A few months ago I went to Bastyr Center for Natural Health in Seattle (http://bastyrcenter.org/) because I was struggling with low energy levels. When the ND went through her initial intake, she asked if I had any problems sleeping at night. I casually mentioned that I woke-up in the middle of the night really hungry. In fact, I would be so hungry I would have to eat in order to fall back asleep. I told the ND I was pretty active but I also thought I ate adequate calories for my activity levels. She then asked about my diet and I mentioned that I had been a vegetarian for roughly the past 15 years. We talked about the different protein sources I ate (very few) and how much protein I ate on a daily basis. The ND said the reason I was waking up in the middle of the night is because my body was going into hypoglycemia. The reason: low protein intake.

I was pretty surprised to learn the reason for my nighttime waking because I thought that even though I didn't eat meat, I was still getting enough protein. Apparently I wasn't. The ND suggested I start eating meat and I looked at her with bulging eyes and a shocked expression and said, "I really don't think I can eat meat." She gently suggested I should really try eating meat, especially red meat, and see how I feel. When she said, "red meat, " I thought it was time for the appointment to be over. I said matter-of-factly, "I can't do red meat."

Shortly after my visit I received my blood tests back and found out my low energy levels were caused by extremely low levels of iron. The ND suggested that now I had two reasons to start eating meat. I thought about how wonderful it would be to sleep better and have more energy, so I decided to give meat a try.

Let me tell you, eating meat really changed my life for the better. I feel bad saying this if any animal rights activists or environmentalists are reading this post but I really think my body needs meat at this point in my life. I never ever thought I would eat meat again but I feel so much better as a carnivore that I am not sure I can go back to a vegetarian diet anytime soon.

How has eating meat changed my life for the better? First off, I have never slept more soundly in my entire life. I have always been a good sleeper but now I sleep for a solid 8 hours almost every night and I never wake-up hungry anymore. Eatnig meat changed my skin, hair, and most importantly, improved my energy levels. I feel alert, happy, and have stable blood sugar levels While I understand more protein in my diet is the cause of all these positive changes, I do think my body needed heme (animal) protein sources versus the mainly non-heme (plant-based) protein sources I had been eating for the past 15 years.

This whole experience has made me realize that you absolutely need to eat the type of diet that is right for your body. Foods are meant to heal the body, as long as you are eating the right ones based on your specific needs. If you don't feel your absolute best, do an assessment of your diet and determine if you need to make some changes.

Colleen Canney is a Career, Life, and Wellness Coach based in Seattle, WA. For more information on Colleen, please visit her website at: www.colleencanney.com or contact her via email at colleencanney@live.com. MENTION THIS POST AND RECEIVE 50% OFF YOUR FIRST COACHING SESSION.