From Dr. Fuhrman's book: Fasting and Eating for Health
I'm on my 9th day without animal protein.
Cont. in Dr. Fuhrman's book Fasting and Eating for Health pages 148 and 149
"There is evidence that when peptides from animal proteins are absorbed, they not only can lead to the formation of antibodies against them, but also can cross-react against human proteins in the body. This may be because animal meats have amino acid sequences that are similar to those found in human tissue. Plant proteins are less likely to cause this reaction, even if their peptides pass into the bloodstream, because they bear little resemblance to human proteins.
When the immune system views the animal peptides in the bloodstream and attempts to attack and destroy them, the antibodies created can continue to attack other body tissues later. Because amino acid sequences in human body proteins are similar to those of the animal peptides, these antibodies can attach to and cause a reaction to one's own tissues.
Excess protein in the diet creates a significant risk for the development of autoimmune disease because, by nature, we are designed like the other large primates to consume comparatively low amounts of protein.
When we eat an animal-food-based diet with servings of high-protein animal foods at each meal, our capacity to digest this food efficiently is strained. Unlike the true carnivorous animals, which can secrete large quantities of acids in thier digestive tracts and huge amounts of protein-cleaving enzymes to aid in the digestive process, the human animal cannot. Because we cannot efficiently dissolve these proteins, more incompletely digested peptides are apt to be absorbed. In addition, our intestines allow more bacteria species to overgrow when this environment is rich with animal-food-derived peptides. This results in the absorption of toxic bacterial by-products, which can create an inflammatory environment. So the overgrowth of various bacterial species thriving in the gut of the average American contributes to immune dysfunction."
Dr. Fuhrman M.D. is known the world over and is good friends with Dr. Oz. I think he really knows what he's talking about. He's worked with over 10,000 patients to heal all kinds of illnesses including autoimmune issues.
Eat well. live well, be well.