One Meat Lover's Low-Carbon Diet

Full disclosure: I love to eat meat. I was born in Memphis, the barbecue capital of the Milky Way Galaxy. I worship slow-cooked, hickory-smoked pig meat served on a bun with extra sauce and coleslaw spooned on top.

My carnivore's lust goes beyond the DNA level. It's in my soul. Even the cruelty of factory farming doesn't temper my desire, I'll admit. Like most Americans, I can somehow keep at bay all thoughts of what happened to the meat prior to the plate.

So why in the world am I a dedicated vegetarian? Why is meat, including sumptuous pork, a complete stranger to my fork at home and away? The answer is simple: I have an 11-year-old son whose future--like yours and mine--is rapidly unraveling due to global warming. And what we put on our plates can directly accelerate or decelerate the heating trend.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[EuroHuffPoFan]

Good job .....

If you want to know more visit this site ....

http://www.meatthetruth.nl/index.html

[Jonahson]

We humans have a choice but not so for animals. Their freedom, space and numbers is at our mercy. The ancient religion of the East believes in rebirth; what if we were to be born again in the future as an animal and vice versa how would we like to be treated then?
Whether rebirth do take place is another argument If there is rebirth then there is retribution and there is a believe that in the future we pay back what we had done. In other words we reap what we sow, we develop a conscience. Without a conscience what will we become? Without regret will there be wrong doings? Bombing children, mothers and old people?
“Do unto others as you wish others do unto you.” The words from Jesus Christ. Don’t these words sound familiar?

[StopGlobalWarmingBeVegan]

Here is an interesting video to watch!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x1UsC8694U

[StopGlobalWarmingBeVegan]

Solve 80% of Global Warming By Going Vegan. :)

[wendy82551]

I'm always fascinated by the passion generated by carnivore vs.veggie debates. Vegetarians (especially vegans) are self-righteous a-holes and meat eaters are, for some bizarre reason, committed to proving that anyone who won't eat a lamp chop is doomed to the most hideous forms of malnutrition imaginable. And let's not even start on this whole raw foods nonsense!

I became a vegetarian about a year ago because I simply could no longer tolerate being responsible for other living creatures being slaughtered for my food. It's a personal choice. I fully understand feeling the opposite way; it's just the way it is for me.

I hate it. I miss steak and chicken. There are have been some surprises -- phoney chicken nuggets, for instance, taste even better than real chicken nuggets. But I have problems tolerating grains, and so I'm limited mostly to fruits and vegetables. Well, yuck. But it gets better, and my grocery bills are a lot cheaper. I am not a vegan and get a lot of protein from whey-based protein shakes. I take vitamins, including B-12, but I was doing that before I made the move.

I asked my doctor what he thought about my going veggie, and he said, "Well, it would be the best possible thing you could do for your health." Not a New Age nutty guy, but a respected, mainstream surgeon.

Is it possible to discuss this issue without dripping venom all over the place? Doesn't seem likely.

[cyboman]

If anyone is interested in the ethical reasons not to eat meat, here is a video: http://meat.org

[Vickster]

In November, 2006, the UNIP released a report stating that human activities were contributing very little to climate change. A few weeks later, they released another report claiming the number one contributor to climate change was the human reliance on livestock. So which one is it? Are we or are we not contributing to climate change?

As for livestock, there is a solution to this problem... assuming that it is a problem. Here in Michigan, several farmers are converting their animal manure into natural gas and selling it. And the byproduct is a wonderful fertilizer that can be used to wean us from all those petroleum-based fertilizers.

[Jonahson]

Most of us who eat meat does so becasue of our craving for the taste of blood, cooked or uncooked. I understand this because I was a meat eater 15years ago. Those who eat meat certainly do not have hatred for animals in fact many meat eaters really love these animals while also indulging in their meat. Most of us buy processed meat and are not subjected to the ugly side of processing it including slaughtering these animals.
Craving is a strong attachment that is hard to overcome. Those who give up meat due to their commitment to compassion - to thee I salute!

[redhot200822]

I love this carbon offset stuff. I'll eat enough for both of us. Thanks.

[RightWingMarine]

One part of this article really stood out to me, all the gases being emitted by these animals especially the free-range animals and their attendent manure. Clearly something needs to be done! What I propose is new farming regulations that all animals must be kept inside a barn that is fitted with air scrubbers that prevent the gas from escaping and can even capture it so that it can be burned to generate electricity. This only addresses part of the problem there is also the manure and the gases it releases. What we could do is keep all the four leg animals penned so that their head is held over a feed tray so that the animal can eat and it's hindquarters are kept above a conveyer that moves the manure into a storage tank where again the gas is captured and the manure can then be used as fertilizer. The key is the animal would have to be penned so that it couldn't move out of this position and thus negate the efforts. For birds they could be kept in cages and the convience there is the cages could be stacked.

It will take a signifigant investment in our farming infrastructure, it might lead to higher prices for meat but with our new progressive president I'm sure it's something we can all do and we can save the environment!

[enveg01]

RightWingMarine - Surely you are joking with this post. Penning animals so that they can't move in order to trap their feces? Animals shouldn't have to be kept in positions where they can't even turn around just so you can eat their flesh. Certainly you can understand how's that's incredibly inhumane and quite absurd. The much more rational choice, if you want to do right by the environment, would be to not eat animals at all.

[RightWingMarine]

if we aren't eating the animals then what purpose would farmers have to maintain them? This would lead to decimation of the tasty variety of animals as they would become a scourge of the land if we didn't grow them for food.

Ironically there are some of us that just wouldn't be willing to forgo eating animals either because we just don't want to (my reason) or because of health concerns (Queenof Violets makes this claim below) and thus we would be forced to poach animals in zoos and other preserves.

No, I believe my solution is the best for both the animals, humans and the environment.

[enveg01]

Jainism is one of the oldest religions started in India 900 years before Christ was born. It has a following of over 10 million people worldwide. As part of their belief system, they're vegan. They've been around longer than Christianity, I wouldn't call that a failure. Compassion is strength, not weakness.

[StrayTalk]

Historically, Jains have used milk and dairy products (ghee) Not exactly vegan.

[Jonahson]

Jains like most Hindus do not consume cow. Their cows are free roaming and are not caged like in dairy farms. Hindus treat cows like their second mother because they provide them with milk should their own mother is not lactaing.sufficient enough. In that sense Hindus consider themselves vegetarians perhaps not a vegan as you mentioned.

[QueenOfViolets]

I tried my best to become a vegetarian but discovered to my horror that my body does not like plant estrogens at all. I learned that I suffer from an autoimmune disorder that can be triggered by plant estrogen.

Soy and most other forms of vegetable protein come along with plant estrogen. Soy and flax are particularly high but other legumes and seeds can also be a problem. It's pretty hard to be a vegetarian if you can't eat those kinds of things.

Since I have to eat meat now, I no longer accept being treated like some kind of bad person because of it.

I try to stick to sustainably farmed chicken and lamb when possible, but it's not always possible. I'll make other sacrifices for the environment, but I'm not going to sacrifice my own life, sorry.

[greenwriter]

QueenOfViolets -- With due respect, I find it curious that people like yourself are always on these boards with alleged health problems, proclaiming how difficult and dangerous it is to be vegan/vegetarian. Even if that is true for you, let's not pretend that's the case for 99% of the country. Two of my close friends are both allergic to soy, and still find it easy and healthy to be vegan.

[odyssey58]

QueenOfViolets- I'm with you. I don't do well on soy or grains, either. Don't listen to the vegetarian fundamentalists. I enjoy my locally raised meat and I eat it with a very clear conscience. Our bodies just weren't meant to be vegetarian. There's nothing we can do about it. It's who we are. And we aren't the only ones.

[enveg01]

Simply put, the best way to do right by your health, the environment, the animals, and humanity is to go vegan. For those who says it's difficult, I say it's as easy as opening your eyes.

[odyssey58]

Veganism is NOT for every body. And it's not always that easy. You risk becoming deficient in B12 if you aren't careful. Veganism is not for the haphazard eater. It requires planning in order to be healthy.
Simply put, everyone needs to pay attention to their own body to find out what works for tor them.
I first became a vegetarian 35 years ago. I have studied diet and nutrition for most of my life. I am an experienced natural foods cook. My research and my body led me back to meat. Being a vegan is NOT best for MY health. As for veganism being better for the environment and humanity, that is debatable. But you won't believe my arguments and I don't believe yours. I won't try to convince you to eat meat. It's your body; you know how you feel. But please don't make blanket recommendations for everyone.

[enveg01]

If that's what helps you sleep at night.

[StrayTalk]

Funny how SOME vegetarians and vegans are so certain that their diet is the RIGHT one for EVERYONE untill...well...they are no longer vegetarians . Another thing a few vegs are deficient in is tolerance and might I say it...compassion... of their fellow human animals.

[greenwriter]

Um, vegan B-12 supplements are available at Whole Foods and online... so much for that argument... You take one once a week. It's easier than taking a daily multivitamin. Also, many meat eaters are B-12 deficient because people absorb the vitamin differently. Everyone should make sure they get enough.

It is curious to see yet another "former" vegetarian pop up here to disparage the diet and praise the nutritional benefits of meat. Meat is the single worst thing you can put in your body. Sure it's got some protein and iron, but nothing you can't get from plant foods. But unlike plant foods, meat comes loaded with carcinogens, fat, and cholesterol, and it is *the* reason our nation is dying of cancer, obesity, heart-disease, etc. Maybe it's time you started reading books about nutrition not written by people paid by the meat and dairy lobby?

[Swerinjer4]

Not eating animal tissue will lead to poor genetics. Your offspring will be sickly and fail. there has never been a successful vegetarian society in all of history. they have all failed. They are failures. Here is what you should eat:

Protein-animal protein, including organ meats, preferably raw.
Carbohydrates-leavened, aged, sprouted, fermented fruits and vegetables to unlock enzyme inhibitors and to release nutrients in a predigested form.
Fats-saturated fats; cod liver oil, raw milk, raw butter, sparing use of omega 6 plant oils.

Weston A Price Foundation

[greenwriter]

What a load of bunk, Swerinjer4. Have you looked at America lately? It's precisely the consumption of animal tissue that's killing everyone. As the consumption of animal products has grown in the advent of industrialized agriculture, so have obesity, heart-disease, diabetes, cancer, and myriad other health problems. If you want to learn the facts about nutrition, read THE CHINA STUDY.

[Vickster]

A link between meat consumption and heart disease, cancer or diabetes has never been established. There are also studies that suggest vegans and vegetarians have higher rates of certain types of cancers (Seventh Day Adventists, for example.) In fact, one of the few things epidemiologists seem to agree on is that eating refined grains contributes to the aforementioned diseases.

[thepoliticalcat]

I would like to point out here that much of India is vegetarian and has been for approximately 7,000 years of recorded history, possibly more. Given that there are easily over 1 billion Indians on this planet, approximately 15 per cent of the total planetary human population, I find your claim somewhat ... disingenuous. Indian athletes, scientists, fashion models, and businessmen would sort of tend to put paid to your rather ludicrous claims. I suggest greater use of Teh Googles.

[odyssey58]

I'm with you Swerinjer4. And I'm betting my life on it. And I've never felt better. These smug vegans who say that there is only one correct way of eating are just wrong. It may work for some but not for all.

[greenwriter]

Being concerned about suffering and lessening your carbon footprint on planet Earth isn't being "smug." It's only called that by lazy, apathetic individuals who can't envision doing the right thing.

[StopGlobalWarmingBeVegan]

Just eat a variety of raw fruits, veggies, nuts , and seeds. Einstein, Buddha, Socrates, Jesus, and most great minds were vegetarian/vegan.