Got Mucus?

Please welcome dear friend of Owning Pink and The Healthy Voyager as well as best-selling author of the recently published book that is redefining healthy living as we know it, Crazy Sexy Diet — Kris Carr! We are thrilled to have her. Thanks, Kris!

Whether it’s the holidays or your Mom’s birthday, when you arrive home and need a snack, do you latch on and suckle? EW!!!! When we look at nature do we see animals nursing beyond their youth? The answer is no. Also, do you see a gorilla milking a rabbit? A deer suckling a tiger? Nope. Breast milk of any kind is intended for the specific species and it is only for the early stages of life during the baby’s biggest growth spurt. Cow’s milk grows a 90 pound calf into a 2000 pound cow over the course of 2 years. And we wonder why we’re overweight!

Here’s a good factoid:
We need the lactase enzyme to digest lactose, but between the ages of 18 months and 4 years we lose 90-95% of that enzyme. So basically we are all pretty much lactose intolerant. But it’s MUCH bigger than that and it’s quite simple too. Dairy products are disease producing. High protein diets (dairy and animal meat) create a highly acidic state in the body (remember we’re all about the pH and alkalinity), dairy load us up with mucus, stops up our colons and creates an environment for cancer cells to thrive in.

But where will I get my calcium, Kris? Dairy ain’t the place loves! Moo juice actually leaches calcium from your body. Check this out; the countries with the highest consumption of dairy also have soaring rates of osteoporosis. Are ya connecting the dots? Milk is also one of the most common causes of food allergies and congestion (mucus) and high cholesterol. Got milk? No thanks. I get abundant amounts of calicum from leafy greens like kale, collards, cabbage, kelp, mustard greens, seaweeds, sesame seeds (the best source), chickpeas, broccoli, watercress, raw nuts and lots of other plant friends. No stress on the body, mind, colon or environment. How nice!

We have been led to believe that milk is an essential part of good health. In reality, dairy milk contributes to the overall breakdown of our systems. If you really can’t see yourself giving up milk and meat, at least choose the best quality. Raw foodies advocate the use of raw (unpasteurized) goat’s milk as an alternative to cow’s milk because it doesn’t have casein, it’s much easier to digest and it is closer to the consistency of human milk. You can also wean yourself off cow’s milk with rice, oat, almond, or soy (in moderation, I’m not a big advocate) as well. Meat should be organic, grass fed, and consumed in SMALL portions that are properly combined. It’s a hard thing to digest and takes way more time so don’t gum it up with a potato. Picture it as a side dish next to loads of veggies and a big salad. The American Dietetic Association came up with a good visual: The average serving of meat, it says, should be to the size of a deck of cards. Not a football or shingle. Capiche?

This information can be tough to swallow for folks who were raised on animal products.
It certainly was for me. I grew up across the street from a dairy farm! My grandmother was a chef who cooked up a hunk of flesh daily. Tongue-and-Spam sandwiches were a favorite in our house. Looking back, I can see why becoming a veggie-head was easy for me!

Agribusiness doesn’t rely on quality; they push quantity, speed, and the increasing demands for cheaper products. As a result, the animals now raised for our consumption are jacked up with hormones, antibiotics, herbicides, pesticides, and other medications that ultimately find their way into our rivers, land, and bloodstreams. We shouldn’t just ask why organics are so damn expensive; we should ask why crap food is so cheap!

One more factoid and off ya go: Dr. T. Colin Campbell, professor emeritus of nutritional biochemistry at Cornell University teaches that one of the biggest causes cancer is a diet that is higher than 10 percent animal protein! Americans eat way more than that. He estimates that “80% to 90% of all cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and other degenerative illness can be prevented, at least until very old age, simply by adopting a plant-based diet. WOW!

Big food for thought today. What do you think?

Peace & Veggies and no moo juice,
Kris Carr

Kris Carr is a best-selling author, a top motivational speaker, and kick-ass wellness coach. She is the subject of the inspirational documentary, Crazy Sexy Cancer, which she wrote and directed for TLC, and the author of the award-winning Crazy Sexy Cancer book series. Kris’ third book, Crazy Sexy Diet redefines healthy living as we know it. Crazy Sexy Diet is the ultimate diet and lifestyle game plan for wellness warriors seeking peak health, spiritual wealth and happiness. Carr regularly lectures at medical schools, hospitals, wellness centers, and universities such as Harvard. Television appearances include: The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, The Early Show, Today Show, Access Hollywood, Good Morning America and The Oprah Winfrey Show. Check out her website, crazysexylife.com for daily tips, articles and inspiration. Make juice not war!