Food For Thought: Meat-Based Diet Made Us Smarter

Info on egg whites courtesy of loren cordain:

Lysozyme from Egg Whites by Loren Cordain

In all three of my books, I have advocated egg consumption, particularly eggs that are produced with high omega 3 fatty acid contents. Chicken eggs are generally a nutritious food and are a good source of selenium, vitamin A, vitamin D and the B vitamins, some minerals and lutein as Barbara indicated. Additionally, numerous recent experimental and epidemiological studies (reviewed in references 1, 2) indicate that regular egg consumption (7 per week) does not increase the risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). As I have previously noted, although eggs are one of the most concentrated sources of dietary cholesterol (212 mg per egg), dietary cholesterol has a minimal effect upon blood cholesterol concentrations in most people1, 3. Further, high cholesterol egg diets cause an increase in blood HDL particles1 and reduce the highly atherogenic small dense LDL particles while simultaneously increasing the less atherogenic large, "fluffy" LDL particles4, 5.

So, should everybody include eggs in their diet on a daily basis? Not necessarily, particularly if we examine the evolutionary template. Without question our preagricultural ancestors would have collected and consumed eggs from birds’ nests whenever possible. However, in the wild, bird eggs only appear seasonally. Hence, pre-agricultural humans could have never consumed two eggs for breakfast every morning of the year similar to some westernized people, but rather only occasionally for a few brief weeks or months.

If we follow up on the clue from the evolutionary template and examine eggs more closely, they maintain certain nutritional shortcomings that may be problematic, particularly for people suffering from autoimmune diseases and allergies. Although eggs are classified as animal food sources and are lumped together with meats in the USDA My Pyramid, eggs are uniquely different from meats in that they represent the reproductive endpoints of adult birds which exist outside their mother’s body in a semipermeable, warm compartment. As such, all eggs are particularly vulnerable to invasion, attack and destruction by microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria and viruses present in their nesting environment.

The innermost yolk of a chicken egg represents the growing embryo which is anchored to the albumen or egg white by structures called chalazae. Outward from the egg white are the inner and outer membranes and then the shell, all of which provide physical barriers to infection from pathogens and microorganisms. The egg white makes up about 58% of the total egg volume and contains about 50% of the total egg protein and is composed of 88.5% water, 10.5% protein and 0.5% carbohydrate6. The function of the egg white is threefold: 1) storage of nutrients for the growing embryo (yolk), 2) protection of the egg from microbial attack, and 3) transport of nutrients into the growing embryo.

As I have previously mentioned, a chicken egg is the reproductive endpoint for adult birds and survives by living outside its mother’s body in a semi permeable compartment that is essentially immovable. Accordingly, it has no means of protecting itself from microorganisms or predation by physical escape or avoidance. For this reason, the evolutionary strategy eggs have taken to protect themselves from microbial invaders is to select for toxic substances in the egg white; mainly in the form of antimicrobial proteins. Table 1 lists the major proteins in egg whites and their likely functions.



[edit on 13-8-2010 by Sourdough4life]

reply to post by Sourdough4life


Table 1. Major proteins and their properties found in egg whites (adapted from references 6-10).
Protein % total proteins Functions
Ovalbumen 54 Storage protein
Ovotransferrin 12 Iron binding with antimicrobial activity
Ovomucoid 11 Protease inhibitor/antimicrobial activity?
Ovomucin 3.5 Potent antiviral activity
Lysozyme 3.4 Antibacterial activity
G2 globulin 4.0? Antibacterial activity
G3 globulin 4.0? Antibacterial activity
Ovoinhibitor 1.5 Protease inhibitor/antimicrobial activity?
Ovoglycoprotein 1.0 ?
Thiamin binding protein 1.0 Thiamin transport
Ovoflavoprotein/Riboflavin binding protein 0.8 Riboflavin transport
Ovomacroglobulin (Ovostatin) 0.5 Protease inhibitor/antimicrobial activity?
Cystatin 0.05 Protease inhibitor/antimicrobial activity?
Avidin 0.05 Antimicrobial activity
Total 88.8
Note that except for ovalbumen, which comprises 54% of the total protein in egg white, virtually all the other major proteins (~33% of the total) maintain one form or another of antimicrobial activity

Egg white allergy in the general population varies between 1.6 – 3.2% and is the second most common cause of food allergy in children next to milk8. For both adults and children one or more of the following symptoms may occur: hives, atopic dermatitis (red, flaky itchy skin), asthma, runny nose, diarrhea, abdominal pain, rapid swelling of the skin and mucosa, and anaphylactic shock which may be life threatening. The major allergens in egg white are ovomucoid, ovalbumen, ovotransferrin and lysozyme8 (Table 1). So for the vast majority of children and adults (98.4 – 96.8% of the population), egg white allergy is not a problem, and except for anaphylactic shock is not a debilitating or life threatening condition

The same conclusion may not be true for people suffering from an autoimmune disease (e.g. multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, lupus erythematosus and others), since egg white consumption may contribute to the origin and progression of these diseases via a process of molecular mimicry that I have previously outlined for dietary lectins found in wheat, peanuts and other grains and legumes11

You can see from Table 1 that egg white protein is no simple protein, but rather a conglomeration of multiple proteins which have been designed by natural selection to cause toxic and lethal effects in bacteria and microorganisms reminiscent of food lectins found in grains and legumes11. In order for any food proteins to potentially cause or promote an autoimmune disease, it must:

Survive the human digestive processes intact
Cross the gut barrier intact either alone or with other attached proteins
Interact with the immune system in a manner suspected of causing an autoimmune disease

Bacterial cell walls are called the murein or peptidoglycan layer which is a gigantic polymer of (N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylmuyramic acid) polysaccharide strands cross linked through short peptide bridges at the lactyl groups of the muramic acid residues. Lysozyme degrades bacterial cell walls by catalyzing hydrolysis of the beta (-1,4-) linkage between N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylmuramic acid Human cells do not maintain a murein (peptidoglycan) exterior lining. Consequently dietary lysozyme from egg whites do no increase intestinal permeability by breakdown of intestinal cell membranes but rather lysozyme increases intestinal permeability by other means that I will explain. It is this increase in intestinal permeability or "leaky gut" that makes egg white consumption problematic for people with egg allergies or autoimmune disease

Lysozyme is unusual among the major egg white proteins in that it has an alkaline isoelectric point, which means that it can form strong complexes with other egg white proteins including ovomucin, ovalbumen a

[edit on 13-8-2010 by Sourdough4life]

reply to post by Sourdough4life


These studies are generally inconclusive and some are really reaching with small samples (strength increases in adults 60-67) and some of them even prove my points. I will post my thoughts about them saturday if anyone cares to read. Epidemeolgy much? right DEVO? Um got hair, and got wood thanks. And I shop the local farmers market, feel better? yeah nuts can go rancid, milk can spoil, bacon can rot, jeeze don't you think I have eyeballs and a nose? Yes sodium is critical in the body, and it is important to have in the diet, but moderation. 800 miligrams? one setting, are you serious. Please google me up some studies saying 40 times the US RDA of sodium has shown to make native Madagascarians fly at the speed of sound, and has led to an increase in lifespan by 20 years and have giant schlongs. I bet you will.
[edit on 13-8-2010 by Fifth Horseman]

[edit on 13-8-2010 by Fifth Horseman]

Originally posted by Fifth Horseman
reply to post by DevolutionEvolvd

 

Ok, we agree then that SFA is the demon?

No...I was stating that saturated fat is the demon according to public health policy. It's certainly not the problem.

And so what is bacon high in besides sodium and price? Are you saying bacon is good or bad?

Bacon is high in fat....and is a good source of protein. Here's why bacon is considered "bad":

Saturated fat: Saturated fat is considered "bad" because it raises cholesterol. Well, that's never been shown to be a bad thing.

Sodium: Dietary sodium is not the problem; insulin is. Hyperinsulinemia causes sodium retention.

Nitrates: Well, if you're going to avoid bacon because of them, you sure as hell better avoid green leafy vegetables because they have the highest dietary concentrations.

So...I'm saying bacon is not nearly as bad as it's currently thought to be. And I don't know of any real reason why anyone shouldn't eat bacon at will.

What is the limit for good health per you, and why are those numbers correct yet not accepted?

They're not accepted because the original data was cherry picked, while the conflicting numbers were discarded. Because confirmation bias ran rampant. And because once it was an established fact that saturated fat causes heart disease through it's effects on cholesterol.....well, there wasn't much "accepting" of anything different.

What are the combined effects on the cardiovascular and respiratory system of a high SFA and high cholesterol/sodium diet.

The dietary cholesterol has little effect. Sodium...has some postprandial effects on hypertension (depending on the individual) but typically doesn't cause chronic hypertension. The body does a good job of excreting excess sodium. Saturated fat....it really just depends on what else you're eating. If you're increasing total fat along with sat. fat, which I assume you would, then it's safe to say that carbohydrate consumption would drop considerably as well. In which case, the cardiovascular effects are truly beneficial.

How come people who learn to manage those can lower their bad cholesterol levels?

Because limiting saturated fat intake lowers total serum cholesterol. But, don't forget, total cholesterol means nothing.

What about artery hardening?

Saturated fat has been demonstrated to have reversing effects on arteriosclerosis.

reply to post by Fifth Horseman


Yeah, meta-analyses are easily mishandled. Their conclusions are often the product of confirmation bias as it's simply to search through 20 studies looking for data to fit your hypothesis while discarding the data that doesn't.

They are inconclusive, yes. But, if the study methods are up to standards without bias, they are very reliable.

Cholesterol from diet bad? Even if you went on a totally cholesterol
free diet, your body still makes it's own. Enough so it could kill you
if your homocysteine levels where not in place. Cholesterol is the
wrong marker to look at. Homocysteine levels are what you should
be looking at. Homocysteine levels are related to your insulin levels.
So the poster talking about the insulin nailed it. Cholesterol is so
important to a new born, that without it, has proven severe brain
under development. I'd suggest researching homocysteine markers.

Originally posted by Fifth Horseman


I will post my thoughts about them saturday if anyone cares to read.

What happened to your post? I was interested in your thoughts on these studies, not some bs post about sodium

Originally posted by Fifth Horseman
milk can spoil

Raw milk doesn't spoil, it ferments and gets better

Originally posted by Fifth Horseman
800 miligrams? one setting, are you serious.

Absolutely nothing wrong with 800mg of sodium in one sitting if you think there is prove it

Originally posted by Fifth Horseman
Please google me up some studies saying 40 times the US RDA of sodium has shown to make native Madagascarians fly at the speed of sound, and has led to an increase in lifespan by 20 years and have giant schlongs. I bet you will.

I never made any claims on the amount of sodium we should eat and I definitely never claimed 40 times the rda was ideal lol. You generally want about a 4/1 ratio of potassium/sodium.



[edit on 16-8-2010 by Sourdough4life]

I was just reading the book Left in the Dark, what they are saying is the human brain has gotten smaller, and this is due to being forced to eat meat.
The whole thing makes alot of sence, meat raises testosterone levels, which makes people more agressive, meat diet has been the down fall of humans, not even to speak of the fast food.

The little bug eating mammals floished in the forest, when it begin eating fruit, this is when they became the the large brain, large body, bipeds.

"Human brain size peaked at about 1,440 grams, typical today is 1,300 grams, there goes your meat theory, and the ultra-brainy modern Homo sapien is decidedly shaky".

[edit on 19-8-2010 by googolplex]

reply to post by googolplex


I've read the book, its a fantasy idea concocted by a fruitarian. The book is based on too many wild theories and what if's, its an interesting idea but i personally don't think theirs a whole lot of truth to it. Humans would have gone extinct if we had to subsist on fruit, the author probably doesn't realize this because the only fruits he buys are the giant hybridized ones available in supermarkets.

On the brain size issue, neanderthals had bigger brains then us yet were not smart enough to make sophisticated tools for hunting. Instead they wrestled down giant land mammals(neanderthals have injuries very similar rodeo bull riders). Neanderthals also had higher levels of testosterone then modern day humans(and they had a meat based diet), so lower level of testosterone during puberty don't necessarily mean bigger brains.

Originally posted by googolplex
meat raises testosterone levels, which makes people more agressive, meat diet has been the down fall of humans, not even to speak of the fast food.

I'm sure having low levels of testosterone like may vegetarians/vegans have is good?


I'm sorry but your post is beyond ignorant, humans on average get way more exogenous estrogen then testosterone. Estrogen is the real problem, creating a bunch of girlie men that have no drive.

Men are supposed to have high testosterone its what gives us the drive to hunt, makes us strong, encourages us to reproduce etc.

Originally posted by Sourdough4life

Originally posted by googolplex
meat raises testosterone levels, which makes people more agressive, meat diet has been the down fall of humans, not even to speak of the fast food.

I'm sure having low levels of testosterone like may vegetarians/vegans have is good?


I'm sorry but your post is beyond ignorant, humans on average get way more exogenous estrogen then testosterone. Estrogen is the real problem, creating a bunch of girlie men that have no drive.

Men are supposed to have high testosterone its what gives us the drive to hunt, makes us strong, encourages us to reproduce etc.

I will not lower myself to calling you ignorant, but it's obious you did not even read the book I metioned.

It's also obvious you have never heard of the gorilla, chimpanzee, or the bonobo, or else you would be aware of they exist on a diet consisting of mostly fruit. The Bonobo is closer relative of humans than the Chimpanzee. You are possibily right that the fruit from the older periods was more nutrtious, than todays fruit.
There is a whole mouitain side in the tropics that is planted with fruit up the mountian side, as you go up the mountian the fruit changes from the tropical kind, to the cold climate type such as pears, apples, peaches, berries.

Like I said I would not lower myself to name calling which is frowned upon at ATS, But any Moron I'm sure is aware the in the Bible when Adam and Eve, were thrown out of the Garden of Eden this was a bad thing.
As to being cast down, and the animals will fear you and will be your meat, being force to killing and eat animals, pror to this they lived like kings in the Garden, don't go all Bible freak out, I'm only speaking as a analogy.
Pior to this, they were living like Kings, rather than as you say hunting, or chasing down a bloodie rat.
Now adays you don't get much hunting at burger king, or at the end of a high powered rifle and scope, at least I would not call it hunting.

I'm sure your aware that a female hyena grows a fake penis because the testosterone levels are so high, and they are very agressive. Also so I believe the meat causes problems with all the hormone levels including estrogen.
Why are all these meat eaters gettig sick, fruit and vegatables do the oppsite of meat and do not promote things such as cancer. Got to much testosterone got prostate problems?


One other thing I don't believe these people, refering to the people who wrote book, were fruitarians, but are scientist trying to understand something, but may have become fruitarian upon relization that humans were indeed ment to be fruitarians.
You should realy read that book.


[edit on 19-8-2010 by googolplex]

hey what a nice thread and surveys,really enjoyable.I wonder if it is to much to attempt some logical explanation about the diets that religions follow using these fingings.

These evolutionary theories are poorly informed, as is our current medical doctors and so called 'experts'. We have been in an age of illusion for several thousand years and it is just now coming to an end.

I would rather eat foods that are alive and full of energy.. that is common sense.

Sadly, the foods nearly everyone consumes are devoid of this very life giving energy.. most are processed and genetically altered which adds to the devolution(that's right) of our species. Look around at all the obesity, folks. I can tell you our spirituality and natural abilities have degenerated too.

Furthermore, when foods are heated over 120 degrees they lose a significant amount of nutrients and the structure is changed, resulting in a much harder to digest form. The average person has 5-10 pounds of halfway-digested fecal matter lodged in their colon. Ask any colon therapist and they will confirm this... doesn't seem natural or smart to me. Go get a colonic and thank me later.

Kirlian photography can show you the different amounts of life force energy foods have, there is a shocking difference between organic and commercial products.

www.google.com... food&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

Meat from animals should also only be consumed(rarely) in an ethical manner and with much respect, this is a much more expansive topic.

Homer Mandrill would be indeed proud of his tenacious flesh-eating descendants. Homer for president.

‘Not in innocence and not in Asia was mankind born. The home of our fathers was the African Highland. The most significant of all our gifts was the legacy bequeathed us by our immediate forebears, a race of terrestrial flesh-eating killer apes.’

“Raymond A. Dart of the University Of Johannesburg was the strident voice from South Africa that would prove the southern ape to be the human ancestor. Dart put forward the simple thesis that man emerged from the anthropoid background for only one reason: ‘because he was a killer. A rock, a stick, a heavy bone, was to our ancestral killer ape the margin of survival.’ (And now we sat in his office at the wrong end of the world). ‘Man’s original nature imposes itself on any human solution. The aggressive nature of the southern ape, suh, glowing with menace, fought your battles on the perilous veldts of Africa, 500,000 years ago. Had he not done so, you would not be living here, in this great city, in this great land of America, raising your happy families in peace and prosperity.’

complete text at: niqnaq.wordpress.com...

a few thousand years ago it made sense to eat meat. but humans are extremely poorly adapted to hunting without the use of technology.
poor running speed, poor night vision, relatively weak for our size, flat teeth, flat finger nails, poor endurance. long digestive tract, diseases, expensive to produce, kills the earth, etc.etc.etc you get the idea.
meat is an antiquated idealogy for diets and someday will be looked upon for waht it is, cruel and poisnonous.