Hmmm I wonder why we have these sharp canine teeth?
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Cardiologist William C. Roberts hails from the famed cattle state of Texas, but he says this without hesitation: Humans aren't physiologically designed to eat meat. "I think the evidence is pretty clear. If you look at various characteristics of carnivores versus herbivores, it doesn't take a genius to see where humans line up," says Roberts, editor in chief of The American Journal of Cardiology and medical director of the Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. © Stephen Kroninger
As further evidence, Roberts cites the carnivore's short intestinal tract, which reaches about three times its body length. An herbivore's intestines are 12 times its body length, and humans are closer to herbivores, he says. Roberts rattles off other similarities between human beings and herbivores. Both get vitamin C from their diets (carnivores make it internally). Both sip water, not lap it up with their tongues. Both cool their bodies by perspiring (carnivores pant).
Human beings and herbivorous animals have little mouths in relation to their head sizes, unlike carnivores, whose big mouths are all the better for "seizing, killing and dismembering prey," argues nutrition specialist Dr. Milton R. Mills, associate director of preventive medicine for the Washington, D.C.-based Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). People and herbivores extensively chew their food, he says, whereas swallowing food whole is the preferred method of carnivores and omnivores."
"There is no more authoritative source on anthropological issues than paleontologist Dr. Richard Leakey, who explains what anyone who has taken an introductory physiology course might have discerned intuitively--that humans are herbivores. Leakey notes that "[y]ou can't tear flesh by hand, you can't tear hide by hand.... We wouldn't have been able to deal with food source that required those large canines" (although we have teeth that are called "canines," they bear little resemblance to the canines of carnivores)."
"The point is this: Thousands of years ago when we were hunter-gatherers, we may have needed a bit of meat in our diets in times of scarcity, but we don't need it now. Says Dr. William C. Roberts, editor of the American Journal of Cardiology, "Although we think we are, and we act as if we are, human beings are not natural carnivores. When we kill animals to eat them, they end up killing us, because their flesh, which contains cholesterol and saturated fat, was never intended for human beings, who are natural herbivores."
Quote from me from
http://forum.blockland.us/index.php?topic=240040.75The part about living longer is usually because people who go vegetarian tend to make healthy decisions. Like I'd imagine the typical vegan as someone who exercises and plans out diet choices, stuff like that. So the extended life doesn't directly relate to only not eating meat.
A lot have studies do show that saturated fat and cardiovascular diseases are linked in some way. So no, meat doesn't give you a heart attack, it's just usually high in saturated fat (most types)
And being a vegetarian is expensive, its not like I live off letuce. I have to buy other food staples too and in the end its pretty much the same price.
Vegetarians don't not get cancer, again its just those saturated fats and stuff like that that could lead to detrimental health issues.
The weight argument depends on lifestyle, not vegetarianism. Eating no meat does not make you skinny. There are some people who eat tons of meat and are tiny.
The one about only 1 cow being killed per acre, and 300 killed per acre of growing food. Its important to note that the food must be grown THEN go to the cow, the amount of food that it takes to feed 1 cow could also be used to feed a family itself. It's more efficient if grown food goes straight to the humans.
It does in fact take a lot of land to raise cows humanely and peacefully.
The article states that animals would produce the same air pollution as they would if they were freely roaming the earth. However, there are more cows than we would have naturally for the purpose of supplying meat to humans. He basically said global warming was a theory, and that methane doesn't contribute to air pollution.
The argument about eating too much meat causing osteoperosis is just stupid. This magazine is highly inaccurated(Vegetarian Times) and needs to get real scientific evidence instead of rumours.
When it says it'll help stop famine - Being a vegetarian cannot directly do that. The US prevents people from overproducing crops in order to keep a stable price on food. They don't want people affecting the price of wheat or other crops.
"95% of pesticide residue is found in meat, fish, and dairy products". Basically the concept of biomagnification, all the pesticide residue is becoming more cocentrated as it gets to the cow or other animal.
Although a lot of food bourne illness comes from meat, a ton come from vegetables too, and other things.
The guy writing the article is trying to say fiber is bad, never really heard that before. It's actually really important to get a lot of fiber in your diet. He based this off of some book.
"Restoring the fish population" - This actually is a good point. Some fish have been on the brink of extinction due to overfishing. We just need to be careful.
If livestock wastes gets into water and goes in the ocean, bacterial colonies will form and take oxygen out of the water. A lot of fish can die from this.
We are now at a point in our civilization where we can do without meat. Some people can't, but I know many of you have access to alternatives. I actually think going vegetarian is not difficult at all after a while, I don't even consider it something unique about me, it's just sort of who I am.
Before anyone gives me a lot of crap for this, I really am being respectful to those who eat meat. I could say that you are "ruthless animal killers with no soul" but that's not true nor does it do more than make one seem like an idiot. I don't mean to offend anyone with the things I've stated and I'd be happy to discuss any questions you have.
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