Seven Reasons Why Humans Should Not Eat Meat

 

Who said we should eat the flesh of another sentient being? How come the cow eats grass to grow strong and we are told to eat the cow to become strong as an ox? Personally I was never able to break down animal flesh, and much of my life I questioned the need to eat it, despite having family in the 'meat industry'. I have to say now that it just doesn't add up, but we know it does if there is a buck to be made.

Massive feed lots in the US, Australia and South America along with cattle farms carved out of Amazonian forests remain an anathema to me. There are 20-billion head of livestock on earth, more than triple the number of people. According to the Worldwatch Institute, the global livestock population has increased 60 percent since 1961, and the number of fowl being raised for food has nearly quadrupled in the same time period, from 4.2-billion to 15.7-billion.

The book, Food for the Spirit, Vegetarianism in the World Religions, summarizes this point of view as follows. 'Many thinking nutritionists, biologists and physiologists now offer convincing evidence that humans are in fact not meant to eat flesh'.

Here are seven facts in support of this view:

'Physiologically, people are more akin to plant eaters, foragers and grazers, such as monkeys, elephants and cows, than to carnivora such as dogs, tigers and leopards'.'For example, carnivora do not sweat through their skin; body heat is controlled by rapid breathing and extrusion of the tongue. Vegetarian animals, on the other hand, have sweat pores for heat control and the elimination of impurities'.'Carnivora have long teeth and claws for holding and killing prey; vegetarian animals have short teeth and no claws'.'The saliva of carnivora contains no ptyalin and cannot predigest starches; that of vegetarian animals contains ptyalin for the predigestion of starches'.'Flesh-eating animals secrete large quantities of hydrochloric acid to help dissolve bones; vegetarian animals secrete little hydrochloric acid'.'The jaws of carnivora only open in an up and down motion; those of vegetarian animals also move sideways for additional kinds of chewing'.'Carnivora must lap liquids (like a cat); vegetarian animals take liquids in by suction through the teeth'.

'There are many such comparisons, and in each case humans fit the vegetarian physiognomy. From a strictly physiological perspective, then, there are strong arguments that humans are not suited to a fleshy diet'.

I am always moved when I read something Gandhi said when he walked the Earth. 'The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be measured by the way in which its animals are treated' But more poignantly this might now read 'The greatness of the community of earth and its moral progress can be measured by the way in which its animals and fellow human beings are treated' I am sure he would not disagree with my rearrangement.

Vegetarians do not die hideous deaths, most pass away quietly with grace.Their carbon footprint is minimal and the space they take up is minimal.

Written by Scott Mathias CHHC. AADP - Digestive Health and Raw Food Teacher and Specialist. Visit my website for more insights to leading a healthy natural lifestyle to ensure that your health is medicine and disease free. Find some amazing sweet recipes without using one grain of sugar and follow my 7 FREE Videos to show you how to get started on a healthy raw live food lifestyle. http://scottmathiasraw.com/

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