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Florence Tan ENG 0812, E4D2 20, April 2011 Human should be Vegetarian to Save Ourselves and Our Planet Every living thing needs energy to survive. Energy enables us to move, grow and reproduce. Different organism obtains energy in different and unique ways. Human can get energy from the combination of food they eat through meats, fruits and vegetables. As meats are derived from animals flesh, thousands of animals are being killed every minute to satisfy mankinds taste rather than maintaining our health. It is proven scientifically that human anatomy is suitable to be herbivore as our body structure is designed for that. Furthermore vegetable can substitute meat for all our nutrients needs in order to stay healthy. Thus, human can be energetic by solely eating vegetables and fruits. Therefore author like Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson from the book titled The Face On Our Plate and Micheal Pollands book The Omnivores Dillemma and other health and environmental sources mention about foods that derived from meats these days are so unhealthy for human and how it affects the environment. As such, human should eat plant base foods to stay healthy so that fewer farm animals are produced to save the environment. Nowadays, eating livestock from conventional farmlands creates huge environmental problems. The huge demand of meat due to the rise of living standards in developing countries has caused the rise of meat production. The animal based diet is on the rise in developing countries (Environmental Health Perspective 445). For example million metric tons of manure from mega-animal farms pollutes the environment. Factory farms have no means to discard manure so they store it in open lagoons as such nitrogen and methane gases from this open

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manure lagoons slip to rivers and pollute waterways and fishes are killed. Because the huge volume of manure from factory farms cannot be absorbed by local croplands, the industry stores it in open pits called lagoons by the industry that are prone to spills (Environmental Health Perspective 449). Furthermore, the excessive use of water to feed these large size animals has caused water pollution and water shortage. For example, E.coli which is a common pathogen present in the feces of farmed animals is found in surface water when irrigating fields. When farming practices pollute surface waters and aquifers, they reduce the amount of water that is suitable for other uses (Environment Health Perspectives447). Contaminated drinking water was also detected near these excrement lakes which are hazardous to human health especially to pregnant mothers and infants. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that high nitrate levels in the drinking water of people who live close to these excrement lakes suffer high levels of spontaneous abortion, or, worse, blue baby syndrome, which can be fatal as infants blood is unable to carry enough oxygen to body cell and tissues. Other incident was the contamination of Milwaukees drinking water in 1993, which killed more than 100 people and made 400,000 sick (Grossman of NPRs Living on Earth) and the devastation of waterways mainly due to animal feces, crops fertilizers and pesticides on the Gulf of Mexico which is notorious for its name called the dead zone by promoting algae blooms. They called dead zones because just about everything they touch dies (NOAA News Online). Moreover the dust that contains bacteria, molds and fungi from the animals feces raised by millions of animals in feedlots causes respiratory problems for human especially children, asthmatics and people with breathing problems. Masson says In Texas alone, one study found more than 7,000 tons of particulate dust in a single year raised by animals (Masson 37). Furthermore, many rainforests have been destroyed to create grazing land for cattle, thus many tress have been chopped down

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which caused severe erosion, loss of carbon dioxide, species extinction and affect the ecosystem. Moreover cattle that are heavily grazing the land causes soil erosion. The degradation of soil especially the topsoil which is full of beneficial organism in the soil food web for cropland is destroyed. Feedlot cattle and industrial animal agriculture in in general destroy topsoil because growing grain for this industry requires so much cropland (Environment Health Perspective447). Moreover, meat production is so energy-intensive. Energy- intensive farms need large quantity of fossil fuels for its slaughterhouses, processing plants and meat transportation. The greenhouse gas emissions from these fossil fuels create global warming. Our energy- intensive food system use 19% of U.S fossil fuels, more than any other sector of the economy (TIME-Getting Real About the High Price of Cheap Food). In addition, the input of energy in meat production does not justify with the output. Butler says For every 100 calories of energy put into producing conventional beef, from farm to supermarket shelf, you get only six calories back to eat (Mother Jones). Thus, meat production is a huge waste of energy which pollutes the environment and affects human health. Another major concern is the brutality towards sentient animals. Animals raised for food in mega farms endure great suffering from the day they are born to the day they are being slaughtered. For example, new born calves were removed from their mothers at birth to prevent bonding according to the industry. However they have already bonded before it came out from its mothers womb. Masson says that The strong bond is inborn in all mammals (Masson80). At the tender age, branding, castration and dehorning calves are the common procedures which cause so much stress for the cows. Masson says, The calling sound they make is a mourning call; it cannot be mistaken for a happy sound (Masson 60). Another brutality is chopping off animals tail or peck while they are still alive. Because their feedlots are overly crammed so

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chickens pecks and pigs tails are ripped off to prevent biting one another which cause chronic and acute pain to the animals. Both acute and chronic pain is the inevitable result of debeaking (Masson 65). Other health hazards toward chicken are they are being kept in wire cage that they cannot even spread their wings or get sunlight which is a necessity of birds. The worst torture would be hens are unable to retreat to lay eggs. According to Nobel Prize winner, Konrad Lorenz wrote that the worst torture to which a battery hen is exposed is the inability to retire somewhere for the laying act. When it comes to slaughtering, there are many incidents of animals are often skinned alive and regain consciousness which is so horrific and endanger workers safety. Pollan says there are many stories from animal rights groups such as waking up after stunning only to be skinned alive (Pollan 329).The process of slaughtering is considered clean kill however many horrific incidents occur due to massive slaughtering in a short time. Pollan says that Mistakes are inevitable on assembly line that is slaughtering four hundred of cattle every hour (Polland 330).Therefore , mega farms and modern agriculture create many environmental problems which affect human health and many animals lives are being brutally tortured to death because of human craves for meat. Nevertheless, there are alternative means to produce humane meat which is ethical and eco-friendly through sustainable farming methods. According to Nicolette Hahn Niman who is an environmentalist lawyer as well as co-owner of Niman Ranch argues that organic farming has environmental benefits because vegetation and soil used for livestock on pasture and grassland reduce global warming. Niman says Pasture and grassland areas used for livestock actually lessen global warming because their vegetation and soils effectively act as carbon sink (Earth Island Journal). On the other hand, it is unfair to blame all the global warming effects are caused by meat production. For example, some greens need heated greenhouse during cold season or

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refrigerator during warm season caused greenhouse gas emission. Butler says that Spinach and mesclun is worse than that of beef, since growing it in winter climates require heated greenhouse, while shipping and storing it in warm weather requires refrigeration (Mother Jones). Therefore put the blames mainly on meat is bias. In addition, domesticated animals are meant to be consumed by mankind. Even freeing them in the wild, they become easy prey for wild animals and they cannot survive. Pollan says Most domesticated animals cant survive in the wild; in fact, without us eating them they wouldnt exist at all (Pollan 310). According to Nimans website, their animals are raised in ethical and humane way because their livestock live in outdoors or in deeply bedden pens. Niman website states that Niman Ranch animals are free to root and roam as nature intended. (Nimanranch.com). So if these livestock are treated well and given natural food, drink and space before their lives are being sacrificed for humans taste; it is ethical to kill them. Furthermore, eating meat can have real health benefits. Meat contains rich sources of iron, zinc and vitamin B which vegetarian diet cannot provide efficiently. Diets low in meat may entail the risk of not meeting the needs for some nutrients, particularly iron, zinc and vitamin B12 (Public Health Nutrition 37). For example, red meat contains a kind of iron called heme iron which can be easily absorbed by our body whereas plant source iron is difficult to be absorbed. As iron is essential for bodys cell, child bearing mothers, children and infants need extra iron to grow and stay healthy. Moreover, grass fed cows contains rich source of omega-3 fatty acid which is essential for cognitive and emotional health .According to Muedin from Psychology Today, she says that Omega-3s from wild animals are necessary to support the wiring of the nervous system, and are crucial to learning, memory and maintenance of cell membrane integrity; they contribute to optimal operation of neurotransmitters and play a role in

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mood and behavior (Psychology Today 52). Therefore, meats are essential for human total wellbeing. On top of that, humans are natural omnivore and meat has been part of humans culture and diet for millennia. For example, our teeth, jaws and stomachs are capable to function accordingly to food preference, thus we are indeed an omnivore. Pollan explains that Human are indeed omnivorous is deeply inscribed in our bodies, which natural selection has equipped to handle a remarkably wide-ranging diet (Pollan 289). Therefore humans are suitable to eat meat beside vegetable. Furthermore, meat had nourished our ancestors so there is nothing wrong in eating meat in terms of ethical issue. Pollan elaborates that Humans have been eating animals for tens of thousands of years without too much ethical heartburn (Pollan 305). As such, it makes no sense to fuss over human carnivorous instinct because it is a part of food chain. In fact, traditionally and culturally, animals are being sacrificed as ritual meals to please the gods. Animal sacrifice has been carrying on from generation to generation and many local values and respects this practice. According to Pollan, ritual meals link him to his cultural tradition which he values. Pollan says, These ritual meals link us to our history along multiple lines-family, religion, landscape, nation and biology (Pollan 314). Thus, animals sacrifice is a traditional culture practice that many people still value today. Thus, meat eating has its advantages to a certain extent. However, vegetarian diet proves to be the best choice of food for human health and body. According to a study from Seventh-day Adventists in California, the list of diseases caused by meat eating is like a medical book index and the most fatal disease is heart disease. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and one of the major risk factors is a high cholesterol level in blood (Environmental Health Perspective 450). It is

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also not true that pregnant mothers need to consume meat to produce healthy babies. One study has proved it wrong saying that A high animal protein, low carbohydrate diet in pregnancy is associated with raised blood pressure in the adult offspring (American Heart Association). In contrast, people who eat rich source of plant base foods contract fewer diseases, slimmer and live longer which is proven by medical research. There is convincing evidence that vegetarians have lower rates of coronary heart disease, probable lower rates of hypertension and diabetes mellitus and lower prevalence of obesity; overall their cancer rates appear to be moderately lower and life expectancy appears to be greater (The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1607S). The reason behind is cholesterol mainly derived from animal products whereas plant foods contain no cholesterol. Animal fats raised LDL cholesterol and increased risk (The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1608S). When it comes to nutrients, it is a myth that vegetables lack proteins as there are many good sources of it. Masson says that Soy is full of essential amino acids, a good source of B vitamins and of protein (Masson 184). Other vegetables that have the same nutrients values are broccoli, spinach and beans to name a few. Based on Adventist study, Most vegetarian diets were not only nutritionally adequate but also associated with lower risks of certain chronic disease (The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1607S). Other vegetarian diets that contain rich source of fiber and antioxidants are whole grains and nuts. For example, walnuts contain powerful dose of antioxidants and its fats are not harmful like meats fats. The unsaturated fats found in nuts are not as dangerous for the heart as the saturated fats packed in meat (Healthland). As a result, vegetarian diets are adequate to produce many nutrients for human and reduce heart diseases. Other myth of vegetarian diet is that it makes our body weak. On the contrary, vegetarian diet can build strong muscle and there are many successful athletes who are vegans. Masson shatters this myth by mentioning Carl Lewis, who won nine Olympic

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Gold Medals, was vegan (Masson 174). So being vegetarian not only makes human healthy but strong. Other profound evidence why vegetarian diet is suitable because human is primarily herbivore as researchers found. In early evolution of mankind, human main diets are plants. Masson says that Plant foods provided the staple diet of most hunter-gatherer societies (Masson20). Moreover human is too weak to kill large animals and human were the prey of many animals instead. Masson adds that As a species, we would have been wiped out long ago had we not depended on easily accessible plants and fruits (Masson21). Most importantly is that human anatomy is designed to be herbivore by examining the shape of human head. Mason says Carnivores have wide mouths, suitable for swallowing large chunks of meat and when the jaws of carnivores close, there is a slicing motion that we lack (Masson20).Moreover human saliva contains large amount of amylase which is a chemical process to digest food. To prevent choking, human cannot swallow large amount of food without chewing it first. Medical evidence has shown that, Human beings have the mouth and gastrointestinal tract structure of committed herbivore (Masson21). Thus, humans are anatomically and physiologically suited to a diet of plant foods. In conclusion, being vegetarians is the best solution to solve many problems facing by mankind. Even though animals can be raised in humane methods to reduce animal suffering and environmental problems and meat has been part of humans culture and diet since long ago; there are many negative consequences of eating meat which are proven by medical and environmental experts. Scientifically studies prove that physiologically and anatomically, human is perfected suited to a diet of vegetables, fruits, grains and nuts instead of meats. Therefore, eating plant base

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foods not only can save millions of animal lives, reducing many environmental problems but most importantly improving human health.