Around this time last year I decided to become vegetarian, and recently I’ve started reconsidering that decision…
While I do hate cruelty towards animals, that wasn’t my main reason for becoming vegetarian. I had been reading up on the health benefits and was impressed, so I decided to give it a try.
These are some of the facts that convinced me:
- Too much protein (especially animal proteins), can cause your body to get rid of calcium, leading to osteoporosis. In fact, the average bone loss in a carnivorous woman is literally twice that of a vegetarian woman at the same age.
- Too much animal protein can also put a strain on your kidneys. & Studies have shown that the average carnivore is in fact consuming too much protein.
- Meat is also devoid of fiber and complex carbohydrates, and instead is full of saturated fat and cholesterol (aka the ingredients for clogged arteries and heart attacks).
- In a series of comparative endurance tests conducted by Dr. Irving Fisher of Yale University, vegetarians performed twice as well as carnivores.
- Pythagoras, Socrates, Plato, Leonardo Da Vinci, Isaac Newton, Voltaire, Benjamin Franklin, Gandhi, Albert Einstein: All vegetarians.
- On a separate note; one third of the fossil fuels used in the U.S. go to raising animals for food.
So you may be wondering, “After all that why are you reconsidering?”.
WELL, while those facts all sound good, the reality hasn’t been so charming:
- I have gotten sick more times in the last year than I did in the first 17 years of my life, and I can’t help but connect it with my diet change.
- I have discovered a love for cooking, and while it has been kind of fun having to go on long journeys trying to find recipes for food that I can eat, so many recipes that I want to make and cooking techniques that I want to learn are centered around meat of some sort.
- I haven’t lost weight or felt especially healthier since becoming vegetarian.
So in the end, it has been a good experience, but I don’t think the vegetarian thing is for me. I can eat meat and still be healthy: It’s all about moderation.
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March 15, 2010 at 8:11 PM |
Wow! How’d you get so smart? This is well thought out and beautifully written. I continue to learn from you.
March 15, 2010 at 8:22 PM |
haha. I am telling you a “sort of” told you so. After researching food on my end after trying to become more healthy through the foods I eat that. If I had to guess, I would say the reason why all of these people probably felt this way is not actually from the meat but the chemicals, steroids, additives & toxins in the meat. Organic, free-range meat, especially organic, free-range beef, is the best for you. It is full of minerals & vitamins that we need. Also, make sure your eggs are organic & free-range. They one taste SO much better but they are full of good omega 3s. Your family should look into joining a farmers co-op this summer for good local, organic produce and organic, free-range meat & raw milk. I have narrowed my options down to two if you want more information. I will let you know what one I go with.
If you want more information & some good recipes check out http://www.draxe.com. Then come be my personal chef. I hate cooking.
Love you!
March 15, 2010 at 9:16 PM |
Excellent post. Very thoughtful. Very insightful.
I love how you’ve kept your heart open and listened to it.
Now … when are you going to invite me over for dinner?
Warmly,
Gail
March 15, 2010 at 9:45 PM |
I’m SOOO excited that you will share pepperoni pizza with me in Italy! Salami di picante- BRING IT! And BTW, you write like your momma… Left me wishing there were more words. Well done!
March 16, 2010 at 12:36 AM |
Right on! I completely agree. I respect anyone’s decisions on what they eat. But, even if you do/don’t eat meat…it’s all about moderation.
March 17, 2010 at 7:15 AM |
Sounds very logical to me @kelsoo! Well written! Thanks for sharing
Kurt