Game Changers

Is it true? Should I give up on meat?

If you haven’t seen Game Changers on Netflix I would encourage taking the time to watch it. The only thing I ask is that you keep in mind that this video is not perfect and is pushing for a certain narrative. This is not peer reviewed as scientifically proven and some if not all of the writers and filmmakers have a stake in vegan and/or vegetarian products. Having said that I think it’s a great video to get you thinking a bit differently about the average American diet.

After doing some research for fact checking this video it has been found that there are some major discrepancies and some great truths. The biggest issues are on the Gladiators diet, plant protein is superior to meat protein, correct plants have all essential amino acids but they doesn’t include amounts and if it is enough for humans, milk lowers testosterone, and meat is as dangerous as cigarettes. Also the athletes could be seen as being “cherry picked” for this video as they are the exception and not the norm.

The video did a great job with bringing up the importance of a high veggie diet, showed how ( if done correctly) this diet can be extremely effective for some athletes, that soy is not the estrogen monster that we used to think it was, and bringing recognition to how our current farming practices are harming the planet.

I will say that after watching this it is very convincing to implement more vegetables into the diet and reduce the meat intake a bit. As a country we do eat a lot of meat and we also tend to be low in vegetable intake. I have for the last year decreased the amount of beef, pork, and chicken to about 3-5 meals a week from a previous 10+ meals per week. I will say that I do eat fish and eggs regularly in my diet. If this video makes you want to change up your diet a bit I would recommend looking into the Mediterranean diet. This diet focuses on eating plants and reducing intake of meats, especially red meats.

Eating the Mediterranean way

Interested in trying the Mediterranean diet? These tips will help you get started:

Eat more fruits and vegetables. Aim for 7 to 10 servings a day of fruit and vegetables.
Opt for whole grains. Switch to whole-grain bread, cereal and pasta. Experiment with other whole grains, such as bulgur and farro.
Use healthy fats. Try olive oil as a replacement for butter when cooking. Instead of putting butter or margarine on bread, try dipping it in flavored olive oil.
Eat more seafood. Eat fish twice a week. Fresh or water-packed tuna, salmon, trout, mackerel and herring are healthy choices. Grilled fish tastes good and requires little cleanup. Avoid deep-fried fish.
Reduce red meat. Substitute fish, poultry or beans for meat. If you eat meat, make sure it's lean and keep portions small.
Enjoy some dairy. Eat low-fat Greek or plain yogurt and small amounts of a variety of cheeses.
Spice it up. Herbs and spices boost flavor and lessen the need for salt.