The following is a response to a friend on social media that self-identifies as a carnivore. He also condemns and speaks out boldly against the eating of plant-based foods. He and I disagree.
-Enjoy-
Some believe that the eating of produce is in some way toxic to humans. I have never met someone poisoned by anything they bought to eat in their whole form at the farmers market or that they have grown on their homestead. But I have met plenty of people who have had many health-related problems eating a diet considered high in red meats and pork. Mind you; I am not referring to people who eat moderate to small amounts of meat once or twice weekly.
And I am aware that some plants that we find at a farmer’s market or produce section at the local store have their own chemical defense mechanisms, but those on sale for humans are non-toxic at the human consumption level. However, if you are a bacteria, yeast, fungi, worm, or gnat, you might be in for a culinary surprise. The poison is dose-dependent. And there is no way a human could eat enough of any plant in its whole form to elicit a response.
WARNING: There are some forms of produce that are poisonous to humans and animals in very small amounts. If you are unsure of which plants these might be, please seek the advice of a professional.
As directly noted above, there are certain plants that ALL humans would be much better off avoiding, especially if uncooked. Those I avoid.
I would love to read more med/sci literature anyone might have that has drawn these conclusions. The only things I have found are being promoted by those that are deeply invested in eating carnivore and keto diets.
Now I could be convinced that if someone continually stuffs massive amounts of cabbage into their colon through their anus/rectum, there might be a problem as their native micro-organisms could be adversely affected. But eating plants that have been slow-cooked and consumed as soup would have no more of these plant defense mechanisms active anymore because the cooking destroys them. And the reality is upwards of 80% of what we poop isn’t digested food but expired micro-organisms that were inhabiting our GI tract digesting that which makes its way beyond the small intestine endothelial lining.
FYI, I am fully aware of things like lectins, ricin, cyanide, solanine, oxalic acid, and phorbol. All things that are easy to avoid. Especially if one does not consume seeds or seed oils where these toxins reside.
There are a lot of factors that play into biochemical individuality. And that is demonstrated by the fact that no two people look alike. Rarely do two people even have intestinal tracts of the same size and length, which can and do profoundly affect the chemistry being produced and distributed throughout the body. To believe otherwise is a foolhardy endeavor. And then there is the issue of physical activity or lack thereof.
The amount of time people spend physically active each and every day determines much about their body’s chemistry which then affects the physical attributes of that human’s body and its dietary needs. And this doesn’t even consider the medical history of the individuals, much less whether they still have all of their internal organs and functionality.
And then there is digestive leukocytosis refers to an increase in the number of white blood cells, specifically neutrophils, and lymphocytes, in the bloodstream that occurs after eating a meal. This phenomenon is a normal physiological response and is believed to be a part of the body’s immune system response to potential pathogens and foreign substances that may be present in food.
When we eat, the body releases digestive enzymes and fluids into the stomach and intestines to break down food into its component nutrients. In the process, some food particles may be perceived as foreign by the immune system, leading to the activation of white blood cells.
The increase in white blood cells, particularly neutrophils, and lymphocytes, after eating is usually temporary and resolves within a few hours. However, in some cases, such as in individuals with food allergies or intolerances, the immune system may overreact to certain foods, leading to more prolonged or severe digestive leukocytosis and other symptoms.
It is important to note that digestive leukocytosis is a normal physiological response to eating and is not typically a cause for concern. However, if you experience persistent or severe symptoms after eating, you should consult a healthcare provider to rule out any underlying conditions.