Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

homestead - [Homestead] Vegetarian diet

homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Homestead mailing list

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: VAN DELL JORDAN <vdjor AT yahoo.com>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Homestead] Vegetarian diet
  • Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:02:09 -0800 (PST)

This was sent to me by a Buddist friend, as an explantion of his point of
view. I think it might be of interest.
Van Dell



you have often asked me a variety of questions about vegetarianism and
thought this list of reason why i choose to be one may be interesting to you:

The Environment
Conservation of Fossil fuel. It takes 78 calories of fossil fuel to produce 1
calorie of beef protein; 35 calories for 1 calorie of pork; 22 calories for 1
of poultry; but just 1 calorie of fossil fuel for 1 calorie of soybeans. By
eating plant foods instead of animal foods, I help conserve our non-renewable
sources of energy.

Water Conservation. It takes 3 to 15 times as much water to produce animal
protein as it does plant protein. As a vegetarian I contribute to water
conservation.

Efficient use of grains. It takes up to 16 pounds of soybeans and grains to
produce 1 lb. of beef and 3 to 6 lbs. to produce 1 lb of turkey & egg. By
eating grain foods directly, I make the food supply more efficient & that
contributes to the environment.

Soil conservation. When grains & legumes are used more efficiently, our
precious topsoil is automatically made more efficient in its use. We use less
agricultural resources to provide for the same number of people.

Saving our forests. Tropical forests in Brazil and other tropic regions are
destroyed daily, in part, to create more acreage to raise livestock. By not
supporting the meat industry, I directly reduce the demand to pillage these
irreplaceable treasures of nature. Since the forest land "filters" our air
supply and contains botanical sources for new medicines, this destruction is
irreversable.

Asthetics. Decaying animal parts, whether in a freezer case or served in
restaurants, can never be as asthetically pleasing to the senses as the same
foods made from wholesome vegetable sources. Only habit can allow one not to
perceive this: a change in diet makes this self evident.


Personal Health
No deficiencies. There is no nutrient necessary for optimal human functioning
which cannot be obtained from plant food.

High fat plus cholesterol. Animal foods are higher in fat than most plant
foods, particularly saturated fats. Plants do not contain cholesterol.

"Carb" deficient. Meat is deficient in carbohydrates, particularly the
starches which are so essential to proper health.

Vitamin deficient. Except for the b-complex, meat is largely deficient in
vitamins.

Agricultural Chemicals. Being higher on the food chain, animal foods contain
far higher concentrations of agricultural chemicals than plant foods,
including pesticides, herbicides, etc.

Exposure to livestock drugs. There are over 20,000 different drugs, including
sterols, antibiotics, growth hormones and other veterinary drugs that are
given to livestock animals. These drugs are consumed when animal foods are
consumed. The dangers herein, in secondary consumption of antibiotics, are
well documented.

Pathogenic Microorganisms. There are a host of bacteria and viruses, some
quite dangerous, that are common to animals. When I eat meat, I eat the
organisms in the meat. Micro-organisms are present in plant foods too, but
their number and danger to human health is by no means comparable to that of
those in meat.

Worms and other Parasites. Ditto on # 13!

Shelf life differential. Plant foods last longer than animal foods. Try this
experiment: Leave out a head of lettuce and a pound of hamburger for 1 day,
which will make you sick?

Organoleptic Indications of Pathenogens. Plant foods give tell-tale signs of
"going bad". Ever hear of someone getting sick from "bad broccoli"?

Heart Disease. Meat eating increases the risk of heart disease, this
country's #1 killer. The correlation is an epidemiological fact.

Cancer prevention. Of all the natural cancer prevention substances found:
vitamin C, B-17, hydroquionenes, beta carotene, NDGA, - none has been found
to be animal derived. Yet most meats, when cooked, produce an array of
benzenes and other carcinogenic compounds. Cancer is infinitely easier to
prevent than cure. Soybeans contain protease inhibitor, a powerful anticancer
compound. You won't find it in useful quantities in animal based food.

Disease Inducing. The correlation between meat consumption and a wide range
of degenerative diseases is well founded and includes.....

Osteoporosis

Kidney Stones and Gallstones

Diabetes

Multiple Sclerosis

Arthritis

Gum disease

Acne. Aggravated by animal food.

Obesity. Studies confirm that vegetarians tend to be thinner than meat
eaters. Obesity is considered by doctors to be a disease within itself.

Intestinal Toxemia. The condition of the intestinal flora is critical to
overall health. Animal products putrefy the colon.

Transit time. Wholesome food travels quickly through the "G.I" tract, leaving
little time to spoil and incite disease within the body.

Fiber deficient. Fiber absorbs unwanted, excess fats; cleans the intestines;
provides bulk and aids in peristalsis. Plant food is high in fiber content;
meat, poultry and dairy products have none.

Body wastes. Food from animals contain their waste, including adrenaline,
uric and lactic acid, etc., Before adding ketchup, the biggest contributors
to the "flavor profile" of a hamburger are the leftover blood and urine.

Excess protein. The average American eats 400% of the RDA for protein. This
causes excess nitrogen in the blood that creates a host of long-term health
problems.

Longevity. To increase ones risk of getting degenerative disease means
decreasing ones chance to live a naturally long healthy life. Huzas and other
peoples with large centenarian populations maintain lifestyles that are
relatively meat free.

Well Being. I just feel better since "giving up" meat and becoming
vegetarian.


Personal Finances
Health care costs. Being healthier on a vegetarian diet means spending less
on health care.

Food costs. Vegetarian foods tend to cost less than meat based items.


Ethics
Love of animals. I love animals as I love myself and my family. I have no
desire to kill them or cause them harm.

Stance against Factory Farming.. I cannot make a statement against factory
farming if I myself eat animals.

Respect for Sentient Life. I show gratitude to my Creator(s?) by eating as
low on the food chain as possible.

"Economic Vote". I show support of the meat industry and the way they operate
when I purchase and use their products.

Small sacrifice. The sacrifice I make is nothing compared to the animals, its
life.

Natural diet. Our hands, teeth, feet, intestinal tract...even our body
chemistry is that of an herbivore.

Reciprocity. If I partake in the slaughter of animals, I will have to repay
my contribution to that act.

"Protecting the Temple". "Whatever affects the body has a corresponding
effect on the mind and soul" (E.G. White)

I believe in nonviolence. Slaughter isn't a non-violent act.

World Peace. It becomes easier to kill one another once we have begun to take
the lives of other beings very much like us.

Clear conscience. I know what I'm doing is right. I feel good inside about my
decision to remain "meatless"

Example. To live this way is to protect the underlying values of those around
me.

Easy substitutes. There are vegetable based substitutes for many meat
products.




Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page