I constantly meet ex-drug users who tell me that they do everything to get healthy but feel worse by the day. I ask them to outline their post-drug lifestyle and they describe a commitment to yoga, meditation, massage and a healthy diet. However when I ask them to describe their ‘healthy’ diet I am always given the same picture: fruit and yoghurt for breakfast, salads and tofu sandwiches for lunch and dhal or stir-fry vegies for dinner. I ask them to outline their protein intake and I am told they derive their protein from yoghurt, tofu and dhal. Upon asking about animal protein they admit to eating fish twice a months, primarily derived from tin tuna. When I ask about red meat they cringe and tell me that red meat is bad for you.
Twenty years in Chinese Medicine have shown me that most drug users and ex-drug user are protein deficient. I’ve also noticed that every drug user wants to be vegetarian or vegan when giving up drugs. Having done this myself I consider it an instinctive response to cleanse from toxins acquired from a ‘dark and dirty’ drug lifestyle. We believe we are doing the right thing by rejecting meat, but do we?
I have come to the conclusion that effective drug repair requires plenty of protein. I’d love to suggest that we can derive the protein from the vegetable kingdom, but years of relapses and progressive decline in my own energy state forced me to realize that I couldn’t repair by relying entirely on yoghurt, tofu, nuts or occasional tins of tuna meat. I needed red meat. The more regular I consumed it the faster I regained in health and strength. Eventually I felt solid and grounded.
I still can’t be vegetarian and as I live a very busy and creative life I find myself needing protein three times a day: I have protein powder in my morning porridge; I have rice, vegies and red meat for lunch and I have rice and chicken or fresh fish for dinner, obviously with a glass (or two) of good wine. During extremely busy and demanding periods I consume red meat at lunch and dinner.
I’d love to be a vegetarian, but if I follow a vegan diet I can’t do the things I need to do. And believe me, over twenty-seven years of trials and errors I’ve tried absolutely everything in an attempt to become a ‘spiritually correct’ vegetarian. Every week I meet hundreds of people who are in the same boat as me. If you have done drugs make sure you are consuming sufficient amounts of protein otherwise you may never realize your dreams.
You can get enough protein without eating meat.I have followed a meatless diet for as long as you have lived in Australia.I would recommend a book called “A diet for a small planet ” written by Frances Moore Lappe first published in 1971 for an insight into what non animal protein one can eat and live healthy.Also Nirbeeja Saraswati who lives in Cabberra and writes for the Taichiacademy.com.au on vegetarian cooking is worth a look at.Geetings from the “Waldstadt”
Great article. Thank you Jost for sharing your observations. I have had similar experiences trying to live a vegetarian and vegan lifestyle. Having been on a Yogic path, I tried both lifestyles for many, many years, doing a lot of research and experimenting. I augmented these diets with a lot of vegetable proteins, supplements and “superfoods.” The moment I started eating eggs and animal proteins I felt that I got my energy back. I also felt more grounded and could think more clearly. I know firsthand that there is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding about diet- especially those on a path of recovery and self-realization. Having said this, I do believe that there are a few individuals who can live well on a vegetarian diet. Dr. Peter D’Adamo is a pioneering American scientist who has found that people of certain Blood Types (especially type O) require a lot of animal protein in order to thrive. Most western (European/Caucasian AND African-American) cultures are dominated by individuals with type O blood. The Blood Type Diet and Genotype Diet are probably the most cutting edge scientific developments for diet choices today. It’s important that individuals, researchers, healers, and therapists share their experiences- even if they are contrary to spiritual traditions and morals.
“…there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so..”
-Shakespeare’s Hamlet
Hi John, so good to hear you can be a vegetarian - consider yourself really lucky. Having been in natural therapies for over twenty years and having treated almost 50.000 people with Chinese medicine I have come to the conclusion that not everybody can be vegetarian. Every week I see a fairly large number of talented and gifted vegetarians who suffer from fatigue, dizzy spells, anxieties, concentration difficulties, lack of grounding, lightheadedness etc who easily could change their condition by eating red meat on a regular basis. Obviously I can relate to their choice as I myself tried to be spiritually correct but progressively got worse till I was unable to do anything effectively except for reading books about spirituality. We are on this earth to be active and to participate in the evolution of humanity and the reason for my blog is to share with others who have difficulties in being a vegetarian. If you are an active, happy, healthy and productive vegetarian you are obviously on the right path, but if you are an unhealthy, unproductive and unhappy vegetarian you may need to consider the need for red meat. During my 27 years of researching the perfect diet I have read almost every book on vegetarianism (including “Diet For Small Planet”) and I have tried all suggestions but nothing worked for me. On top of that I studied under well-known Indian Masters who were all vegetarians but their advice and guidance in terms of diet didn’t help me. At the contrary, it made me feel worse. This is one of the reason why I wrote my latest book “Drug Repair That Work” to show Westerners a contemporary and well-researched application of Eastern spiritual practices for a Western lifestyle.
Hi Vance, According to my observation the Blood Type diet is definitely a huge step forward in trying to resolve a muddled and complex issue though I had numerous cases where it didn’t work. However in my own application the Blood Type approach hit ‘bulls-eye’ by revealing me that I am a Blood Type O and that I need large amounts of red meat. I agree with you that Healers and Therapists need to share openly with others to identify what works and what doesn’t. Having been a Lecturer in Natural Medicine for fifteen years I am always concerned about the stereotypical and “one-advice-fits-all approach” to dietary advice - what works for one doesn’t work for someone else and it doesn’t help to become fundamental about it. I truly believe that vegetarianism isn’t a matter of free choice - not at this point of time - maybe after 2012.
i have recently bought both your books which were excellent. i am trying to get past my long term addiction of marijuana and have found your books very helpful and the most motivating thing for me to date.
i too have discovered that since increasing my red meat intake, i am beginning to feel better. i have never been a vegetarian but didn’t eat very much due to not wanting to interrupt my “stone”. when i smoke, i also find the taste of red meat too strong so stayed away from it. i am now nearly having protein every meal, i find that my cravings for sugar are greatly reduced and i no longer have dizzy spells, feel faint, can concentrate for longer etc. i initially thought this was all down to to too many bongs:) it has been about 3-4 weeks and i am starting to feel better, let’s hope i can keep going without the smoke! and i too am type “0″ thanks katie
Hi Katie. Thanks for your post and for sharing your experiences. Its amazing how many of us drug users (and ex-drug users) confuse symptoms developed from lack of red meat with post-drug symptoms. Instead of blaming the protein source the finger is pointed at the ‘bad’ drug.
Well, as referred to in Jost’s article above, I’m an ex-drug user, and also tried to be vegetarian.
Not because I feel sorry for animals, or because I think I can fix karma issues by not eating meat, but because I went to a Tony Robbins seminar, and he showed pictures of meat production I couldn’t see.
Unfortunately I also tried the whole raw food thing.
All of it made me feel great for a few weeks (4 or 5), but then I lost energy and felt depleted. My breakfast was more extreme than yogurt and fruits, I had flax seeds with almond milk, raw broccoli, blue berries, raw green leafy vegies and protein powder. I felt amazing for a few weeks, and like sh** after that.
Now I started eating red meat again, and feel great… Energized, vibrant and grounded.
Because I didn’t get that feeling from my food, I tried to compensate with many foods that I didn’t require, most of the good cakes and cheeses (hey, I’m German, what can I do…), and gained right away around 12kg.
I will keep up some elements I learned from Tony Robbins, for example having a lot of green vegies with meat and fish, but most of his teachings are meant good, but are tailored for people like him. And my constitution after so many years of hardcore drug use is nowhere near like Tony’s.
For everyone reading this who is also into personal development; those guys mean it good, but have never abused substances or depleted themselves, so their principles don’t work for depleted people. At least not to start with…
I went down that path 6 months into feeling better and getting cocky, thinking I can handle the stuff Jost told me won’t work for me… Well, Jost, you were right… what can I say…
Thanks for your help,
Veit
We know there are many benefits of vegetarianism - it’s more ecologically sustainable, does not require fellow animals to die and can make for a more sensitive and ‘pure’ system - no body odour and so on.
That said, I don’t intend to return to strict vegetarianism ever. Despite all the benefits, and despite the fact as correctly pointed out above that ample vegetable protein can be derived, meat is a unique source of strength.
We evolved to eat it - though not to rear it in the unconscionable way we often do - and to me, sparing amounts of organic meat are a good feature of a diet.
I particularly like kangaroo - a great source of lean protein, iron, even Omega 3s! And they have a free, full life hopping around before death.
This is really interesting. I have recently become a vegetarian, while it seems to be working for me, my husband who is eating the same food as I am (and trying to give up dope) has been struggling, physically, emotioinally and most importantly spiritually. He has been a long term user and has tried to give up many times but this attempt is really taking its toll on him and our relationship…. I think I will feed the man meat!!!!
My daughter did not improve her health [no drugs involved here] until I realised I had fed her my A blood group diet instinctively all her life and she was an O She is now living with an O man and they eat red meat almost daily but it would make me ache to eat all that Tho I do not mind the occasional bit of lamb
I think if we are going to eat animals we would do well to join animal lib orgs of some sort and lobby for better conditions for farm animals altho we are not as barbaric at it as America Also apparently animals fed grass produce Omega 3 high meat whereas grain fed animals produces Omega 6 dominant meat This is why there is such a fuss about eating Omega 3 oils [ I always wondered how inland folk all over the world managed without their Omega 3 fish historically] So not only do we need to be kinder to animals but get them to eat right again ideally Biodynamically where they get wonderful treatment
Ain’t life complicated
Hi Kirsty
Thanks for your post. According to my observation marijuana can mask a protein deficiency, in particular if the deficiency is affiliated with lack of red meat. In my book “Drug Repair That Works” I actually discuss a case study of a Polish-Russian woman who developed a marijuana addiction as a result of wanting to be a vegetarian. Her constitutional background stopped her from being a vegetarian, but as long as she had her daily smoke she didn’t feel the need for meat. Every time she stopped the dope her ‘red-meat-deficiency’ symptoms came forward which she thought were marijuana-addiction symptoms. Tricky stuff eh?
Hello everyone,
I’ll share my experiences to this insight forum…
Firstly I’m not an ex-drug user, however, I believe Jost’s drug repair advice is applicable to me. I am also a therapist myself and have studied topics from exercise and nutrition, to massage, to Chinese Medicine, Qigong though not a full degree in anything.
Sorry if I offend anyone as that is not my intention.
A few years ago, I was worried that I had diabetes as I had problems with my energy levels, plus other relevant symptoms. I got a full blood test and when the results came back, the doctor thought I was taking drugs because everything was depleted and low.
Not too long after that, I tried out the Fit-For-Life diet, food-combining, and going vegan! I must have been crazy, because after a couple of short months, I looked like I was going to die. My weight got down to about 47 or 48 Kg (I was a 6 ft or more, 19 year-old male!) and needless to say my friends and family were worried. After 6 months or so in, (I had already broken the rules of the regimes before this in various ways like spontaneously eating entire chocolate cakes in what I can only assume was my body’s reaction to put some weight and energy back in, and no I wasn’t bulimic either) my closest friends at the time basically said I needed to eat some meat… even though they were good spiritual New-Agers, some vegetarian themselves.
I must say, I can’t see what the big appeal and advantage is of going vegetarian or vegan, or in particular, how it’s spiritually better. I myself got roped in with all the nonsense about it being so much healthier for everyone (OK, it would be for some health conditions, not everyone though); and that meat wasn’t necessary because we could get everything we needed from plants (again, I do not believe everyone can). I figured non-organic meat was laced with chemicals so it would be healthier to avoid that, and besides the animals wouldn’t have been treated very well either. I figured that you shouldn’t eat meat unless it was organic, and at the time, I felt organic food wasn’t a possibility for me: financially, and because my family was set in the ways of conventional.
I sometimes get a bit cheesed-off now when people start espousing the benefits of being vegetarian, their usual reason being because they are against killing. What about plants though?! They just ignore the fact that plants are living beings too! I have heard of studies showing that plants have communication, memory, and recognition capabilities! Then there are the issues with typical farming of any crop or commodity, like clearing forest/wildlife habitat to grow food; disturbing soil ecology and organisms by ploughing up paddocks; farmers shooting rabbits, birds, foxes to protect their crops or stock; and then in the case of chemical-dependant agriculture, the spraying of everything to kill weeds, bugs, moulds… plus the effects of the chemical run-off. As long as anything is farmed without consideration of the wider ecology, plants, animals, microbes and invertebrates will be killed in innumerable quantities, whether all of society is vegetarian or not.
I have even read (the author was a yoga teacher) that the vegetarian people of India actually consumed various invertebrates because their grain was always contaminated with various pests. Invertebrates are actually very rich sources of protein, fatty acids and calcium, and feature in the food of indigenous tribal cultures (like witchety grubs and mangrove worms eaten by Australian Aborigines), and can be used in survival situations. And don’t forget that keeping animals for meat actually ensures the survival of the species as we want/need to reproduce them regularly. Today, many breeds are becoming extinct and the way to preserve them is to get people to eat them! Individual lives are lost, yet genetics, diversity and culture are preserved. Besides, animals in the wild eat other animals. Are some humans so divorced from nature that they think it is not OK for human animals to eat other animals?
I heard from a long-time vegetarian (20 years or so) who was an experienced therapist, well-exposed to Chinese culture and TCM, that to be vegetarian successfully, you “need to eat vegetarian meat”. And he meant powerful supplements, not tofu or lentils. He pretty much said it can’t be done without such supplements, but was still pretty proud of himself for living such a full-on life working so hard and doing physical activity while being vegetarian. Seems to me like a bit of a contradiction to say that we don’t need to eat meat, but that we actually do need to eat meat because plant food doesn’t cut it… just don’t eat real meat. And it doesn’t seem sensible or sustainable to rely on a supplement company to supply this recourse to you to live your vegetarian lifestyle.
Given that the body needs approx. 1 gram of protein for every Kg of your body weight each day, it seems a bit of a stretch to say you can get away with never eating meat. Meat itself may be say 17% protein, so if you eat 100 grams of meat, that’s still only 17 grams of protein, which means for a 75 kg male, that’s still a long way to go. Of course there’s some protein in everything you eat, but when you consider how much bulk has to be processed by the body to get protein from plant sources, some meat is a good idea. Sure, some grains like quinoa and millet or the ever-used soybeans have some impressive protein profiles, but are they produced any more ethically or sustainably than meat? Especially now with the rise of GM? Could you produce enough to live off? Soya beans are also apparently detrimental to health when consumed in the form of soy-milk or Australian-made tofu, particularly if feed to to children or pregnant women, according to articles I have read. What about nuts? Well, some health professionals think people shouldn’t even eat them, let alone rely on them for protein! I don’t have a problem with eating nuts, they just can’t replace meat.
So back to me. My health started to improve when I started eating more meat. One day I went to a noodle box restaurant, where the kind old asian man made me a huge pile of combination noodles (ie combination of meat) and served them with a knowing look.
In more recent years I have raised my own animals in backyard and small acreagre living situations. I have cared for them, cuddled them, slaughtered them, and gutted them with my bare hands. I can honestly say that they had a good life. I also feel a lot closer to nature in holding and eating a piece of meat, than on a vegan regime. And like the indigenous cultures of the world, which all consume meat and/or animal products and/or invertebrates, I honoured the animal and tried to use as much of the animal as possible - eating all the meat, plus organs (rasining you own animals give you organs clean enough to eat!), keeping feathers, examinging bones to study anatomy, and using everything left over in the garden. No waste. No death in vane. As wild predators do, I also selected the animals that weren’t “perfect”, eg: small, injured or more aggressive so that the healthiest animals can continue to breed.
These days, the earth has become over-populated by humans and farming methods so bazare that we cannot sustainably produce enough food following those practices. But if going vegetarian/vegan to “save the planet” is not a healthy option for many people it is not a real option. Permaculture design, better food distribution (preferably produced and distributed locally), and less waste, all offer a real alternative to the mainstream food production systems. Using Permaculture principles, plenty of food can be produced from a small space, ethically and sustainably, and that includes meat if you so desire.
I think that it says a lot, when the indigenous tribal societies, the true sustainable and spiritual cultures of the world, eat meat.
And I reckon if you’ve read this far you must be keen!
Great article! I’ve found over the years that every time I stop eating meat, especially red meat, I slowly begin losing both physical and mental strength. At first I feel as if I’m more relaxed and easy going … then eventually the feeling moves beyond that to persistent fatigue. I was actually talking about this with someone I just started dating a few weeks ago. She doesn’t eat much meat and seems to lack energy. I told her that when I eat red meat (not chicken, turkey, etc.) I feel noticeably stronger.
There was a time in college when I ate red meat nearly daily. I also smoked a decent amount of marijuana. My energy levels were strong and my mind was very clear (despite smoking). In fact I went from a B/C student to an A/B student when I started eating more red meat. Life was good. Then just before graduating I quite smoking and wanted to purify my body and try to “heal” the damage I’d done over the years. I started eating small amounts of meat and supplementing with soy protein. My energy levels dropped, anxiety levels went way up and had a terrible time concentrating. My grades dropped back down to the B/C levels I thought I’d overcome. I told myself this was my withdraw from not smoking, but my other friends eating whatever they wanted (usually lots of meat) didn’t feel this way when they stopped smoking.
It’s been about 5 years of very very rarely smoking marijuana and I still find that when I don’t eat much red meat my energy levels drop. In fact my curiosity about this led me to this website tonight. I ate a lean burger and steamed broccoli and within an hour I felt more energy, more clarity and started laughing with more energy at the Family Guy episode I was watching. There is absolutely something very real about red meat and increased energy. In fact, my manager eats 7-9 burgers a week and has more stamina, a better memory, is more focused and stronger than most people I know at his age. I know that sounds absolutely crazy based on what we think we know about red meat … and maybe he’s an oddity!
Thanks again Jost for the great article!
-Justin
Hi Tristan and Justin. Thank you so much for your in-depth comments. I am most certain that your words will be of help to many confused people. We need to openly share with others our real experiences with “spiritually correct” diets (and lifestyles) and your comments will help to develop an understanding in this delicate manner.
This blog is kicking ass! Keep tackling the issues relevent to our lives Jost, we need as much information as possible to serve our evolution.
Keep Rockin!
I was very intrigued in this discussion on to be “Vegie or not to be vegie?”. As this is has been a large issue for myself over the years. I have had quite a struggle on this subject in the past, and i love how you have given a positive aspect on a meat eating, because alot of other teachers in the past has been against it.
Quite a few years back now, i had spent alot of trainning time (taiji)and sharing many meals with Allan Williams (my tai-chi instrucor), and he believed strongly into eating all sorts of meat and he is a very vibratent and powerfully healthy man (as you know),
But the otherside of it is Master Earle Montague, whom was a very strict Vegan whom is very against eating any type of meat, specially, red meat. I have very great respect for both these teachers, and no one in there right mind could claim that Master Earle had in anyway, ‘weak’ chi.
Being a proffessional chef working in wealthy establishments, i have access to a great array of foods and produce, i wanted to know what is the best food habits towards my passion of personal ‘chi’ delevlopment.
I decided to do an experiment:
For a series of four months, i spent each month eating only certian protiens, first was only poultry/chicken, second; was seafood, and the third was red meats, and last was a vegitarian where i depended only on vegietable protiens.
With a personal obvseration on myself, I also asked for those people around me, (friends, family, girlfriend, workmates and those whom i trained with) to keep an observation on the diffrences each month on my attitude, energy, personallity, and general wellbeing.
This is what i come to find from this experience;
The month of poultry/chicken- I was more ’scattered’, indecisive, tend to confuse a bit more, and had a consistent habit of forgeting things.
Month of Seafood- i was more sexually aroused, was distracted with thoughts on sex, and found myself to be more attracted to more people. (this can be fun, but difficult in an already distracting enviroments of kitchens and restuarants).
Month of red meats- i was more ‘Yang’, used more aggeressive words, and actions, swore quite a bit ( which i don’t usally) more phyical in nature, and found myself desiring to ‘do’ more stuff, but tend slightly ‘freaked’ out a few around me.
the month on vegetarian diet- i become calmer, and clearer. I didnt seem to get upset or annoyed, but rather was lighter and more at peace with things. i found problems that used to upset me was easly solved.
Those around me, found that their perceptions of me in those months matched my personal feelings. It really shows to me how much food will effect, the minds thoughts and actions. This does not mean that i think we all should eat a vegie or a meat diet, but rather we are all diffrent and have diffrent needs.
One thing is for certain, it is benificial to mantain a vibrant, habit of clean, full, in-season, healthy eating habit. Always eat foods that are in-season, treated with love and kindness that nature’s gift to us to nurture us with the upmost respect.
thanks for letting me share this.
Hi liquid, thank you for such in-depth comment. I am sure people will find it interesting. Great to hear you are having lunch with Big Al (I haven’t seen him for years). Give him my regards next time you see him
HI Jost, as a Yogi and TCM practitoner and Vegetarian for almost 20 years I understand where you are coming from. I like to look at assumptions rather than the questions we are stuck on.
I was once told that if a person wanted to continue to express thier excess liver pattern and go after the ego based lifestyle then they are best continue to eat meat.
This yogi told me that to do all the things I needed to do in life I would be fine on a Vego diet. If however i wanted to pursue the sensual gratification and pursuit of the material things I would need meat. Meat sustains a system that is not living in harmony better than a vego diet, all be it that I may not live as long or have optimum health.
As little as 300 gm of red meat has been shown to dramatically increase a womens chance of breast cancer.
I have chosen to change my patterns of living over the past 30 year s and twenty two years ago i developed a daily meditation routine. Daily living while observing the push of my ambition let me give up meat and not only not want it, but live a healthy life without it.
I agree one size does not fit all. We do however need to look at what we do with the lives of the animals we take when eating them. Do we add to the struggle in the world or do we find that our potential has little to do with achievement and more to do with our integrity.
Thank you for stimulating the discussion
hari om
Hi.
I have found that red meat has helped me out. I was vego for 8 yrs, vegan for two of those. Weakness ensued. long story. You probably know it already.
A few points while realising this is not a philisophical debate about the benefits of red meat or conversely the benefits of vegetarianism:
It is extremely important that this idea of eating red meat to regain and maintain health expands to the notion of responsibly eating red meat. This includes responsibilty for your own body, through avoiding hormones and additives, responsibilty for the animal that feeds us by choosing a fair life for it free from pain and sufferring, and responsibility for our own future and the generations to come by supporting an industry that is sustainable and responsible for itself.
It’s pretty clear that we as a race need to drastically reduce our reliance on factory farmed meat of any kind and also our destructive farming habits. It is destroying our natural systems and getting us to the point where we will have no option but to go veg if we push it too much further. Bee populations are dying off in massive numbers and we have somehow caused this with conventional farming for instance. The point here is that with no bees there will be no red meat due the the long line of effects that lack of plant polination will have on our ecosystem. Look up bee extinction if you are interested in learning more on that.
If we choose to accept the gift of the life of an animal and eat red meat, we should do it responsibly and fairly and buy at the very least, free range hormone free meat (not much more expensive than factory meat). The next step for those that can afford is buy locally farmed organic or biodynamic meat. This is often double the price but it tastes so amazing and is so high in the correct proteins and nutrients that is outweighs any negatives on the wallet.
Someone already mentioned Kangaroo. Excellent call. It is a very cheap option for what is essentially free range, hormone and chemical free red meat source. It’s cheap because it’s plentiful and naturally free of any need to pump it full of junk to get it big and meaty as quickly as possible. It is adapted to our environment and it roams free so there is a greater resistance to disease. Kangaroos also damage the land very little, unlike cows and sheep which utterly destroy the already spearse foliage (due to drought) under their hooves, which causes untold erosion and degredation of our farmland. Kangaroo meat can be a bit gamey, but learn to cook it right and it can be amazing.
I bought an organic chicken last week for the first time in a year (I usually buy free range) and it was the best chicken I’ve had in my 32 years on this earth. These chickens are beyond description…I urge anyone who hasn’t to at least try. Same goes for organic and biodynamic red meat. By the gods, what an experience. And the same argument as before, the nutrient levels are so high that the cost is fair (and the more that buy it, the lower it will come down over time!).
Lets not even start on the ethical ramifications of factory meat or MRM because we will go on forever.
Really, I’m not the hippy I used to be, and I am occaisionally guilty of slipping and choosing the cheapo convenient option at the supermarket, but seriously, I have a strongly rooted belief that it is for all our sakes that we make the right choices about meat consumption and not just think about ourselves and our own recoveries and journeys beyond drugs.
thanks for reading! All the best with your chops.