Autumn All Year

Public Service Announcement: Meat doesn't rot in the gut

When we eat meat it is broken down by stomach acid and digestive enzymes. In the small intestine, the proteins are broken down into essential amino acids, and the fats are broken down into essential fatty acids.

The digestive process starts in the mouth where amylase (an enzyme) begins to break down starches. Food makes its way down the esophagus and then into the stomach, where pepsin (another enzyme) breaks down proteins, and hydrochloric acid (pH 1.5-3) further dissolves everything. At this point, food is partially digested. It is not rotten. It has been broken down by gastric juices.

From there, it makes its way into the small intestine, which is made up of three parts. First, the food makes its way into the duodenum, next the jejunum, and finally the ileum. Food then progresses into the large intestine, which is comprised of the appendix, cecum, colon and finally the rectum. Any waste products are expelled through the anus.

@autumnallyear.us PSA: Meat does not rot in the gut. #digestiveenzymes #meat #meatdoesnotrotinthegut #psa #facts #science ♬ Meat - Killer Bee

Meat does not cause our bodies to become "acidic"

Foods do not influence our blood pH. Blood pH is tightly regulated by the kidneys. And while it is possible to have more acidic blood (acidosis), this is caused by serious health conditions, such as renal (kidney) insufficiency. You cannot eat certain foods to influence your blood pH.

You can consume enough baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) to temporarily change your blood pH, but that is only temporary and causes some pretty uncomfortable GI (gastrointestinal) symptoms. Creating an "alkaline" blood pH long term is not possible and attempting to do so would be intolerable from a GI perspective.

Watch this video from Chris Kresser at the Paleo FX conference, discussing the acid-alkaline myth for a more thorough explanation.