whole meat. If you like ground meat or have a recipe that requires it,
it’s best to buy a large piece of meat and then grind it up just before
cooking — most butchers, even those in large groceries, will do this
for you. Also beware of other meats that have already been cut, such
as sliced meat, chopped meat and stew meat. Try to buy as large a
piece of meat as possible and cut it yourself.
Processed meats can also be unhealthy choices. Most sausage,
lunch meats and other processed meats are not only ground, but also
may contain high amounts of sugar and chemicals that you don’t
want to eat. However, it is possible to find organic bacon and hams
that have been cured with honey and with no harmful chemicals.
The most nutritious parts of the animal to eat are the organs and
glands. In our society, the liver is the most common organ food, with
stomach, brains, kidneys and others only rarely eaten. However,
when a lion kills his prey, it’s the organs and glands that are first
devoured. The muscle, what we refer to as the “meat,” is often left for
the scavengers. Unfortunately, with our polluted environment, organ
meats such as liver are becoming more dangerous since it’s the liver’s
job to filter the blood and remove toxins from the body. If you enjoy
liver and other organ and gland meats, be sure to find a very good
source.
Say Cheese!
Cheese and plain yogurt are dairy products that contain quality pro-
tein without many of the problems associated with milk. This is espe-
cially true if you can find organic products made from raw milk. Also
consider that goat and sheep milk are much more compatible for
humans than cow milk. These cheeses can be found in many stores
and on the Internet.
Whichever type of milk they’re made from, cultured products
such as cheese and yogurt are good sources of complete protein with
the lactose, or “milk sugar” reduced by friendly bacteria in the cultur-
ing process. To be sure that an item is fully cultured, check the
“Nutrition Facts” on the label; the carbohydrate should be very low.
(Of course you want to avoid the fruit-flavored and sweetened vari-
eties of yogurt that are always full of sugar — sometimes a half-dozen
teaspoons or more!)
94 • IN FITNESS AND IN HEALTH