Just my not-so-humble opinion. I’m not an expert. And I don’t want to start a debate. Nevertheless…
It is best to avoid dietary extremes, whether it be veganism or Atkins.
Mankind evolved eating animals and using their bones for tools and their hides to survive the cold of the winter. We should treat the animals well and thank them. Without them, we would not be here.
People are different. For some, vegetarianism is okay. For others, it would be disastrous.
There are no plant-based sources of Vitamins A and D. If you are not eating animal fat from animals who have access to the outside (sunlight), you are probably not getting enough vitamin D. Consider eating dairy products and egg yolks. And sunbathing (safely – don’t burn). If you are not eating the products of ruminant animals who are eating grass (such as beef or dairy products), you are probably not getting enough vitamin A. Consider high-vitamin cod liver oil (for both vitamins A and D and the longer-chain omega-3 fatty acids).
There is no plant-based source of true vitamin B-12. Vegans are at risk of anemia. If you won’t eat egg yolks or dairy products, consider a vitamin supplement.
Factory farming – of ANY kind – hurts the environment, hurts people, and destroys our food supply. Much corn and soy is genetically-modified to withstand higher levels of pesticides. There is no way to keep GM crops from contaminating regular crops. We need to return to traditional, sustainable farming practices, whether the crop is vegetable or animal.
As mentioned before, soy has estrogen-mimicking compounds. This is especially dangerous for infants on soy formula. Soy also has high levels of phytic acid, which interferes with mineral absorption. Soy should be limited to traditionally prepared (fermented) soy condiments in small quantities.
Diabetics and others with compromised omega-6 and omega-3 prostaglandin pathways (those who cannot make, or cannot make enough of, the delta-6 desaturase enzyme) should get longer-chain omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids from animal and marine sources. If you cut yourself, does your blood clot easily and the wound heal quickly? If not, you may have trouble producting the series-2 prostaglandins. Eat butter. It’s a good source of arachidonic acid, the direct precursor of the series-2 prostaglandins.
HAHAHA, that quote was priceless, i was all new to the forums and i was tryin to change everyone and mikael scared the crap outta me hahaha good times…monkeyman, priceless
What you seem to be suggesting is that animals were placed there just for our pleasure and convenience and if we didnt use them there would be no reason for them to be there. is this what your saying? I’m afraid I can’t see much logic in that.
Personally, I don’t care what you eat, as long as you leave me alone about it. When I say leave me alone, I don’t mean that (intelligent, rational) discourse should be avoided, I mean that scare tactics should be avoided. I have no issue with veganism, but I have one with PETA, which in my mind barely falls short of a terrorist organization.
Most of the world’s very poor population probably don’t worry about being vegetarian or not. It’s nice to be able to make such choices.
In my mind, our species developed (or was created) to be omnivores. We can eat whatever. Though the argument is far from over, many believe our bodies are designed to have meat/animal products as at least part of our diet.
That is not to say being a veggie (vegetarian or vegan) is wrong, or a bad idea, or even that I don’t approve. It’s a choice, and I respect peoples’ choices on such things.
What’s been recommended to me is to try to eat organic as much as possible. If you’re eating the “good stuff,” it means it’s not full of pesticides and hormones, and usually also means it was produced closer than the stuff that “keeps better.” Why buy vegetables from Chile, for example, if you can get the same stuff grown only a truck drive away? A lot less fuel was burned to get it to me.
Free-range, grass-fed meats, organic eggs, even “raw” milk was recommended. Raw milk is un-pasturized. Costs twice as much and tastes the same. These are great choices for people who can afford them, but again not available to the poor, unless they grow/raise their own.
We’re trying to be good, and eat less crappy, chemical-laden or fast foods. Temptation is always there, especially around the holidays!
I don’t eat much red meat. But don’t try to take my sushi away!
I’m not vegetarian, and I don’t plan to be, meat tastes good, humans were designed to eat meat, that’s good enough for me I’m going to eat meat. I don’t care when people say how inhumanly animals are killed, don’t get me wrong I’m not a twisted psychopath that likes to hear it but the world around me has pretty much desensitized me to itself and I don’t care anymore, until someone can find a union comprised of animals fighting for their right to humane treatment in meat factories(which I had taken a summer job at once, it’s not as bad as people say…) and if those animals can tell me in a language I understand that they need to be killed more humanely then I’m going to continue to not care how the meat gets onto my table without me having to pay an arm and a leg for “organic” or “humanely slaughtered” meat.
A lot of good medical science and knowledge came out of inhumane experiments the Nazis performed on Jews during the Holocaust, science that we still use today, which has or could save lives. Does that mean that the Holocaust was worth it, because some good things did come out of it? Or rather, because this new knowledge can save lives, you “don’t care” how it was obtained?
After all, they spoke German, or Polish, not a language you can understand.
(disclaimer: I’m not trying to undermine the seriousness of the Holocaust, by comparing humans to cows…if I offend anyone with what I said, I apologize)
I know it was a terrible thing that happened, but to be honest it really doesn’t move me at all… sorry but it’s true… it didn’t happen to me and in true “american spirit” ‘if it’s not happening to me I don’t care, and it’s not my problem’… just saying how I feel, don’t get defensive about it please(that was directed at everyone here) it’s my opinion and I’m entitled to it, no amount of arguing ever changed a set mind.(ok so that’s not true but yeah… I’m just rambling now. haha)
Well yes. It’s hardly like people keep farm animals as domestic pets, is it?
And I didn’t necessarily mean they have been ‘‘placed’’ here, I mean that if nobody wanted to eat them, farmers would stop farming them, therefore they would become extinct.
well i’m sorta a vegetarian i only eat poultry and fish as far as meat goess. so no pork or red meat for me!
i don’t eat either of those becouse they are really disgusting with fat, it ain’t good for you’r colon, pork is one heck of an unclean animal, and it tastes really bad now.
im a vegatarian with the exeption of poultry, pork, ham, and beef.
fish is just SO gross!
im not a rabbit! i respect someone if you are vegitarian, but i am NOT so dont try to rabbitize me!! it is a persons own choice and i think that they can make it for themselves and should not be pesterred by those who ARE vegitarians.
Sounds to me like you’re very disrespectful towards vegetarians, calling us rabbits, we are humans, just like you. If you’re not joking, then I’ve made up my mind that I don’t really like you.
We’re defensive because to us, it’s a moral issue.
We feel that we shouldn’t kill fellow creatures which dosn’t hurt anybody but for some reason, lots of people put us down. Even if it is all jokes.
