Manifesto Monday: Eat no meat (except for fish)

[The Okinawan's] consumption of dairy products and meat is nearly nonexistent. – Healthy at 100

As I read about the various Blue Zones around the world, there is a common thread when it comes to meat.  Eat little to none of it.  As Dan Buettner says in discussing the Sardinia diet:

Meat is a once-a-week celebration, not something you heap on your plate several times a day.

Everywhere I see it mentioned, meat is referred to as something you can have but only in moderation.  One suggestion was up to twice a week with a serving size no bigger than a deck of cards.  Seriously… what’s the point?  I’m thinking I can’t order an 1/8 pound hamburger in any local restaurant.

What about the protein?

This is the first question I’m always asked when I tell a carnivore that I’m not eating meat.  A quick Google reveals plenty of other sources of protein.  Many of which come highly recommended from the various cultures of longevity around the world:

• Peanuts and Almonds
• Soy beans, lintels, kidney beans, lima beans, split peas, etc
• Yogurt, ricotta cheese, etc

Why fish?

Besides it being another source of protein, fish contains Omega-3 Fatty Acids.  Yes, I know both “fat” and “acid” don’t usually show up on the recommended list of things to eat, but apparently it reduces the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease while improving your immune function and brain health.

With eating too much fish there is a risk in consuming high levels of mercury.  However if I avoid certain varities and stick to fish not raised on a farm, it won’t be a problem.  Below are the FDA and EPA recommendations for pregnant women and since everybody seems to spend a lot of time keeping them healthy, I’m going to follow along as well:

• Do not eat Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, or Tilefish because they contain high levels or mercury.
• Eat up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury: shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, Pollack, catfish. Another commonly eaten fish, albacore (“white”) tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna. So, when choosing your two meals of fish and shellfish, you may eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) of albacore tuna per week.
• Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by family and friends in your local lakes, rivers, and coastal areas. If no advice is available, eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) per week of fish you catch from local waters, but don’t consume any other fish during that week.

Since any mention of meat comes with more warnings than encouragements and I can get the vitamins and protein in other places, I’ve decided to cut it out of the manifesto completely for this project.  Fish is still allowed as an extremely healthy alternative, but no cow, pig, chicken, squirrel or any other form of meat.