There’s no denying it: Meat Builds Lean Muscle, at a cost.

Delicious, pumped full of amino acids and toxins.

Amino acids, the building blocks of muscle, are found in very high levels in meat and high protein sources. These amino acids are involved in both the process of muscle breakdown and synthesis of new muscle.

Not all aminos are created equally

For muscle maintenance and recovery, the Branched Chain Amino Acid, L-Leucine, is the King of Aminos. In fact, L-Leucine enjoys a prioritized uptake by muscle cells due to it’s superior means of transportation. It’s important to get L-Leucine in combination with other Amino Acids, specifically L-Isoleucine, and L-Valine.

Think of it this way, the King Leucine has VIP access to the Party, and he’s bringing his entourage with him too. A high level of L-Leucine can provide greater additional uptake of the other BCAA‘s, Isoleucine and Valine.

Since muscle is comprised 33% of the triad of Branched Chain Amino Acids, it makes sense to eat food rich in L-Leucine.

Abundance of Amino Acids = Ability for Muscles to Strengthen

The Actual Cost of Meat

I’m not talking here, about the environmental impact of meat.

Actually, the most important thing to consider is YOUR internal environmental impact of meat.

Despite humans having evolved the ability to consume meat, do you think people were eating beef on a daily basis? More likely during hunter-gatherer times, humans consumed several POUNDS of Kale, Lettuce, and Greens to offset any harmful effects from meat.

Beef, to an extent, is relatively toxic to the body. It takes a high amount of body resources to digest, detoxify, and pass meat products.

How Beef Affects Your Body

• Contributes to greater acidity in the body (This acidic environment allows unhealthy bacteria, yeasts, and virus to grow from within)
• Potential for harmful bacteria, such as e. coli.
• High in cholesterol
• Most meat is high in added salt as well.
• Increase Blood Pressure if body is not already in balance.
• Body must produce significant digestive enzymes, which many non-rawfood eaters may be lacking.
• Higher in Omega-6 Saturated Fat, offsetting the balance between Omega-3 and Omega-6 essential fatty acids.
• Related to pro-inflammatory response in body. (Your heart and joints don’t like that)
• Most commercial meats may be loaded with pesticides, antibiotics, and hormones. (And now your meat is too).
• PROVIDES BODY WITH ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS, NECESSARY FOR EVERY LEAN TISSUE IN THE BODY.

Overall, the Amino Acids are VERY important to life and functioning as a human being. Moreover, amino acids such as L-Lysine are anti-viral and very popular among people with cold sores.

The key is Balance and Moderation when it comes to meat.

By all means, enjoy. Just eat your veggies too. 🙂