In this episode, host Unique and guest Luis Mojica discuss the concept of "food ideologies" and how they can become a person's identity, often to the detriment of their health.

Podcast Summary: Food Ideology vs. Personal Health

In this episode, Unique Hammond and her guest, Luis Mojica, discuss the concept of food as identity and how it can become a limiting factor in personal health journeys. Unique emphasizes that while the Bean Protocol was a tool that helped her heal from autoimmune conditions like Crohn's and endometriosis, she doesn't want it to be her sole identity.

Both hosts share personal stories of how they subscribed to strict food ideologies—first vegetarianism, then veganism and macrobiotics—as a means of finding health. Luis recounts his journey from eating a highly processed diet to becoming a "militant vegan" after a traumatic experience at a factory farm. He initially thrived on a whole-foods vegan diet but later began to experience fatigue, brain fog, and weight gain. He realized his body was craving animal proteins and fats.

They both highlight a key issue: when a food ideology becomes a person’s identity, it can lead to social and internal conflict if they need to change their diet for health reasons. Luis shares his experience of losing friends and a book deal after he started incorporating eggs and fish into his diet. Unique notes that many of her clients, particularly women, feel better after adding in legumes and some animal protein, but are afraid to do so openly due to social pressure.

The conversation touches on the psychological and emotional components of eating. They discuss how a strict diet can sometimes be a trauma response, a way of exerting control or protecting oneself. They also note that a balanced diet, like the one offered by the Bean Protocol™, can create a sense of internal stability that allows people to address deeper emotional issues. Unique concludes by saying her upcoming book will frame the Bean Protocol ™ as an omnivore plan for healing, emphasizing that wellness requires effort, consistency, and a willingness to listen to one’s body.

Scientific Correction:

• Clarification: The human body needs a total of 20 amino acids to build proteins, 9 of which are essential and must come from food. The body can create complete proteins from a variety of plant sources, provided the diet is varied enough to supply all the essential amino acids. The feeling of improved health from adding animal protein is likely due to the higher concentration and more easily digestible form of protein (a complete protein) and fat-soluble vitamins found in animal products, which may be more challenging to obtain in sufficient amounts on a vegan diet, not due to an inability to break down carbohydrates.

A Note on Veganism:

It's important to recognize that not everyone chooses a vegan lifestyle for health reasons. For many, the choice is driven by a deep ethical commitment to animal welfare and environmental sustainability. For these individuals, the diet is a core part of their moral belief system, and they may be willing to sacrifice their own health if needed for the life of an animal. This is a powerful and personal choice that goes beyond the conversation about food as medicine.