixed with oxygen is your body’s “gasoline” and what it burns as fuel. Carbon (carbohydrates) and oxygen generate energy. (Carbohydrates consist of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen, basically carbon and water.) Having significant fruit and veggies in your diet gives you all of the necessary building blocks to support BOTH energy generation and the maintenance of muscle and tissue. Refined carbohydrates are empty shells and don’t provide building blocks, only ill-health.
Simple carbohydrates from fruits and veggies are energetically beneficial to the body. The human body is electrical. It’s often said that meat give you energy. However, this comes from growth hormones fed to the animal for rapid growth, or from the adrenaline found in its tissues. This is a simulated energy, not a dynamic energy. Adrenaline, or Epinephrine, is a neurotransmitter stimulating energy through the nervous system. Over time, ingesting adrenaline will lead to adrenal fatigue. The adrenal glands (that drive the kidneys) will become weakened, or lazy about producing their own neurotransmitters. Then a series of events, like low blood pressure or high blood pressure can arise, although for different reasons due to adrenal fatigue. Dr. More says: Dynamic energy comes from raw-food eating where alkalization, proper electrolytes, electricity, amino acids, proper synergistic compounds and complexes (vitamins, minerals, flavons, etc.) are found. The body only needs about 20 grams of protein per day, but most people consume 150-200 grams per day. You can have a lean, strong body without second-hand meat in your diet, that will inevitably cause health issues.
Without going into much details, when the body is deprived of sugars (fuel), it will go to stored fat and break down its own tissues for energy. This leads to muscle, liver, pancreatic and kidney damage.
pH Balance: Acid vs. Alkaline
When complex proteins are digested and broken down into amino acids, it leaves an acid ash. When a human consumes a lot of complex protein, such as meat (nuts and beans, and even grains that are complex sugars), it can cause a buildup of acids in the tissue, called acidosis. You can substitute acidosis for the word inflammation because they present in parallel. Acidosis causes inflammation.
Acid is destructive to body tissues, resulting in pain and disease. Acid is corrosive. According to the National Library of Medicine: “Inflammation is typically viewed as a localized protective response to tissue damage and/or microbial invasion, which serves to isolate and destroy the injurious agent and the injured tissue and to prepare the tissue for eventual repair and healing.” Inflammation indicates an underlying cause. Treating or masking it doesn’t treat the cause.
Acid buildup in the body reduces its ability to repair damaged cells, eliminate heavy metals, and make us more susceptible to fatigue and illness. Everything pivots on a balanced pH. The body will protect its blood pH balance! It will leach vital calcium from our bones and teeth to do so. Think about this.
When the body's pH drops into the acid zone, enzymes are deactivated, digestion is interrupted, and it inhibits the assimilation of vital nutrients. Ever had gas, or acid reflux from a heavy meal, such as lasagna or a pepperoni pizza with beer, wine or soda? You take an antacid. Extend the concept of acidosis to your entire body, beyond digestion and it is easy to understand how diseases develop and progress.
In a low oxygen/low pH (acidic) state, viruses, bacteria, yeast, mold, fungus, and candida thrive. Parasites, such as worms and flukes, thrive in an acid environment because there is usually a build up of waste/lymph. Acidosis damages cells, creating degenerated cells (cancer cells) and keeps them from being eliminated or repaired. (The lymph system is the septic system of the body that eliminates cellular waste. The digestive system processes food waste. It is important that both systems are in movement. A gaseous digestive system indicates a stagnant and acidic state— mild burping to burning to severe acid reflux. Stagnant lymph coagulates and impairs detoxification, like clogged plumbing in your house.)
Medications that stop or reduce inflammation can alleviate pain, but they also disrupt the body’s natural healing processes. They obscure the danger signs that the body is exhibiting. Medications are acidic and also toxic to certain organs, such as the liver. Another topic for another day.
All cells require oxygen to survive. We all know this. An alkaline body facilitates the oxygenation of cells, while an acidic body starves cells of oxygen. Oxygenated cells live longer and healthier and perform their functions better. The healthier the cells, the healthier the organs, and the better they function.
If you have a second-hand meat-sourced diet, then don’t over do it and balance it with lots of fresh fruits and veggies to maintain an alkaline environment. You can test your body’s pH level with test strips and adjust your diet accordingly. If you consume primarily first-hand amino acid sources, then you have taken the shortest route. Pay attention to how your body behaves. Acid-Alkaline balance is like a pendulum swinging, depending upon what you consume. If your body is out of balance, acidic, clean it up with raw fruits, or fruits and veggies depending upon the severity of your symptoms.
A WebMD article asked whether an alkaline diet works or not. They treat it like a fad diet.
Does It Work?
Maybe, but not for the reasons it claims.
First, a little chemistry: A pH level measures how acid or alkaline something is. A pH of 0 is totally acidic, while a pH of 14 is completely alkaline. A pH of 7 is neutral. Those levels vary throughout your body. Your blood is slightly alkaline, with a pH between 7.35 and 7.45. Your stomach is very acidic, with a pH of 3.5 or below, so it can break down food.
Differing pH chemistry in different parts of the body supports the intended function. The body does this automatically when organs and systems are functioning well. It will maintain acids in the stomach for good digestion. It will keep the blood at a balanced pH; otherwise, death will occur within minutes. The WebMD articles are making too blanket a statement to qualify them as reliable from a holistic perspective. Allopathic medicine frequently treats the body in parts and pieces, not holistically. The body is a "whole" system, similar to the engine in your automobile.
They continue:
As to the other health claims, there's some early evidence that a diet low in acid-producing foods like animal protein (such as meat and cheese) and bread and high in fruits and veggies could help prevent kidney stones, keep bones and muscles strong, improve heart health and brain function, reduce low back pain, and lower risk for type 2 diabetes. But researchers aren't sure of some of these claims yet.
These health benefits seem substantial to me. Dr. Morse has decades of research and patient outcome data, perhaps they should call him.
Carb Confusion
Do a Google search: “why are carbohydrates demonized?” You’ll get two different answers, in general:
1) “The problem is many people over consume carbs, the typical diet of the masses eat 60–70% carbs which isn't healthy.”
2) “Simple carbs have little nutritional value, and should be avoided. Complex carbs will actually provide you with more long-term energy, and won't cause weight gain when consumed in moderation. Carbs may actually have a significant impact on our mental well-being.”
The problem with the first answer is that they don’t qualify what type of carbs: potato chips, white bread, etc. The second answer is better, but it is difficult to overconsume complex carbs in the form of fruits and veggies.
Prepare and Don’t Worry
The bottom line is that if we experience supply chain disruptions and food shortages, there is no reason to fear your health will suffer, provided you can buy or grow fruits and veggies. If you don't have a farm with livestock, plant a garden. If you don't have a garden space, learn about container gardening. You can even grow potatoes in containers. Also, growing sprouts and microgreens is easy and takes up little space— a window or area with a grow light. And build up your emergency food supply before prices increase and there is competition for less supply.
I don’t know what is coming. I only know that conditions that could result in food shortages are being reported everywhere in the news, and there appear to be multiple disruptions spearheading. We have the power to ensure that whatever we face doesn’t become a catastrophe. Inconvenient and maybe even uncomfortable, but taking steps now will prepare us mentally and emotionally. Most of the discomfort comes from wanting something that we either think we need or we’re simply used to having. If you’ve never experienced hunger for any length of time, any food will taste amazing. But, make certain you have a supply of foods that will service the needs of the body over your emotional, or addictive desires for certain foods. If you do this, you will start to feel physically well and the addictions will lessen.
There is no need to fear for our health if we can’t get the meat supply we’re used to, or desire. First-hand Amino Acids are delicious, highly beneficial, affordable, and easier to obtain. Hopefully, knowing this will help abate any emotional discomfort experienced if the price or availability of meat and eggs keeps you from enjoying your preferred diet. My advice, is that if you are feeling financial pressure as inflation rises, or if your area experiences shortages, invest in fruits, veggies, and seeds (planting and sprouting). This will provide emergency food stores, and gives you the biggest nutritional bang for your buck, euro or whatever.
If you are interested in learning more about the work of Dr. Robert Morse, I can highly recommend his book The Detox Miracle Sourcebook.
Visit Dr. Morse TV. His clinic is very accessible.
Note: When you need to heal your body, Dr. Morse proposes a raw fruit and vegetable diet based on decades of clinical experience. I do too.
I understand that there are many people who may not want to try a raw diet, or restrict themselves to fruits and vegetables. It’s unfamiliar. This article is based on my experience healing, and learning from Dr. Morse. If your health should fail, you can better understand why and what to do about it.
All “disease” ultimately comes from acidosis. Alkalize and learn to detox your body and it WILL heal itself! Energetic food is powerful medicine.
I’m currently in school with Dr. Morse to become a certified detox specialist and naturopathic doctor.
Thank you