--- Michael Harney <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I thought I would ring in on this thread and give my > two cents. Being a > vegetarian significantly reduces your chances of > developing cancers. This > is not only because cooked vegetables contain far > less carcinogens than > cooked meat, but because the cattle produced for > inductrial nations is > usually laden heavily with sterroids and hormones, > which, when consumed, are > often absorbed into the body. These growth hormones > used on cattle supress > the immune system and encourage weight gain, both of > which encourage cancer development...<snip & clip> > I would guess that reduced meat > consumption accounts for at least part of the lower > cancer rates in developing nations.
There is also the possibility that these growth hormones might stimulate already "primed" cells to transform from pre-cancerous into full-blown malignancy. Which is why I drink organic milk also (no growth hormone, no pesticides in the feed, sick cows needing antibiotics taken off the production line). Feedlot cattle are often given antibiotics routinely, because they are in such crowded conditions, and 'starter calf' feed used to contain antibiotics as well (I don't know if it still does.) [Aside: I think that routine livestock consumption of antibiotics ["factory farming"] contributes to our antibiotic-resistance problem.] Debbi whose reduction of meat consumption was more of a moral dilemma related to "factory farming" than for health reasons (no problem with raising one's own critturs under humane conditions and eating them...although I understand that a lot of "beef calves" end up as "pet steers," from my Oklahoma friend :} ) __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Calendar - Free online calendar with sync to Outlook(TM). http://calendar.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
