It's good to know that eating right can be so easy and so much fun, with Beef (Not!)® and Fat (Not!)® soyfood products!

It is very surprising to note that the basic assumption of the American public with respect to eating better (i.e., a lower cholesterol diet) is to "eat more chicken." As the book "The Power of your Plate," by Neal D. Barnard, M.D., points out "Chicken contains the same amount of cholesterol as beef" 25 milligrams per ounce. As cholesterol is primarily in the lean portion of meats, only so much cholesterol can be reduced by trimming fat. Removing the chicken skin from a breast saves approximately 3 milligrams of fat per ounce. 22mg of cholesterol per ounce still remains. It is interesting to note that this fact has been known for over a decade, and most of us still think cholesterol is in the fatty portion of meals, and not in the lean! So, fat-free and low-fat meats still have cholesterol. Check the labels to be sure, and don't be under the impression that fat is the same thing as cholesterol. What I want to know is who sold the chicken to the American public as a health food!

How do I reduce my cholesterol, if I can't depend on eating chicken to do it?

Well, fiber seems to be the key. As fish, meat and poultry are all muscle tissue, they contain no fiber. Fiber has been found to aid the digestive track by trapping fats, which then enables them to be broken down and passed right on through the elimination system! This prevents them from being reabsorbed and carried into the bloodstream. My analogy is : Fiber is like a good wire brush you would use to clean out a long tube that becomes "gunked up." In any event, fiber seems to be really needed.

Beef (Not!)® has lots of fiber (9 grams per 1/2 cup dry serving) and Omega 3 fatty acids, as well as calcium, etc. By eating it on a regular basis, Beef (Not!)® type soy has shown the ability to reduce serum cholesterol levels. While many of us will not give up eating meat, poultry, and fish entirely, eating less of it on a regular basis and more fiber, i.e. including Beef (Not!)® in daily meals can provide a more healthy lifestyle.

Beef (Not!)® is an excellent source of fiber and "plant" protein, not "animal" protein. Switching your diet to include the majority of your protein intake from plants rather than animals is a very desirable health benefit. You will also notice the "after-a-big-meal" fullness, that you experience when eating Beef (Not!)®, is pleasantly different from the "leaden" feeling and sluggishness experienced as a result of consuming large quantities of beef and/or animal protein. Now, the after dinner "nap" is optional!

(1) New England Journal of Medicine, August 3, 1995 -Volume 333, Number 5