Very well said...
--- "Jones, Raina Tamsyn (UMC-Student)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Greetings listers, > > Just thought I'd say a word or two about > vegetarianism, being one who has survived quite well > with such a diet. I think that the idea that many > vegetarians can't stay healthy with a no-meat diet > is somewhat outdated now. Current ideas about > health and nutrition are shifting completely -- > indeed, the entire standard "food pyramid" guide > that we all grew up learning, with its bulwark of > grains at the bottom, is being entirely > reconsidered. For vegetarians of the past, their > biggest problem was eliminating the major protein > staples proffered by meat, which was a true problem. > It was one of the first criticisms I received as a > mid-teenager when I decided to go veggie, and I had > to fight to convince certain of my family members > that I could handle a vegetarian diet and still get > the protein necessary. > > Nowadays, there are lots more common options for > getting excellent sources of protein: a suite of > soy-based products, like soy seitan, tofu, > "imitation" soy-based meats, cottage cheese, eggs, > tempeh. Used judiciously, vegetarians can reap the > benefits of an entirely balanced diet, without some > of the associated health and ethical dilemmas of > meat eating that often bother aspiring vegetarians: > cholesterol problems; high fat levels in some meats; > concerns over ethical farming/husbandry of animals; > concerns over killing animals in general; concerns > over the food distribution food problem in the world > (by switching to a vegetable-based diet, more actual > primary production farming goes to feed more people, > whereas eating meat actually reduces the number of > people fed because cattle and sheep and other > animals consume far more green matter than is reaped > via the animal itself). > > There is also a huge world of supplements and > vitamins out there that more than makes up for any > potential vitamin/nutrient deficiencies lost from > giving up meat. In fact, the best Omega-3 sources > come from fish -- and vegetarians can get > molecularly distilled fish oil pills that also > ensures no harmful trace elements, such as mercury, > are getting into their bodies. Additionally, a > Harvard study done recently testing for mercury > levels in human hair pointed out that mercury can > come from red meats just the same as fish. Those on > vegetarian diets have far, far lower levels of > mercury in their bodies than meat eaters (I know, I > was tested and was well below the EPA reference > number of 1.0). Green foods supplements, > antioxidants from tea and berries -- some of the > highest sources of antioxidants anywhere -- cacao > seeds, and other supplements can provide all the > vitamins and more necessary for excellent health > that most people arent' aware of, unless they've > done a little bit of research. > > Of course, I'm not opposed to people eating meat. I > do believe humans evolved as omnivores -- and so I > don't really believe the argument (which I've heard) > that Homo sapiens was really originally an > herbivore. But, someone here posted earlier that if > you analyze the diets of our forebears, meat -- in > general -- was not consumed nearly as regularly as > grains, fruits, nuts and vegetables. It was a > luxury item that our pre-human ancestors got every > so often, and poor people even in today's world > still often can't afford. I also do believe in > supporting sustainable, humane family farms, and > will encourage my meat-eating friends and relatives > to seek out those better sources for their meats. > Factory farms are unnatural, cruel, and often > invisible to the ordinary person shopping for meat > in the grocery store, looking at nice, pert little > packages of ready-wrapped meats. The connection > with the animal and the hard fact of having to kill > an animal to survive or eat meat is all but gone > from the better part of society. I think if many > people knew what happened behind factory farm doors, > they would be appalled. So, I applaud those who are > sensitive to the needs of animals, and who have that > relationship. Many earlier human societies were the > same way; killing an animal was done out of > necessity, for survival. > > At any rate, not to blather on, but I just wanted to > add my two cents, and point out that it's actually > extremely easy to stay healthy today as vegetarians > -- so long as vegetarians (or vegans) know how to do > it right. > > Fascinating discussion! > > Best, > tamsyn > > ________________________________ > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of Kim & > Garth Travis > Sent: Thu 3/10/2005 6:49 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Cleaning Up Factory Farms > > > > Greetings, > Not everyone can stay healthy on a vegan diet. Many > of us get very sick > when we cut out all meat. Just eating dairy and > eggs is not > enough. Besides, I do need the manure from my > animals to fix my burnt out > land. If you read through the small farms section > of JTF, you will find > all kinds of information about this. The only cure > I have found for cotton > rot in the land is blood and offal. When I asked > Texas A&M how to cure > cotton rot, they told me it could not be done. Well > I did it. > > There are many reasons as to why to eat meat. Good > 100% grass fed beef and > lamb has Omega 3s and lots of CLA that keeps you > healthy. It also does not > have the mercury that fish has these days. I know > that some people can > stay healthy as vegetarians, but not many. I know I > read a study, I can't > remember where that vegetarians have shorter life > spans, on average. > > At 07:55 PM 3/9/2005, you wrote: > > >I hear you -- my sister's a vegan, but she eats her > own eggs (ie, her > >CHICKENs' eggs :-)) because she knows they're > well-treated. Far be it > >for me to preach vegetarianism -- that would be > extremely hypocritical. > >But it's an issue I'm addressing now. Why eat > "lower" lifeforms at all? > >Dirt would be best, plants next, animals last if > ever..... > > > >-K > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuel mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > > Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): > http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ > > > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuel mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > > Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): > http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! 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