I procrastinated for a while, but it’s crucial to address the topic. Veganism is NOT the answer to all our problems. People promote it as a way to enhance health, morality, and the environment, but are these claims accurate? I’ll analyze every aspect of this diet, allowing you to develop your own perspective and process the information.
Why Veganism’s Health Claims May Not Be the Answer: A Critical Analysis
Veganism may have some health benefits that are true, but we cannot ignore that it is not the answer to all our health problems. People who advocate for veganism draw parallels between its benefits and those of fasting. Protein fasting, where one reduces their protein intake for a day, has gained popularity lately. This way of eating is very similar to a vegan diet.
Fasting is a good practice for one’s health, regardless of their diet. However, if someone fasts indefinitely, their health will be affected negatively. A vegan diet may make one feel amazing at first, but it cannot provide all the building materials that the body needs, such as B12, heme iron, choline, cholesterol, and retinol. It is also important to note that “protein” is used so much that it loses its meaning. Proteins are made up of amino acids, and the body needs specific amino acids just as it needs certain vitamins. Therefore, veganism is not the answer to all our health problems.
Read this article too: Fasting 101: Your Ultimate Guide to Safe and Effective Fasting
Getting these particular amino acids while following a vegan diet is highly challenging or even unachievable. Additionally, we should remember that just because a protein has an essential amino acid, it does not necessarily mean that it is helpful or usable for our body. As an illustration, let’s consider spider venom. Although it is a protein made of amino acids, would you consume spider venom and claim that it is nourishing you? I acknowledge that this is an extreme instance, but it makes a clear point.
Why Physiology Suggests Veganism May Not Be the Answer
Regarding health, let’s shift our focus to physiology and consider human anatomy. We can examine how our bodies are either evolved or designed to process animal products. To make this comparison more apparent, let’s take a closer look.
By looking at our digestive system, we can undoubtedly observe that it is much more similar to that of a carnivorous animal, such as a wolf. Although there are some variations, this observation can be insightful. We also need to contemplate some other factors, but since I have already written entire articles on those topics, feel free to read them: Fat-soluble vitamins and Vegetables: They Fight Back!
The Dark Side of Veganism: Examining the Environmental Impacts
Ask any vegan and they’ll tell you they’re saving the planet, but it’s actually much closer to the opposite than you might first think.
Agriculture
Let’s begin by discussing how much food an herbivorous animal needs to consume compared to a carnivorous animal, and the nutrients extracted from that food. The herbivore needs to consume a significantly larger volume of food, and the nutrients they extract are significantly less than those of a carnivore. In most cases, this is not a problem and can be highly beneficial for the planet.
Cows, for instance, graze and excrete waste all day, and that’s how it should be. The cow’s digestive system, with its four stomachs and large capacity, can manage this without issue. However, when humans eat only vegetation, they are not consuming grass and weeds, but rather carrots, squash, beans, and peas that are grown in a mono-crop, disrupting the planet’s soil biome by plowing and tilling the soil, and releasing more greenhouse gases than any amount of cow flatulence. This fascinating article provides further information. It’s worth noting again that veganism is not the answer.
The impact of tilling and agriculture on CO² levels is shown in the article, which suggests avoiding tilling and allowing pasture animals to graze as a solution. Animals, especially ruminants like cows and sheep, play a vital role in the earth’s ecosystem, and their manure serves numerous purposes. Tilling disrupts the earth’s microbiome, but ruminant manure is packed with beneficial bacteria for the soil. These animals are like factories for bacteria, as their digestive systems contain massive amounts of microorganisms.
Distribution
Global shipping is a major contributor to environmental pollution, and while it’s necessary to a certain extent, we can avoid a lot of it. There are two things to consider when it comes to distribution. Firstly, the transportation of luxury items like exotic fruits, nuts, and seeds that aren’t necessary for our daily diet. Of course, some shipping is necessary for certain things, but there’s a big difference between shipping spices and shipping water-dense fruits like pineapples, bananas, and melons. It’s understandable to enjoy the occasional treat, but we should be consuming food grown within walking distance of us on a daily basis. Veganism is not the answer, but eating locally sourced food is a great way to reduce our environmental impact.
Wild Edible Montage
Secondly, a vegan diet requires various nutrient supplements since it is not nutritionally complete. B12, iron, and protein powders are commonly sought after by the standard vegan. Health enthusiasts may also seek out additional items like chlorella powders and vegetable juice extracts. However, these extra and unnecessary purchases can be expensive and harmful to the environment.
Luckily, we have a straightforward solution at our disposal – consuming local food sources. Wild edibles such as dandelion greens and mushrooms, seasonal fruits, and animals pastured in our backyards are all great options. By doing so, we can avoid shipping costs, maintain a natural diet, and obtain nutrient-dense food. Plus, we can ensure the animals have lived a happy life. In fact, I have a herd of cows nearby that I can hear from my bedroom! I can visit them, feed them cabbages, and scratch their heads without any concerns.
Ethics and Morality
I used to struggle with veganism and vegetarianism, unsure of what I was doing. I questioned why I should kill an animal to survive, feeling like I had no right to do so. However, as my health deteriorated, I realized that consuming animal products is necessary for our health. My belief that not harming animals was better for everyone was based on ego, and I now have a new approach based on fact and science.
I’ve come to grips with the concept of death and understand that it is a natural part of life. I appreciate the animals that provide me with sustenance and am grateful for their sacrifice. I take responsibility for the quality of life of the animals I consume and ensure that they have lived a natural and fulfilling life.
Where do we draw the line?
Veganism is not the answer, as it can actually cause more suffering to animals than unethical farming practices. I find veganism inconsistent in its treatment of animals and where the suffering ends. Where do we draw the line on what’s an animal?
Cows? Yes.
rabbits? Obviously.
Mice? Erm, I suppose?
Crickets, insects and creepy crawlies?
Hmmm maybe not?
Bacteria, fungi?
No? Why not?
We use pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides on our crops, which kill small animals and insects. Farming crops like wheat kills more animals than rearing cattle for slaughter. Dying from a bolt gun to the brain is less suffering than being sliced by a combine harvester or asphyxiated by pesticides.
Everyone should have the opportunity to decide what they eat and how they live, but I dislike when vegans use semi-factual arguments to promote their agenda. It’s essential to make up your own mind on the matter and do what’s best for you. I hope I’ve helped you think more deeply about this issue.
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Congratulations! At last a rational look at the whole vegan/meat question. Just hope a lot of folk actually read it and understand.
Thankyou for your kind words; if you found it informative please share! Best way to spread important information is word of mouth
great overview, Billy, you have the hawk’s eye
Thanks SO MUCH Emma. Your opinion holds much value in my heart ❤