By Sean Michael Hall, L.Ac.

Meat is good for you!

At least it is, in moderation, and if it’s raised and sourced correctly. I was a strict vegan for 5 years in my 20s, and vegetarian for a couple of years before that. Over the past twenty years, I’ve read most of the books promoting those diets. Based on my own experience, my reading of additional literature, and 10 years of clinical experience, I’ve come to the conclusion that a vegetarian diet can only be healthy if strict attention is paid to a number of factors. And a purely vegan diet is almost never healthy. I’ll go into more detail in future posts for those that are skeptical.

Now, for those of you that have fully embraced your omnivorous nature, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. First is that most livestock is near the top of the food chain, so that means it must be sourced well. Yes, it is a good idea to make most of your fruits and vegetables organic. But, organic meat is a must.

The second factor is, make sure it’s grass-fed or pasture-raised. How livestock is raised determines whether it is damaging to your health, or health-promoting. These two factors are essential if you choose to eat meat. Again, I won’t go into details here, as there are many people out there educating the public on the health benefits of grass-fed, organic livestock.

Cilantro, Serrano, Ginger Hamburger Patties

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. organic, grass-fed ground beef
• 1 bunch cilantro
• ½ bunch parsley
• 4-8 thumbs worth ginger
• 1 medium to large onion
• 4-6 cloves garlic
• 1-3 serrano peppers
• 1 tsp. sea salt

Directions

Simply chop and combine all of the ingredients, and bake at 375 degrees for 15-30 minutes. Adjust the time based on how cooked you like the meat. It’s as easy as that! I like to serve it with Sautéed Kale and Brown Rice. No need for a bun.

Before you’ve combined the ingredients, it’s going to look like you have an insane amount of greens, onion, etc. And that’s the point! Think of the meat as a vehicle for all of the health-promoting, detoxifying, inflammation-reducing, immune-enhancing effects of the other ingredients. Once you begin combining the ingredients with your hands and fingers, the ratio of greens to meat will seem less intimidating.

Disclaimer: I’m not a chef, nor very specific in my recipes. If you’re looking for a source for healthy, gourmet, detailed recipes, check out this blog by a patient of mine: www.inthekitchenkeepinitreal.com

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