On Fri, 4 Feb 2000, Dori Zook wrote: > In a nutshell, red meat is the primary natural source of carnitine, an amino > acid integral to the processing of fatty acid. Without carnitine, fatty > acid never makes it to the mitochondria, or fat furnaces, of your cells. > Instead, it goes straight to your tush, thighs, love handles, etc. Not > surprisingly, most people aren't getting enough carnitine, which has been > shown to help all sorts of other problems, as well. Don't forget that red meat is also an excellent source of lysine which, if Pauling is right, can help to prevent and possibly reverse atherosclerosis (in conjunction with adequate ascorbate). It is also a good source of arginine, from which we get arginine-derived nitric oxide (ADNO), which is now recognized to be very important to circulatory function (and is the basis of Viagra!). Finally, free-range beef (but not, alas, feedlot beef) is our main source of conjugated linoleic acid, a fat that has been shown to help reduce body fat and increase muscle in those who consume it. Todd Moody