to fellow vegans

[LaughingWater]

Gayle, no offense taken. That's why I didn't jump into putting Snoopy on a vegetarian diet. He's doing quite well at the moment, and while I'd like to read up on the idea, I will proceed carefully. If meat and chicken are best for him, then so bet it.

 

[sparrow13]

Vegetarians/vegans are just fashion eaters but they do not eat the way humans are designed to eat.

Finally, I am fashionable. Woo hoo!!

 

[morningstar]

Well, start looking at your teeth: They are both, for plant eaters and carnivores. Second, the digestion tract. The enzymes in the stomach acid are designed to break down animal and plant products (horses for example are only plant eaters according to their teeth and digestive fluids). Third: In order to get 100 % of the daily nutrition values you have to eat a balanced animal and plant diet. As the humans evolved there were no artifical B12 shots, we got the B12 from animal products.

Any basic human anatomy class is teaching that humans are designed to eat both.

Vegetarians/vegans are just fashion eaters but they do not eat the way humans are designed to eat.

A balanced diet from ALL THE FOOD GROOPS is what we suppose to eat.

I agree with that. I just can't face eating anything with a face, I guess.

 

[LaughingWater]

Finally, I am fashionable. Woo hoo!!

!!!!!!!!!!! We're so cool!

 

[hiitdogs]

Any basic human anatomy class is teaching that humans are designed to eat both.

Vegetarians/vegans are just fashion eaters but they do not eat the way humans are designed to eat.

A balanced diet from ALL THE FOOD GROOPS is what we suppose to eat.

If that is true why is it then that with every year more and more people die of cancer and heart disease? Maybe it just sounds true because the dairy and meat industies spend gazillion dollars trying to convince us that we need to have dairy and meat to be healthy.

To go back to your argument, if you look at our closest relatives in the ape family with a similar set of teeth, I doubt that they scarve down a glass of milk or hunt down a cow. They eat mainly vegetarian, if not vegan.

Everyone needs to make their own decisions on what they eat and I won't judge anyone but eating vegetarian or vegan for me has nothing to do with fashion, it has everything to do with my health. There actually is a lot of research which supports that humans in fact should not eat dairy and only very limited amounts of meat, if any at all.

 

[shelsmaha]

whoa, I am quite offended by the fashion eaters comment. I really don't understand why such a nasty comment needed to be made when no one was critcizing anyone about their food choices.

To be clear the Pet Promise Kathryn was talking about has meat in it. The meat is just humanely raised by small family farmers as to not exploit animals anymore than neccessary. Also I think most of the animal loving posters agreed our companion pets need meat. My dog is allergic to Beef, Rabbit, Venison, and Bison so he is on a special diet.

As for the human thing yes we are omnivores, we can digest both plants and meat. There are alot of studies out there though that say we live longer with less disease on a plant based diet. I am NOT saying to the poster not to eat meat or making any judgement on the way she eats. Just some doctors are now finding we live longer on plant based diets. Also if we ate a plant based diet it would be MUCH better for our earth. But like I have said in an earlier post that is for another post!

 

[gettingfitmom]

gettingfitmom why do you feel the need to say hurtful things and upset people? We are all just discussing how we feel about somehing that is important to us. No one has said anything bad about the family farmer.

So sorry, I didn't realize I had said anything hurtful...

 

[shelsmaha]

Carola I was posting at the same time as you...that makes sense about the ape teeth never thought of that. You are so correct that the choice of what we eat is personal. I just hope our dear Mother Earth can withstand the wrath of our meat hungry ways!!!

 

[shelsmaha]

OMG People....think how the human race got started...living off the land and the animals on it!!!!!!!!! where would we be if that didn't happen????????????? Somepeople put too much thought into things.....I live on a 112 acre farm where we raise Angus, we have chickens for eggs, trout and bass in our pond(which are delicious)we have raised pigs, pheasent,ect which we have eaten all the above. My husband is a hunter and we eat deer, turkey, etc. I have a garden where i grow many veggies and we have fruit trees. My DH grandfather started out as a dairy farmer. We are surrounded by dairy farms.. Are we bad people? I don't think so. All surrounding farms have sold develope rights so no developments can be built (ever!)Not a bad thing either. THe commerical says happy cows comefrom California,but I think we have some pretty happy cows right here.

I think the "OMG people" and that you said "some people put too much thought into things" came across as mean...if you didn't mean it like that I apologize!

 

[pixiesis]

Vegetarians/vegans are just fashion eaters but they do not eat the way humans are designed to eat.

A balanced diet from ALL THE FOOD GROOPS is what we suppose to eat.

Again, where are you getting your information? According to the American Dietetic Association: "It is the position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada that appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases".

So, if I'm "a fashion eater" (sounds pretty cool actually), at least I am eating a healthful diet that protects me from some diseases.

Amy

 

[shelsmaha]

by the way Gayle you Boxer is really cute...I love dogs!!!

 

[Gayle]

Again, where are you getting your information? According to the American Dietetic Association: "It is the position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada that appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases".

So, if I'm rather "a fashion eater", at least I am eating a healthful diet that protects me from some diseases.

Amy

Hi Amy - This is purely anecdotal on my part, but at one time in my early 20's I was a very unhealthy and anemic vegetarian. I tried going veg for health reasons, and because I wasn't really into buying and cooking meat for myself. It was a 6 month disaster...even with my doctor's help.

I really believe that NOT every body is made for a vegetarian diet. It works great for some, but not all. For me, I'm seeing good results as I inch my way toward a more Paleo/gluten free eating style...but that's just me.

I saw a great quote in a blog once that went something like this: "Food is much like religion with many more unknowns than knowns."

 

[sparrow13]

!!!!!!!!!!! We're so cool!

Maybe we'll get invited to the right parties now!!

Here's my take on it, peeps. The vegetarian thing works for DH and me. I've done a ton of reading into the matter and made my choice based on the information I found relevant. DH and I look and feel great and we are physically and ethically happy with our food choices. If there are those who think we are ridiculous or misinformed sheep simply following the trends, that's OK. Honestly, I shrug.

 

[Gayle]

by the way Gayle you Boxer is really cute...I love dogs!!!

awww...Rascal says "Thanks!"

 

[Katerchen]

If that is true why is it then that with every year more and more people die of cancer and heart disease? Maybe it just sounds true because the dairy and meat industies spend gazillion dollars trying to convince us that we need to have dairy and meat to be healthy.

To go back to your argument, if you look at our closest relatives in the ape family with a similar set of teeth, I doubt that they scarve down a glass of milk or hunt down a cow. They eat mainly vegetarian, if not vegan.

Moderation and balance is the key for a healthy life. What we eat here in the U.S. on an average daily basis has long passed moderation. We are not meant to gag down a pound of meat a day. But two or three 3 oz serving of meat is ok and even beneficial. Balance is the key. Following any food pyramid would do the trick.

If you do not get the nutrition your body naturally need, there will be side effects. Americans in general are eating a crappy diet and are as a population the king and queens of consumption of anti-depressants for example. Well, for the low carb eaters: The brain alone needs about 120 - 130 grams of carbs a day to have all the brain chemical functions run smoothly.

In regards about the apes: They do eat meat in form of insects. They eat a pound or so of insects a day, ants, lice, fleas etc. They are also known to eat some of their "enemies."

I do not want to step on anyone's toes but the science in human nutrition as taught in our universities is pointing to a healthy, balanced diet that includes all food groups.

 

[PhyllisG]

To get back to your pets' diets--I have not tried switching my dogs to a veg diet and definitely not the cats. But that said I do have 2 friends with very healthy dogs that are on a vegetarian diet. They have lots of energy, glossy coats and are both older dogs. They have been vegetarian for their whole lives. It makes me curious tho I doubt I would ever try it. I have serious doubts about the whole pet food industry anyway.

 

[LaughingWater]

I tried going veg for health reasons, and because I wasn't really into buying and cooking meat for myself. It was a 6 month disaster...even with my doctor's help.

I went vegetarian in high school, but I did it all wrong and with zero education on the subject. "Disaster" is a good way to put it!

Phyllis, I was doing a search online about commercial pet foods and found a site that had pictures of "things" found in some of the kibble. One was a suture. Ew. I'm not saying all pet food companies are producing a crappy product, but that scared me off.

 

[shelsmaha]

To Katerchen I don't think you have to mention a "low carb" diet to any of us, I really don't think that could be an option for a vegan!

Also I wouldn't put too much stock in food pyramids since the govt is always changing them.

Also the whole piont of the thread really was the animal cruelty side of the egg/meat/dairy industries. That is why I became veg then vegan. I couldn't eat the suffering of other living beings any longer. The health benefits for me were a bonus!!

 

[sparrow13]

To Katerchen I don't think you have to mention a "low carb" diet to any of us, I really don't think that could be an option for a vegan!

Also I wouldn't put too much stock in food pyramids since the govt is always changing them.

Also the whole piont of the thread really was the animal cruelty side of the egg/meat/dairy industries. That is why I became veg then vegan. I couldn't eat the suffering of other living beings any longer. The health benefits for me were a bonus!!

Same for me. I began my journey when I saw that TV footage of the downed cows being shoved around by forklifts (remember that, I think it was a couple of years ago.) I never again purchased any kind of meat from the grocery store. I did buy meat and raw milk from local farmers for a while though, before cutting them both out entirely (except eggs).

 

[Afreet]

RE: teeth, apes, etc:

While it is certainly true that chimps eat insects, and even occasionally hunt for meat (many chimp troops hunt and colobus monkeys and other small animals for food), the overwhelming majority of their diet is "vegan" - obviously, in the wild, they consume no milk other than that provided by their mothers. Not all chimps hunt and although meat is sometimes shared, there are chimps who seldom or never eat meat.

Most great apes obtain most of their protein from terrestrial herbaceous vegetation (leafy greens).

All of this is beside the point, really. As omnivores, we (and our teeth) can derive nutrition from a variety of sources. My teeth may have the capacity to tear and chew meat, but that doesn't mean I HAVE to eat it. I have a brain and ethics, too, and I choose to employ those in making my food choices.

As a vegan, I have heard all of these arguments many, many times:

Plants feel pain, too (so I might as well start eating meat again?)

Humans evolved to eat meat, look at our teeth (so if i don't eat meat I'll make "evolution" mad? My teeth will fall out?)

Veganism is unhealthy and faddish, and by being vegan you're just trying to be cool (I have to defend my veganism every day. EVERY DAY. It isn't easy, and it's definitely not "cool". And eating a primarily plant-based diet isn't a new idea, many cultures all over the world have done so for thousands of years).

Vegans are angry judgmental extremists who sit around eating tofu and feeling superior (OK, true. Ha! Just kidding!)


I have enormous faith in my fellow humans that we can cooperate to find ways to end cruel, environmentally destructive factory farms and other abuses of animals - all I ask is that you stop worrying about my "ridiculous" dietary choices and try to find out as much as you can about the ways the majority of the animals we consume are treated, and how these practices affect the animals, the world, you, your families, etc.

Are you really comfortable with these practices? If so, fine. I'm not, so I decided to stop supporting them. If you're not, you might choose to change your consumer habits in some way. Or not. This wasn't a decision that I made lightly and easily - and I wasn't born a vegan. I got here after many years of omnivorousness.