regarding juicing and protein

[Guest guest]

Hi there,

 

I am studying and living in Egypt and just wanted to share some of my

reflections on the quality and freshness of food here in this " poor, third

world " country.

 

First of all the absolutely best thing about living in Cairo, Egypt, is that

there is a juice store on every corner. depending on the season you can get

fresh mango, strawberry, guava, sugar cane, banana, carrot, caroub, date,

humous, lemon, Tamarhind, pomegramate orange, grapefuit juice and more. They

make it right in front of you, there is a huge machine that they push sugar cane

through to make juice, a juicer for carrots and pomegramate, a manual squeezer

for organges and a blender for everything else. A huge glass of juice can cost

anywhere from 5cents for sugar can to 15cents for mango. Its something that most

Egyptians can generally afford. And juice stores have been around for decades

in Egypt, yet nobody makes a big deal about it, they just take it for granted

that everyone drinks fresh juice. On the other hand, back home in California,

drinking fresh juice from a juice bar, is a treat on a student budget. Can't

really afford to buy the juicer, and paying $4 for a

glass of juice really pushes one wallet. Its too bad that Americans can't take

on this attitude as well, drinking fresh juice could become a normal thing.

 

In addition, I just wanted to add for 2 cents about getting enough protein. A

few years ago I went to a naturopath, who told me my blood type was A, thus, I

was suitable for being a vegetarian. That was very good news since I've been

vegetarian for years, and didn;t want to quit. On the other hand, I know a

friend whose blood type is O. He is of large build and moves a lot every day. I

did some research on the internet, regarding what he should eat, and I found

that it is best for him to eat some meat. While on one hand, I do perfectly well

without meat, he gets tired and anxious without it. For a while he tried to be

a vegetarian, but he was always exhausted and such. I suggested that he try

eating some chicken, which he did, and felt much better. So now he eats meat

(mainly chicken) in moderation. Just 3-4 times a week, which is probably the

maximum that anyone could take.

 

Besides, he's Egyptian, and you can't buy frozen meat here. Instead, there are

butchers who hang fresh red meat on hooks and cut it directly for you, or else

you go to a poultry store. there they have chickens, pigeons, ducks, rabbits,

turkeys, etc. You tell them what weight you want, and they choose an animal,

weigh it, and then there is someone who kills it right there, cleans it, takes

off the feathers and chops it up and puts it neatly into a bag. Most of the

time, they buy the chickens from small farmers who tend to feed their chickens

real food, like corn, I don't believe they use hormones. Although its pretty

gruesome if you don't like blood (I usually wait outside of the store so I don't

hear all of the animal cries) its really the best way to eat fresh meat. If only

this would take on in the states. Because buying frozen, hormone fed meat does

not seem so healthy.

 

I buy my produce daily from the open market. Most of the sellers are local

farmers or else buy their stuff from local farmers. In addition, lots of women

sell eggs from their chickens, homemade cheese and food from their farms. Every

morning they take their produce, put it into a large woven basket, take the

train to the capital and sell their wares.You know that everything was picked

the same day. On the other hand, there are several western style supermarkets,

the produce is all packed, the tomatoes have no color or taste, and usually the

produce is a few days old. I belive its like that in the States. Its hardly

real food.

 

Its strange how people in the west think everywhere else is so backwards. Yet

there are traditional practices which are much more healthy than American

practices. Its just too bad that KFC and Macdonalds have invaded Egypt, luckily

they're much too expensive except for the well-heeled Egyptians...

 

thats just my 2 cents.

 

-Rose

 

 

 

 

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