We know that our digestive system is not made in the same way as the digestive system of carnivorous animals. Animals in the wild eat meat as a means of survival, it is in their nature. There was a time when humans had to hunt for food for their survival – that is definitely not true in today’s society. Humans have become slaves to television, computers, video games, cellular phones and other technologies that keep them inactive. That inactivity, along with poor diet and nutrition has caused a huge increase in heart disease, diabetes and respiratory illnesses in the western world. The proof is everywhere….Big Corporations spend billions of dollars mis-informing consumers of how delicious and cheap their foods are. Why should a consumer buy a healthy leafy green salad when they can buy a triple cheeseburger, topped with bacon, pulled pork and 5 different cheeses? (My heart stops just thinking about such a burger – instant heart attack). Coca Cola, McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC, Swiss Chalet, A&W, Wendy’s, etc., are genius in their marketing campaigns to ensure that people continue to believe their products are okay to consume.

The meat industry is too busy buying off politicians to ensure they tell the public that meat consumption is a healthy choice. They do not want their consumers to understand the truth about meat consumption on many levels: the ethical treatment of animals, the health implications and the environmental impact. Here are some facts regarding meat consumption:

The Ethical Treatment of Animals:

Animals are often beaten and tortured prior to ending up on someone’s plate. Cows, chickens and pigs are confined to cages that limit their movement. Some chickens are in spaces so tiny that they can’t even lift their wings. The pictures and videos I have seen of the torture animals go through remind me of the images of the concentration camps from World War II. If people really witnessed the murder of animals – they would really think twice before eating them again.

Health Implications:

People are led to believe that they must consume meat to ensure they receive the proper nutrients and minerals – this claim is untrue. How many times have I heard “your vegan, well how do you get your protein, iron and other benefits that we meat eaters get? You can’t get it all by eating leaves…hahahaha, I mean fruits and vegetables.” There are many plant-based foods that ensure we receive the proper nutrients we are supposed to get in the most efficient way for our body to process.

Environmental Implications:

In order to raise cattle – you must have space, water and food. Many forests are being cut down to accommodate cattle ranches not to mention the amount of water is required for beef.

The production of one kilogram of beef requires 15 thousand litres of water (93% green, 4% blue, 3% grey water footprint). There is a huge variation around this global average. The precise footprint of a piece of beef depends on factors such as the type of production system and the composition and origin of the feed of the cow.
The water footprint of a 150-gram soy burger produced in the Netherlands is about 160 litres. A beef burger from the same country costs about 1000 litres.

I will never understand how someone can take a living, breathing animal that has feelings and emotions and sentence it to a horrible and cruel death. We become outraged when a child is removed from a parents home – imagine how a calf feels when they are removed from its mother shortly after its birth. I think of all the chickens, cows and pigs that are raised just for human consumption and think: What would happen if there were no more animals left to eat? Would people turn to the flesh of humans to satisfy their hunger for meat?

Whenever I look into the eyes of my dog, Bradley, I am reminded that the lifestyle choice I made for not wanting to eat meat is one that came from respect and compassion for all animals and not just the ones we can domesticate.