Why do some people choose to be vegetarian or vegan?!


Question: Why do some people choose to be vegetarian or vegan!?
Why!?

Humans are physically built to eat and digest meat (not dairy products but that's another story entirely)!. If you're of the Abrahamic religions, God created man over the other creatures and gave them to us to eat!. If you're atheistic, science clearly shows that we're designed to eat meats!. If you're of the other religions!.!.!. you'll have to speak for yourself because I know little about them!.

If you are vegetarian/vegan - why did you choose to become such!? How long have you been that way!? Has it really had any benefits for you!?

Keep in mind that plants are alive too, so none of that "I don't want to harm a living being"!. And fungi are more similar to animals than to plants - do you eat mushrooms!?

Vegans: The unfertilized eggs that humans eat will not hatch into a chick - why not eat them!?Www@FoodAQ@Com


Answers:
The Environment
Conservation of Fossil fuel!. It takes 78 calories of fossil fuel to produce 1 calorie of beef protein; 35 calories for 1 calorie of pork; 22 calories for 1 of poultry; but just 1 calorie of fossil fuel for 1 calorie of soybeans!. By eating plant foods instead of animal foods, I help conserve our non-renewable sources of energy!.

Water Conservation!. It takes 3 to 15 times as much water to produce animal protein as it does plant protein!. As a vegetarian I contribute to water conservation!.

Efficient use of grains!. It takes up to 16 pounds of soybeans and grains to produce 1 lb!. of beef and 3 to 6 lbs!. to produce 1 lb of turkey & egg!. By eating grain foods directly, I make the food supply more efficient & that contributes to the environment!.

Soil conservation!. When grains & legumes are used more efficiently, our precious topsoil is automatically made more efficient in its use!. We use less agricultural resources to provide for the same number of people!.

Saving our forests!. Tropical forests in Brazil and other tropic regions are destroyed daily, in part, to create more acreage to raise livestock!. By not supporting the meat industry, I directly reduce the demand to pillage these irreplaceable treasures of nature!. Since the forest land "filters" our air supply and contains botanical sources for new medicines, this destruction is irreversable!.

Asthetics!. Decaying animal parts, whether in a freezer case or served in restaurants, can never be as asthetically pleasing to the senses as the same foods made from wholesome vegetable sources!. Only habit can allow one not to perceive this: a change in diet makes this self evident!.



Personal Health
No deficiencies!. There is no nutrient necessary for optimal human functioning which cannot be obtained from plant food!.

High fat plus cholesterol!. Animal foods are higher in fat than most plant foods, particularly saturated fats!. Plants do not contain cholesterol!.

"Carb" deficient!. Meat is deficient in carbohydrates, particularly the starches which are so essential to proper health!.

Vitamin deficient!. Except for the b-complex, meat is largely deficient in vitamins!.

Agricultural Chemicals!. Being higher on the food chain, animal foods contain far higher concentrations of agricultural chemicals than plant foods, including pesticides, herbicides, etc!.

Exposure to livestock drugs!. There are over 20,000 different drugs, including sterols, antibiotics, growth hormones and other veterinary drugs that are given to livestock animals!. These drugs are consumed when animal foods are consumed!. The dangers herein, in secondary consumption of antibiotics, are well documented!.

Pathogenic Microorganisms!. There are a host of bacteria and viruses, some quite dangerous, that are common to animals!. When I eat meat, I eat the organisms in the meat!. Micro-organisms are present in plant foods too, but their number and danger to human health is by no means comparable to that of those in meat!.

Worms and other Parasites!. Ditto on # 13!

Shelf life differential!. Plant foods last longer than animal foods!. Try this experiment: Leave out a head of lettuce and a pound of hamburger for 1 day, which will make you sick!?

Organoleptic Indications of Pathenogens!. Plant foods give tell-tale signs of "going bad"!. Ever hear of someone getting sick from "bad broccoli"!?

Heart Disease!. Meat eating increases the risk of heart disease, this country's #1 killer!. The correlation is an epidemiological fact!.

Cancer prevention!. Of all the natural cancer prevention substances found: vitamin C, B-17, hydroquionenes, beta carotene, NDGA, - none has been found to be animal derived!. Yet most meats, when cooked, produce an array of benzenes and other carcinogenic compounds!. Cancer is infinitely easier to prevent than cure!. Soybeans contain protease inhibitor, a powerful anticancer compound!. You won't find it in useful quantities in animal based food!.

Disease Inducing!. The correlation between meat consumption and a wide range of degenerative diseases is well founded and includes!.!.!.!.!.

Osteoporosis

Kidney Stones and Gallstones

Diabetes

Multiple Sclerosis

Arthritis

Gum disease

Acne!. Aggravated by animal food!.

Obesity!. Studies confirm that vegetarians tend to be thinner than meat eaters!. Obesity is considered by doctors to be a disease within itself!.

Intestinal Toxemia!. The condition of the intestinal flora is critical to overall health!. Animal products putrefy the colon!.

Transit time!. Wholesome food travels quickly through the "G!.I" tract, leaving little time to spoil and incite disease within the body!.

Fiber deficient!. Fiber absorbs unwanted, excess fats; cleans the intestines; provides bulk and aids in peristalsis!. Plant food is high in fiber content; meat, poultry and dairy products have none!.

Body wastes!. Food from animals contain their waste, including adrenaline, uric and lactic acid, etc!., Before adding ketchup, the biggest contributors to the "flavor profile" of a hamburger are the leftover blood and urine!.

Excess protein!. The average American eats 400% of the RDA for protein!. This causes excess nitrogen in the blood that creates a host of long-term health problems!.

Longevity!. To increase ones risk of getting degenerative disease means decreasing ones chance to live a naturally long healthy life!. Huzas and other peoples with large centenarian populations maintain lifestyles that are relatively meat free!.

Well Being!. I just feel better since "giving up" meat and becoming vegetarian!.



Personal Finances
Health care costs!. Being healthier on a vegetarian diet means spending less on health care!.

Food costs!. Vegetarian foods tend to cost less than meat based items!.



Ethics
Love of animals!. I love animals as I love myself!. I have no desire to kill them or cause them harm!.

Stance against Factory Farming!.!. I cannot make a statement against factory farming if I myself eat animals!.

Respect for Sentient Life!. I show gratitude to my Creator(s!?) by eating as low on the food chain as possible!.

"Economic Vote"!. I show support of the meat industry and the way they operate when I purchase and use their products!.

Small sacrifice The sacrifice I make is nothing compared to the animals, its life!.

Natural diet!. Our hands, teeth, feet, intestinal tract!.!.!.even our body chemistry is that of an herbivore!.

Reciprocity!. If I partake in the slaughter of animals, I will have to repay my contribution to that act!.

"Protecting the Temple"!. "Whatever affects the body has a corresponding effect on the mind and soul" (E!.G!. White)

I believe in nonviolence!. Slaughter isn't!.

World Peace!. There can never be peace among men while men are declaring war on other highly developed life forms!.

Clear conscience!. I know what I'm doing is right!. I feel good inside about my decision to remain "meatless"

Example!. To live this way is to protect the underlying values of those around me!.

Easy substitutes!. There are vegetable based substitutes for every meat product imaginable!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Um!.!.!.!.cos it KILLS ANIMALS (duh)
people dont want animals to suffer and die!. and evey ones body changes, you think that everyone has the same digestive system 100's of years later!.
also its called taking vitamins and eating the right food to get your protein etc!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

One of themain reasons are being health-concious!. also, they must be real animal lovers!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

some dont want to use animals!.!.!.me i have no problem if it means survivalWww@FoodAQ@Com

Okay, here it goes!.!.

For me, it is combination of religious and moral reasons for choosing not to eat meat!. I really would prefer to get too into religious aspect of it (I don't want to start anything here and I doubt that people here have the maturity to understand that!. so, I'll leave it as that)!. As far as humans being built to eat and digest meat, that's just your view on the issue and I'm not in full agreement with that!. I personally don't think humans were physically built for this purpose nor do I think that we were built for being vegeterian!. That's a line that you have to draw!. To me that's irrelevant in this issue!.

I've been a vegeterian for mostly my whole life and yes, it is beneficial for me!. I can honestly say that I am healthier most people and it allows me to have better self-control just about everything is in need of that!. As far as this plants goes, unlike animals, they do not have a nervous system, meaning pain would not be left in that matter!. And if plants were to be taken away from our diet, survival will be difficult!. In the case of unfertilized eggs, we consider them to be an animal product!. It's kind of like how would you like it if someone eat the unfertilized egg of a human!.

!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I am a vegetarian because I thought it would be something new to do and being I also don't like animals being killed in the cruel ways, its not right!.

I believe God made us to eat plants but we ate animals!. Email to hear about it!. Its on my page!.

I've been a vegetarian for about 4/5 months! I know it's not too long of time but still!.

I know I can resist different things, my family loves meat and I deal well with them most of the time [I haven't had Christmas or thanksgiving yet so I'm not sure how things will go there!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I don't eat meat because I don't believe animals are raised or slaughtered in a humane way!. Yes, the bible says man is given animals to eat- people also have slaves in the bible, and we don't do that!.!.!.!.!. But anyway, that's another story!. I don't think it's right the way farms raise huge numbers of animals, in unhealthy, crowded conditions, then send them off to be slaughtered in painful inhumane ways!. Have you ever seen these huge factory farms!? They are disgraceful!. God never intended for man to abuse his other creatures!. We are all God's creatures diserving of respect!. It is not God's way to torture other living beings!. Animals can feel pain, and fear!. I don't need to hurt another living being in order to feed my body!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

> Humans are physically built to eat and digest meat
Well, I happen to disagree!. The whole reason I'm vegan is because of the research I did on the human digestive system!. It is not designed to either eat or digest meat!. Ever tried to chew a piece of raw steak!? Can't do it, can you!? From tools used to catch and tear apart a prey all the way to end!.!.!. not designed for meat at all!. I'm not a fuititarian, but humans are best 'designed' to eat fruit!. That's the truth and any person with a head on their shoulders can see this with a little study and commonsense!.

Fungi are unlike any other thing that I know of!.

Plants are alive!. Yes!. I have no problem or argument with that!. My point is that I am best designed to consume fruits and vegetables and other plant matter!.

> The unfertilized eggs
still come from a factory farm, for most of us!.

> why did you choose to become such!?
Athletic performance!.
Me!. Myself!. I!.

> How long have you been that way!?
since 1990

> Has it really had any benefits for you!?
of course!. I wouldn't have continued if is didn't
long list of benefits!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

everyone has different reasons - it really is specific to the person!.

you are wrong about what the Bible says!. until the flood at the time of Noah man was not permitted to eat meat!. It was only afterwards that man ate meat!. We were not designed to eat meats, but rather fruits/vegetables!.

I have given you every herb yielding seed, and every fruit whose seed is in itself for food!.!.

some people have been through horrible experiences, like a friend I had who quit eating meat during his tour of duty in Vietnam!. You and I don't know what he may have experienced there!.!.

other people quit because of health reasons only!.

other people don't eat meat because of the wrongs done by the meat industry,

other people quit becaus meat makes them sick or is sickening to them!.!.

there are so many reasons!.

some people think it's wrong, and other people think it's ok, but they dont want to eat it!.

there are many different answers to this question!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I grew up eating meat, and having the idea that a meal wasn't a meal without meat!.
And when I moved out and did some deeper thinking!.
And started to see how "food" animals were treated and slaughtered it is disgusting!. Its unappettizing!. I watched some videos and read some articles, and the next time I attempted to eat meat I just couldn't!.
For every person In the world that doesn't eat animals they save something like 100 animals a year!.

And eggs!.!. it't not that they are fertilized it's the way they are treated and housed!. It's inhumane!. It's wrong!.

And actually the human body cannot digest most meats!.
They just rot in your intestines!. Until they are broken down enough to pass!.

The whole plants are alive thing is all well and good when you want to make a vegetarian "feel bad"!. BUT have you ever seen a stem of broccoli hung from its feet and have it's neck slit to bleed out while still alive!?
Have you seen a carrot have its beak cutt off, or scalded to death!?
No they get pulled out of the ground or picked from a bush!. They aren't beaten or treated cruely!.

And I don't know if this is connected at all but!.!.I used to have a sleeping problem (I just couldn't) and sense I made the transtion I haven't had a problem!. My fingernails grow faster/stronger!.
And i've lost weight!. So I think I'm helping a few animals and myself!. It just makes you feel good!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I've been vegetarian for about 10 years and vegan for about 5 years!. I made the decision to go vegetarian after seeing a video showing how animals are treated on factory farms and slaughterhouses!. I just didn't want to support that cruelty through my food choices!. I was already healthy when I became veg as a teenager, so didn't notice any dramatic benefits!. One good thing -- high cholesterol runs in my family and I haven't needed to take any cholesterol-lowering drugs!. I generally have a lot of energy and get sick very rarely!.

Here are my thoughts on your comments!.

We can eat meat, but we don't need it to enjoy good health!. The American Dietetic Association is one of the nation's leading nutrition experts!. It states: "vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases!." It also says that vegetarians have “lower rates of death from ischemic heart disease; … lower blood cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, and lower rates of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and prostate and colon cancer!.” http://www!.eatright!.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada!.!.!.

Many would argue that "dominion" is more accurately interpreted as "stewardship" rather than tyranny!. It's hard to understand why a compassionate God would create beings capable of feeling pain, suffering, and a desire to live, if their only purpose in life was to suffer and die at the hands of humans!.

Yes, it's true that plants are alive!. Bacteria are also alive!. Every time I brush my teeth I kill thousands of bacteria, and I see nothing wrong with doing so!. The distinguishing characteristic between animals and plants/bacteria is that animals are conscious beings capable of feeling pain and suffering!. Animals are capable of feeling happiness, joy, and sorrow!. Animals are capable of feeling a desire to live!. Plants don't have brains, central nervous systems, pain receptors, or anything else that would suggest the ability to feel pain!.

Eggs are unfertilized, yes!. The problem with eggs is the way egg-laying hens are (mis)treated!. On factory farms, the birds are confined to barren wire cages so small that they can't even flap their wings or do anything that's natural to them!. The wire cage floors constantly cut into the birds' feet, twenty-four hours a day, causing extreme pain and injuries!. also, the hens are slaughtered when they stop producing so many eggs -- usually after only one or two years!. The male chicks don't produce eggs and are worthless to the egg industry, so they're thrown into grinders (while still alive) or suffocated in plastic bags!. I think the egg industry is much worse than the beef industry and I'd eat a steak over an omelet any day!.

See http://www!.chooseveg!.com/eggs!.asp for more on the egg industry!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

You are correct in saying that humans are physically built to eat and digest meat, but that's not all!. We can digest plants just as easily; the homosapien is not a carnivore, but an omnivore!. So we have the choice and ability to eat meat or plants - or both!. The essential proteins and nutrients our body requires to have ideal health can be supplied by both food sources, - meat and plants!.

I am not Catholic, I was never baptised as a child!. But I did attend a strict Catholic primary and high school - and I do know that God and Jesus never opposed the consumption of meat!. However, if they were around today; living, walking and breathing, and witnessed the cruelty and inhumane slaughter of animals in farming industries… they would be just as shocked, horrified and outraged as me and the other vegetarians and vegans answering this question!. Jesus and God would have a different view about eating meat!. Isn’t Jesus the mascot for love, peace and prosperity!? What are the dairy industries promoting!? Slaughter, cruelty and violence!. And that’s everything God and Jesus oppose!. Think about that…

I am a proud vegan and I chose to become one due to the treatment of animals on dairy farms, meat farms, in laboratories, and all other animals that poachers kill for their skins and furs all over the world!. I am seventeen and I was vegetarian for two months before I decided going vegan!. I have now been a vegan for four months and I have no future plans of changing back my diet as an omnivore!.

Being vegan has had many benefits for me, it’s all pros and no cons as I’m not only saving animal's lives every day but I am benefiting my health and I am lowering my risk of developing certain diseases that omnivores have more chance of contracting!. Scientific research and statistics have proven that vegans have more chance of outliving omnivores due to their nutritious and healthy diet!.

We are aware that plants are alive, but plants don’t have central nervous systems, pain receptors or brains - which means that it’s completely safe to say that they don’t have the ability - like animals do - to feel pain!.

If you are still confused about the 'vegan' argument then I suggest you watch ‘Meet Your Meat’ on PETA and that should enlighten you for any future questions you may have!.!.!. who knows, you'll probably join the vegan/vegetarian club!?

Here is the link, I highly recommend you watch it > http://www!.peta!.org/Www@FoodAQ@Com





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