Why Be a Vegetarian? And how animals are treated…
Check out this provocative and eye-opening article I found on how animals raised for food are treated. Not for the squeamish:
I’d love to hear your thoughts. Post them here
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being vegetarian made me a lot healthier and leaner,”~
being vegeterian helps me a lot in toning down my body fats and staying fit*:~
i became a Vegan three years ago and i can say that my health have been very very good. meat and dairy substitutes like soy also works well for the body.
Anonymous
I agree with “anonymous” in post 15. Insulting others is not only going to get us nowhere, but will prevent the opposite side from taking our presented points seriously.
However, I disagree with the part where he/she says, “Bothering to mention animal cruelty is a futile position (it’s nothing new and if people truly cared things would have already changed).” I think a lot of the problem is that people are ignorant (intentionally or unintentionally) to the fact that some of the conditions animals are kept in are horrific. Another problem is the growth of city life. Less and less people are coming in contact with the animals that they are eating, so they don’t put two and two together and think about the process by which the animal arrived on their plate. People don’t think about the fact that the muscle and fat in the hamburger bun was crammed into a feces-laden cage, pumped with steroids and medication, then slaughtered at a young age.
For those of you who argue about religion and vegetarianism, it is true that God placed us over all the other animals…we’re made in His image. We’re to rule over all other living things. But my question is this: what type of rulers did he want us to be? Animals are God’s creation, too, and I highly doubt that he wanted us to rule over them unjustly. There are three types of rulers: those who exploit, take advantage of, and harm those who he/she rules over; those who go out of their way to better the lives of those he/she rules over; and those who see evil happening but don’t do anything about it.
Which of these do you think God wants us to be?
Vinaayaka
I am a born vegetarian and my whole family and all our ancestors were vegetarians. All of us have good health and we never thought about eating meat at any time. Human beings are not made to eat animals or other human beings. We are intelligent beings with a compassion in our heart. Animals like human beings suffers pain. If we are not allowed to kill or torture other human beings, we are also not allowed to kill or torture animals, unless for self defense or to protect fellow living beings.
Look at history. All sensible intelligent people were vegetarians. All human beings should stop eating dead corpses right now. One who eat meat can not preach non violence, love or even not qualified to talk about GOD! Let all religious preachers or leaders become vegetarians first and then teach it to masses. Only then, they will become eligible to preach their religions.
That is the only hope for us to get rid of violence and terrorism from the earth.
Think through your heart!!!
Ray Tomes
Some of your comments are made by people who are badly informed. There is great ignorance about vegetarianism, but all studies find that there is no problem getting sufficient protein and nutrients.
Why kill other creatures when we do not need to? Would you kill a member of your own family? Well why kill the member of someone else’s family?
Anonymous
I find it humurous that so many of you have valid points, yet you debase your arguments by interjecting statements riddled with close-mindedness and ignorance.
e.g. “Anyone who eats anything for enjoyment must have some serious mental problems because that it how people become FAT.”
Just wondering, during your tirade did you stop to think about what you were typing?
And as for the individual who posted about Hitler being a vegetarian and implied that being the reason for the Holocaust…no comment, for your entire post takes away any credibility you could possibly have. (and how could you possibly get the causes behind WWI & II incorrect?)
It is so clear from so many of these arguments that there is not even an attempt at understanding one’s viewpoint, just attempts at “outwitting” or should I say “out googling” the other.
And when people talk about “you can’t get adaquete protein” and all that crap. All I can say is do a bit of research and you’ll find it is not hard to compensate for the defeciencies found in a vegetarian diet. And I laugh about it all the way to the gym where I lift more than the majority of people.
I find it funny how so many people have an immediate bias, or draw conclusions about vegetarians when they are in no way affected by it. Lets see, more meat for you?
And as far as people preaching the world would be a better place with no one eating meat, just think about that for a second.
As for people mentioning specifics of the human body/biology to draw conclusions as to whether or not human are “meant” to or “designed” to eat meat. Bottom line, if you look for it, you’ll find it.
Bothering to mention animal cruelty is a futile position (it’s nothing new and if people truly cared things would have already changed). Humans are self-serving by nature, possibly linked to an inherent survival mechanism, and while they may feel “guilty” about eating meat, 99.9% won’t stop until there is some pressing reason that puts their health in immediate danger.
What I want to get through is that so many of the posts are riddled with ignorance, points mute of any facuality. And I’m not suggesting we all hold hands and get along, don’t get me wrong, but at least stop and breathe and think through your thoughts and post something constructive.
Anyway, I don’t know if this post is coherent due to the fact that it is 5am and I haven’t slept yet, but if there is one thing that I can’t stand, it is ignorance.
Anonymous
in response to point 13. You tell me that it promotes disease when i have only had about 4 colds in the last 17 YEARS!
Anonymous
All the people out there talking about killing and chopping down trees…it is HUMAN NATURE to kill things. We have been killing ourselves for millions of years, why would we stop now? Look at world wars 1 and 2. Persecution because “he looked at me funny”. Also i’d just like to point out that Hitler was a vegetarian. Hmmm…a dilemma. Vegetarianism good, genocide very very bad. What to do? It would be very interesting to find out the results oif the experiment “vegetarianism found to be cause of mass slaughtering.”
Anonymous
These arguments that humans “aren’t meant to eat meat are ludicrous”. Firstly, if we were supposed to eat only vegetables then we would have an extended ceacum and the necessary bacteria in it to actually digest the cellulose in the cell wall of the plant. Secondly, if “GOD” or whatever is responsible didn’t want us to eat meat, then he would have given livestock animals, such as sheep cows etc., a defense mechanism. You don’t exactly see many people going out and cultivating lions, tigers or bears for food. Thirdly, people have to realize that we are the top of the food chain. We have been given a tool which allows us to kill and eat, so why not use it. I would also like people to tell me where they get their necessary protein from. How many nuts do you eat per week? I know that there are other foods which provide protein, but red meat is one of the largest sources. Dietary supplements don’t count either as you need to ingest food to actually absorb the nutrients at any efficient rate. Humans do need vegetables and plant matter to flush out all of the waste which is left over from eating meat. The reason that people become constipated is because they doon’t eat enough vegetables, not that they eat any OR too much meat. Also food is food. Anyone who eats anything for enjoyment must have some serious mental problems because that it how people become FAT. It is common knowledge that people eat excess sugars or anything because they are feeling emotional. When women go through menopause or become pregnant, a lot of them crave sweet or fatty foods. This is because eating these foods causes a release of ceratonin in the brain which makes them feel better. I’m not saying to not eat vegetables but that meat is a necessary part of the human digestive system. Also have a look at the anatomy of our teeth to see the similarities there. Canines? Do sheep have canines?
Anonymous
We have just decided to go vegetarian. Primary reason…I’ve come to the conclusion through reading about and studying nutrition that anything ‘dead’ is just that. We are to eat ‘live’ foods to obtain maximum nutrients and eating anything with no life in it is simply filler regardless of how tasty it is. Interesting paradox that God has provided us food with life in it without having to ‘take’ a life.
Al
That idea that b/c carnivors have short intestines and a lot stronger acid makes no sense. think about the very start of the digestive tract it is in the teeth they can’t chew as well as us the dont chew hardly at all, so their acid level would have to be a lot stronger to break down the food. we on the other hand can chew our food and break it down further in the very start. and the reason that we would have a long digestive tract is #1 we are a lo larger than most all carnivores and two we are adapted to eat both meat and plant matter so we have to be able to digest both of them so we need the longer digestive tract and acid that isnt that strong. so i dont think one bit that if we all were vegitarians it would save the world.
Anonymous
If anyone thinks our bodies are designed to eat meat, you need to go back to basic biology/physiology. Number one, the Human digestive system is not designed like flesh eating animals. The human digestive track is twelve times the body length and therefore, decaying and putrifying foods remain in our system for a longer time creating TOXINS THAT CAN LEAD TO DISEASES LIKE CANCER, NOT TO MENTION SIMPLE INDIGESTION, CONSTIPATION, ETC.! The digestive tracks in FLESH eating animals are shorter and the acid required to digest meat is much stronger. If you think that eating meat provides the proper nutritional balance in protein, do yourself a favor and take a nutrition course, it could contribute healthier living for yourself
Anonymous
If anyone thinks our bodies are designed to eat meat, you need to go back to basic biology/physiology. Number one, the Human digestive system is not designed like flesh eating animals. The human digestive track is twelve times the body length and therefore, decaying and putrifying foods remain in our system for a longer time creating TOXINS THAT CAN LEAD TO DISEASES LIKE CANCER, NOT TO MENTION SIMPLE INDIGESTION, CONSTIPATION, ETC.! The digestive tracks in FLESH eating animals are shorter and the acid required to digest meat is much stronger. The tiger’s digestive system is only 5 time the body length. If you think that eating meat provides the proper nutritional balance in protein, do yourself a favor and take a nutrition course, at least your conclusions will be more factual and scientific. It’s amazing how people draw conclusions to justify what they do and believe.
Anonymous
If anyone thinks our bodies are designed to eat meat, you need to go back to basic biology/physiology. Number one, the Human digestive system is not designed like flesh eating animals. The human digestive track is twelve times the body length and therefore, decaying and putrifying foods remain in our system for a longer time creating TOXINS THAT CAN LEAD TO DISEASES LIKE CANCER, NOT TO MENTION SIMPLE INDIGESTION, CONSTIPATION, ETC.! The digestive tracks in FLESH eating animals are shorter and the acid required to digest meat is much stronger. The tiger’s digestive system is only 5 time the body length. If you think that eating meat provides the proper nutritional balance in protein, do yourself a favor and talk a nutrition course, at least your conclusions will be more factual and scientific. It’s amazing how people draw conclusions to justify what they do and believe.
Anonymous
I agree with ‘anonymous’ about the five best reasons not to eat meat.
A proper vegetarian diet is generally healthier than one that includes meat and can protect against certain kinds of cancers, most notably colon cancer. See http://editorials.arrivenet.com/health/article.php/5080.html for reasons why being vegetarian is better for your health.
I guess, as with everything, it’s a personal choice and is all about harmony and balance. http://www.kidskonnect.com/FoodPyramid/FoodPyramidHome.html
Personally, I would prefer that no living animal suffered for my eating pleasure. SG.
Anonymous
To me, there are 5 main reasons not to eat meat. Health reasons, spiritual reasons, ethical and environmental reasons, and plain taste…. Personally I do not eat anything with a face, don´t like the idea of killing for me to eat. I also believe that I am healthier this way, at least I feel better, I also know all the facts regarding what the meat industry does to our environment, but I did not stop eating meat because I didn´t like the taste, but I also know the taste in meat is created by the uric acid…
I believe the world would be a better place if we all were vegetarians, but that´s just me. I do respect people who eat meat, but if you eat it- make sure it is organic, please!!
What I have felt though is that every time someone finds out that I am vegetarian and they ask me why, they feel that I am judging them and always start to argument with me. I am not up for argumenting, I do not try to turn other people into vegetarians. That´s why I normally avoid discussing it. I belive that when the time is right, everyone of us will take the “right” decision…;o)
If you don´t want to be a vegetarian in this life, you´ll have another chance in the next! ;o)
PS Trees are mainly cut down to arrange space for growing grains which is to feed the animals that some of us eat, 70% of all the grain produced in the US is fed to livestock… as simple as that.
Anonymous
Well… use your brain for at least once to think rather than your stomach and your “good health”. Have you ever thought about that you are taking someone’s life to please yourself? Why don’t you try your neighbour if you really care about a balanced diet? Why all the innocent animals?
Carole
agreed. A lot of half-truths, and scare tactic hype. Actually, the absense of meat in a diet is responsible for many diseases, including cancer. We are designed to eat meat, like it or not. When we don’t have the proper nutrional balance, our bodies don’t work right, resulting in the increase in desases we see now.
I do however agree that we should increase the deamnd for organic meat, raised in a normal fashion without all the drugs and fillers.
And if anyone can find a way to replenish the nutrients we have lost in the soil from over-farming that would be great too. I just released ‘Suicide by Diet’ (SuicidebyDiet.com) that talks about how our nutrient deficient diets and the fake food industries are killing us.
The best you can do is be informed and make the best choice you can.
What does cutting down trees have to do with meat production? I was a little lost on that one. Sensationalism always causes a stir, doesn’t it?
Be Well-
Carole
Anonymous
Wow converted vegetarians are worse than reformed smokers, I hope they don’t take a lot of what is written as gospel, because like everything else just because it’s on the web does not mean it is true. Not to say that a lot of it is but be careful what you believe.
Copyright 2018 David Wood.
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