As I get older, I'm finding meat more difficult to digest. My dad had the same problem and he gave up on it. Just wandering if, apart from chewing more or using mince in place of whole meat, anyone had any experience or tips to share.

I'm considering a protease supplement e.g. bromelain, papain, actinidin, zingibain but I'm not fully convinced that it will have time to act in the stomach.

Use vinegar.

Like unpasteurized apple cider vinegar.

Start slow. At each meal consume 2-3 teaspoons.


Perhaps as oil and vinegar on a salad, cut with a tablespoon of water.

Or make a drink combining vinegar with water.

A few drink the vinegar straight, with water chaser.


Do this everyday. Give it time. See what thus does gor you over 3-4 weeks.

Personally, I drink 2 tablespoons in a shot glass while cooking. 😂



Its supposed to help with GERD, too.

I find that odd, as meat is much easier to digest than plant foods.

If I were you, I'd seek a professional health evaluation. But that's jus me.

Whatever you do, I hope you solve your problem.

Bob

Around Christmas time I started ordering my meat from a local rancher whose livestock are born, raised and grass-fed locally. Not only is this 100% more attractive than factory farm meat, but it's wonderful to support local. Also I think grass-fed meat tastes better and is digested better. See this article for an explanation
https://lilynicholsrdn.com/7-reason...ion%20of%20meat.

I wonder if a pre and probiotic supplement will also help your stomach. I use Silver Lining pre and probiotic digestive enzymes. They're available at most health food stores or online.

The last thing I find helps balance my acidic and alkaline levels is drinking a lot of water. Meat is mostly acidic as is coffee. Drinking water brings a bit more alkaline to our bodies. There's alkaline acidic food charts online. I love Ms Arielle's suggestion for apple cider vinegar because it contains acetic acid, which has an alkalizing effect on the body.

100% grass-fed and grass-finished meat not only tastes better, it is better for you. It has a better omega3 to omega6 ratio of fatty acids.

I don't by corn finished beef at all any more, and when some is on sale by a local rancher, it's my first choice.

I read some sources saying meat is harder to digest, and others that say veggies are harder.

I go with veggies. No carnivore needs multiple stomachs to ferment the veggie fiber like cows, or mile-long alimentary canals like horses, or eat their feces to run them through again like rabbits.

Meat may seem harder to digest, because it keeps you satiated longer than veggies, due to the fat/protein instead of sugar/starch/fiber.

I still suggest, if you are really having a more difficult time digesting meat than veggies, you need to find out why. Perhaps a med professional can help.

Perhaps your enzymes are out of whack.

Whatever you do, I hope you find the solution that is right for you.

Bob

Thanks for the responses.

For me, the problem seems to be in the stomach so, instead of vinegar, I tried Betaine HCL and it seems to be helping. I've also ordered some proteolytic enzymes (protease) that break down protein.

The following 2021 paper says protein digestion in the elderly is a common problem and they suggest using aged meat, enzymes and cooking below 100degC, ideally sous vide:
https://sci-hub.se/10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.129707
(If you're outside the US, you may need to use a VPN to access)

Glad you found what worked.

Fyi. Apple cider vinegar is an acid. Just like the HCl tablets.

I too read that as we age,meat digestion becomes challenging. I was able to get my 89 year old mother do apple cider vinegar.