Fast-5 Diet and Lifestyle: [fast5] Re: new member intro (Ellen)

Thanks for sharing, Heather.

There is much insight to be gained here!

What's interesting is not only do I use wheat protein isolate powder in smoothies, puddings & "ice cream", wheat gluten in tofurky (vegan kielbasa, italian sausage), vegan ribs & duck, etc. I also eat breads and pastas, too; I wonder if I have the classic celiac symptoms and don't even know it?

What's interesting is I have been researching studies on the theory that people vary in their abilities to digest certain foods (ie proteins, carbs, fats, fiber) and that we may actually crave what our body can't break down. A lot of it has to do with enzymes, the idea that when food is cooked the enzymes present, I believe are destroyed or inactivated. In any event the studies link specific enzyme deficiencies to conditions

If you have problems digesting carbohydrates, you may experience airborne-sourced allergies, diarrhoea, fibromyalgia or attention deficit disorder (ADD or ADHD).
If you cannot digest fats, you may experience constipation, gallbladder problems, heart disease or hormone imbalances.
If you cannot adequately digest protein, you may experience constipation, arthritis or other inflammatory conditions, anxiety or panic attacks, premenstrual syndrome or immune system disorders.
If you are unable to break down plant fibre, you may experience constipation, eczema or other skin-related problems, recurrent yeast/fungal infestations or excessive weight gain.

*key words in each bullet being "you may experience...", also the source (life-enthusiast.com) as in anything may be more pro than con; it's not always easy to be neutral. So what to do, only eat raw uncooked foods?

Or possibly supplement with the specific enzyme?

I'm not sure but I have been experimenting and logging what I eat and supplement for years just in the same way I am tracking my fast 5 foray.

Heather, you also bring up a great point, "how can a person get a healthy diet eating plant
protein, if we aren't designed to digest it?" and I'm right there with you on the sentiment
"I can't figure out a vegan diet that actually avoids grains and legumes either." I'm not sure I ever heard of the" essential amino acids from scratch, pre-digested" you mentioned although I may have taken something similar (BCAA'a a few years back but I don't remember if they wre pre-digested or not), they sound interesting very but it brings us back to the challenge of how does one eat as natural and unprocessed and still get all they need nutritionally...

In closing I, too, agree that fast 5 (i.e. eating and cooking less) may be optimal not just the individual but the environment, too.

Paul

--- In fast5@yahoogroups.com, Heather Twist <HeatherTwist@...> wrote:
>
> From an immune perspective, wheat protein isolate is the WORST.
> My Dad was vegetarian, and when he died he had many of the
> classic celiac symptoms. My Mom said "well, but he doesn't eat
> bread, so that can't be the problem". But, when I looked at what
> he was eating, it was mostly purified wheat gluten-fake-burgers.
>
> Anyway, it's the proteins in grains that cause most of the
> issues. Humans just aren't designed to digest parts of these
> proteins, and they react badly with our immune system. The
> same is true of the lectins in beans, though the lectins can
> be disabled by cooking or fermenting. No human has the
> right enzymes to digest wheat protein fully though, and
> the pieces that are left "look like" bad microbes to the
> immune system, which is probably the core of the problem.
>
> So how can a person get a healthy diet eating plant
> protein, if we aren't designed to digest it? I suspect
> that is a reason that Neolithic people got shorter
> and less healthy when they started hunting less.
> But I can't figure out a vegan diet that actually
> avoids grains and legumes either. Presumably
> scientists can create the essential amino acids
> from scratch, pre-digested (and they have: you can
> get in cans, but it's expensive).
>
> I don't like the whole "factory farming" thing myself, so I get beef
> that has been used to "mow the grass" for a few years, and we
> raise our own chickens (who mow our grass!). There
> is a lot of grass in our neck of the woods, and SOMEONE
> has to mow it ... a cow or goat or goose or chicken or elk
> is a lot better for the environment than weedkiller or
> a riding mower.
>
> Also, from an animal-rights perspective, cutting down
> rainforests kills LOTS of animals, and the rainforests
> are being cut down right now to plant soybeans. Lots
> and lots of soybeans. So I think it's kinder to animals in
> general if some people convert to using cows/goats
> to keep the fire-hazard low and the grass fertilized,
> and leave the rainforests alone. You can live well on
> goat milk and goat cheese, and the goat doesn't need
> grain at all ... just some shrubbery and milking twice
> a day. Your average suburb lot could support a goat,
> I think. Just think if people kept goats for pets instead
> of dogs! Every kid would have milk, and no one would
> have riding mowers!
>
> One thing about Fast-5 though, to stay somewhat
> on topic ... people eat LESS and cook more efficiently
> on this lifestyle. So from an environmental perspective
> it is very excellent.
>
>
>
> On Sat, Jun 6, 2009 at 2:57 PM, Paul Katzpaulcats02@... wrote:
> >
> >
> > Hi Karen and Ellen
> >
> > Interesting about the beans. As I posted to you earlier Ellen, the grains
> > elimination experimentation is certainly do-able but as far as dropping off
> > beans, too, that may be tricky. I guess for protein I could eat Spirulina,
> > Chlorella, and or Nutritional Yeast (which I believe are complete proteins)
> > by the bucket but I have never used them as mainstays of my diet but as
> > supplements in smaller amounts.
> >
> > Regarding the elimination diet, I've always wanted to do it (or at least
> > told myself that) but it takes a lot of discipline which I haven't had
> > enough available so I never got around to it... excuses excuses, perhaps the
> > time is now?
> >
> > I have another question regarding the plant-based protein powders I partake
> > of, are they still considered grain or bean even if they are just the
> > protein component?
> >
> > Because I eat plenty of protein powders such as Wheat Protein Isolate, Soy
> > Protein Powder, Pea Protein Isloate, Hempseed Protein, Flaxseed Meal, Rice
> > Protein Concentrate, and Buckwheat Protein. There is also a new plant-based
> > protein source on the horizon I heard about, Cranberry Protein powder made
> > from Cranberry Seeds that sounds good.
> >
> > Ideally, I would not use that much of the above powders and meat "analogs"
> > (veggie burgers, etc.) because they are definitely processed and not whole
> > foods per se but I find it difficult to get protein otherwise (beans &
> > grains have more carbs than protein, nuts & seeds have more than protein but
> > with more fat; actually i bel;ieve all foods even fruits & veggies have some
> > protein in them maybe not a whole lot though). The question may be how many
> > buckets of unprocessed plant-based foods would one have to eat to get the
> > protein they need?
> >
> > Anyhow thank you to Karen for replying to Ellen, and to Ellen for replying
> > back; you have given me much food for thought!
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Paul
> >
>

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