this was moronic. protein is degraded by bacteria in the gut. animals that are grown in a bacteria free environment are around 40% of the size of an animal with bacteria, no matter what kind of diet they're fed.

After viewing 300,000 Intestines & Stomachs, Dr. Hiromi Shinya has Something to say about Gastrointestinal Health, "A person with poor gastrointestinal function is never healthy. When a person's gastrointestinal system is not clean, that person will be prone to suffer from some kind of disease. In short, whether a person is healthy or not depends on what that person eats and how that person lives day to day. What determines a person's state of health is the daily accumulation of things such as food, water, exercise, sleep, work, and stress."

Mr. Shinya is not a promoter of westernized medicine for the mere fact that he has studied, viewed and made case studies of his patients diet and colon for decades and has come to the conclusion that one of the contributors to disease is the result of a dirty, acidic and toxic colon caused from unhealthy lifestyle choices. One of these lifestyle choices is a lack of consuming real whole foods that are abundant in nutrients and antioxidants such as a diet of raw vegetables and fruits over a poor diet consisting of mostly processed, acidic foods. He noticed a direct correlation between the diet and the colon and he authored a few books that describes his findings and solutions. In his book, The Enzyme Factor, He is quoted as saying...

“... Enzymes are the protein catalysts that are made within the cells of all living things--and they're needed to maintain life--think transportation of nutrients, digestion, excretion, synthesis, detoxification, decomposition, and supplying energy. There are over 5000 kinds of vital enzymes, each with specific jobs--like the digestive enzyme amylase that's found in saliva & reacts to carbohydrates. Some foods like dairy products, meat, and alcohol require a greater-than-normal amount of a particular enzyme to break them down--creating a shortage of the necessary enzymes needed for digestion & absorption. ”

Shinya's Keys to Good Health :

1. Eat a diet that is 85-90% plant-based foods 50% whole grains, brown rice, whole wheat pasta, barley, cereals, whole grain bread & beans including soybeans, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, lentils, pinto beans, pigeon peas, black, white & pink beans 30% green and yellow vegetables and root vegetables, including potatoes, carrots, yams and beets, and sea vegetables 5-10% fruits, seeds & nuts soymilk, rice milk, almond milk

2. 10-15% animal-based proteins (no more than 3 to 4 ounces per day): Fish of any type, but preferably small fish as the large fish contain mercury Poultry: chicken, turkey, duck--small amounts only Beef, lamb, veal, pork - should be limited or avoided Eggs

3. Foods to add to your diet: Herbal teas Seaweed/kelp tablets Brewer's yeast (good source of B complex vitamins and minerals) Enzyme supplements Multivatimin & mineral supplements Fish oil--particularly DHA

4. Good Water is essential for your health. Drink "good water" (Alkaline Ionized Water) such as mineral water or hard water, which has calcium & magnesium, and keeps the body at an optimal alkaline pH Adults should drink at least 6-10 cups of water every day Drink 1-3 cups of water after waking up in the morning Drink 2-3 cups of water about one hour before each meal.

5. Regular Elimination Start a daily habit to remove intestinal pollutants and to clean out your system regularly Do not take laxatives Eat high fiber foods--don't get your fiber from capsules or supplements

6. Decrease dependence on prescription drugs by modifying your diet & getting exercise when possible Pharmaceuticals can tax the liver and kidneys. Many chronic conditions such as arthritis, gout, diabetes, and osteoporosis can be managed with diet and exercise.

7. Minerals are important to health Magnesium activates hundreds of different enzymes--and is required for good health. A balance of sodium & potassium is a prerequisite for life. Laxatives, diarrhea, excessive exercise can deplete sodium. A diet high in vegetables boosts potassium. Too much calcium after middle age can be harmful Small amounts of trace minerals work synergistically with vitamins, minerals, and enzymes: boron, copper, zinc, iron, selenium, chromium, manganese, molybdenum, & iodine.

8. Moderate Exercise appropriate for your age and physical condition is necessary for good health, but excessive exercise can release free radicals and harm your body Some good forms of exercise are walking (2.5 miles), swimming, tennis, bicycling, golf, muscle strengthening, yoga, martial arts, and aerobics

9. Adequate Rest - Shinya is a daily napper, so he goes to bed at the same time every night and gets six to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. If you are hungry or thirsty, a small piece of fruit may be eaten one hour before retiring, as it will digest quickly. Take a short nap of about 30 minutes after lunch.

10. Breathing and meditation- Practice meditation. Do deep abdominal breathing 4 or 5 times per hour. The exhale should be twice as long as the inhale. This is very important as deep breaths help to rid the body of toxins and free radicals. Wear loose clothing that does not restrict your breath. Listen to your own body and be good to yourself

11. Joy and love will boost your body's enzyme factor sometimes in miraculous ways Take time every day for an attitude of appreciation Laugh Sing Dance Live passionately and engage your life, your work, and the ones you love with your full heart

The solution: Avoid the kinds of foods that deplete enzymes, such as...

1. Excessive Animal Protein--especially red meat

2. Dairy products such as cow's milk, cheese, yogurt, other milk products

3. Japanese green tea, Chinese tea, English tea (limit to 1-2 cups per day)

4. Coffee

5. Sweets and sugar

6. Nicotine

7. Chocolate

8. Fats & oils

9. Regular table salt (use sea salt with trace minerals)

10. Alcohol

I will remember this the next time somebody says that crap. See what I did there? But seriously.

First of all, the majority of B12 deficiency cases in N. America are in meat eaters. Did everyone know that? No, apparently not. I don't even think vegetarian/vegan cases are large enough to fit into the statistic.

Now, B12 is found all over the place. The most important thing about B12 (and all other vitamins) is this "reliable sources". That is, if a scientist test 100 oranges, and only 20 register as having B12, then this is not a reliable source.

It's all science and statistics -- with are also unreliable.

See, B12 can be found in a person's mouth and intestines too. But these are also unreliable because every person is different, as is every orange.

Now, B12 is basically found in bacteria poop. Where do you find bacteria? Everywhere. But, as a food source, you'd find it on the outer parts of fruits and veggies. Wash, peel, and cook those, and you are not reducing the B12 content. B12 can be found quite reliably in dirt, but who eats dirt or dirty food these days? Not many people. Everything is clean clean clean. Well water has also been a source in the past.

So, basically, the most "reliable" places one can find B12 are in a healthy digestive tract, and in fermented foods that have not been cooked or pasteurized etc. Some popular products in N. America are miso, tempeh, natto, etc. Real pickles (those not made with vinegar or cooked etc.) or sauerkraut etc. may also be reliable sources. Nutritional yeast is a good thing to add to one's diet too. Also, so called "probiotic" foods will help with improving ones digestive system.

But, go ahead, and talk to lifetime vegans from other countries and they take no vitamins or supplements etc. I was talking to a live long vegan from India (on the net) the other week and he said that in India a 100% vegetarian (vegan) diet is seen as a complete diet; not lacking in anything -- so they don't need to take any B12 or any other vitamins, and after many years of life this guy is still alive, and so are millions of other life long vegans there. Vegetarianism is an ancient practise in other parts of the world -- it's only seen as some kind of weird hippie thing in N. America.

If you are worried about B12, you can also take some spirulina. It has B12 and is vegan.

But, you should also consider thing that hinder B12 absorptions, and hinder the growth of the good bacteria in the intestinal tract. Antibiotics are notorious for ruining people's digestive flora and allowing the bad bacteria to flourish. After using antibiotics one must really focus on reestablishing their flora with probiotic supplements and foods etc. It took my wife a year to feel better and perhaps two or more to feel recovered. But, doctors give out antibiotic meds like crazy never telling people of such side effects.

So, I get B12 from what I eat. I take no vitamins. I just try to eat healthy. I do not eat 'vegetarian' foods that have been fortified with B12 such as tofu dogs etc. These things are just too expensive. I do include nutritional yeast in my diet and sometimes spirulina, and include miso quite regularly -- it's our favourite item to use to flavour our food with.

So, B12 IS in and ON bananas, it's just not a reliable source. It's also mostly on the outer skin, but you would find more B12 on a nicely ripened banana (i.e. brownish skin) than you would on a green or yellow banana that hasn't started to break down yet. So, are the scientists testing green, yellow, or ripe bananas? Are they testing organic or non-organic bananas? What is the tolerance of their "reliable source" test? These things make a difference

@ Dave:

"Tasteless" and "hard to prepare" plant foods? What? Do you even know what you're saying?

Watermelon, honeydew, potatoes, cantaloupe, berries, bananas, cherries, apples, mangos, pears, peaches, apricots, bok choy, sesame seeds, almonds, coconuts, macadamia nuts, grapes, avocado, the list goes on!

If you think plant foods are tasteless and hard to prepare, well, then quit eating them. Let's see how long you live! Just like the Eskimos!

Continue eating your diet heavy in meat, eggs, and high fat dairy!

Scientists find many associations between these foods to cancers, heart disease and plaque in arteries, obesity depending on the amount consumed, etc. Whole plant foods are associated with a LOWER risk of disease in the human body. Ever heard of watermelon causing a heart attack? No, because it's not going to happen!

Look up Dr. Hiromi Shinya on Youtube.com. There's a video containing footage of a mucus substance in the colons of various patients. Those who ate the most meat and dairy products had the dirtiest colons. Undeniable evidence. Dr. Shinya and MANY other doctors do NOT recommend the consumption of meat, eggs, and dairy.