Hypothetically Speaking

[chrishall1979]

I apologize for the long post, but it did fall under the public domain, so no copyrights were violated.

It's important to note that the word omnivore means "capable of eating both types". Not that you should, or it is healthy to. You can still find doctors who say smoking and cancer aren't related, so who do you believe?

Yes we are technically omnivores, and capable of eating both meat and vegetation. However many studies have proven that a vegetarian diet is healthier and less disease prone then a meat diet. Early man was a scavenger. They had to take what they could get. There was more vegetation available then meat, and that is why we evolved with more of a herbavores characteristics.

Personally I'm not a vegetarian for health reasons. And I'm not against the killing of animals for meat. The reason I am is strictly because of the inhumane method to which it's carried out. If tomorrow the meat industry were to be humane. I would eat meat again.

It's important to recognize being capable of something doesn't make it alright. I'm capable of murder, but I won't do it. It's statements such as the omnivore diatribe, that have a weak basis in actual fact, that make it hard for people to really understand the truth.

Chris

[sofiemuffins]

I first started to not eat meat because I felt as though it wasn't right for me to be eating a living animal. This was even before I became aware of the abuse and neglect that took place in the meat industry.

I think that even if there was a humane way to kill animals for us to eat, I still would not eat them. I just dont understand how people can have pets, yet still eat meat. You share love and companionship with your animals, yet you kill others to eat. It just doesn't make sense to me.

I wish there was a humane way to kill animals for food. I wouldn't hold anything against anyone who still ate meat if there was. Everyone has the right to eat what they want. Although I have tried numerous times to get my boyfriend to go vegan!

[mncavylover]

I understand both views, and I think that the best way (for both) is to get a humane way of killing. That way, even for those who did eat meat, it would not be as harmful to the animals or the humans, provided that some other improvements are made, such as no chemicals, hormones, etc. I'm not sure which I would do if the animals were killed humanely. However, until that happens, I will continue to battle the inhumane meat industry. Whatever happens after this battle is won has yet to be decided, at least for me.

[aqh88]

Originally Posted by Rocinante

I don't know if it is still necessary to eat meat. Wasn't there a recent case where parents caused their infant child medical problems by putting him on a strict vegeterian diet?

There are many cases where children raised as vegans or infants born of vegan mothers have severe health problems. This is often because humans have no way of making/using b12 unless it is from an animal source. Meat, eggs, milk all have b12 but there is no vegetable or plant that carries a good source of b12. Seaweed has a fake b12 and things that inhibit b12. B12 is responsible for your nervous system and making healthy blood cells. Strictly herbivorous animals have developed ways of getting this vitamin from the bacteria that breaks down the food. Example being guinea pigs eating their own feces, a cows 4 stomachs and chewing cud, or the cecum in horses, rabbits, and guinea pigs. All vegans must take a vitamin b12 supplement daily which is not always widely known because your body can store b12 and a deficiency may not be discovered untill 20yrs after you stop eating animal products. Unless the crops are fertilized heavily with animal manure or vegans decide to start eating feces(ewww) they are not getting the needed amount of this vitamin. (recently was told I'm low on b12 so I looked all this stuff up)

[mncavylover]

I was just reading about that last week, actually, so I can say that it's true. I'm glad you brought that up. Therefore, obviously, their children will need to have vitamin b12 supplements. I'd hope that expectant mothers would research all they could before having children as vegetarians or vegans, but I guess not all of them do.

[Treen]

As well as eggs which most vegetarians eat, marmite (yeast extract) is a good vegetarian source of B12, although I don't know if it's suitable for vegans or not. I definitey think getting a balanced diet is harder for vegans and I've read a few things about children raised on a vegan diet having problems getting all they need. I know a few families who are in to their third generation of vegetarianism and haven't had any problems. I think these days the fact that many people eat such poor quality food from childhood (processed junk etc) is far more of an issue than vegetarianism.

[lilouisianagal]

So where do they get the B12 to put in the supplements?

[aqh88]

Well the b12 we eat is mostly made by bacteria so I would assume they can harvest it from the same source for vegan approved supplements. There is also some added b12 in fortified foods such as milks(animal or soy) or cereals.

[mncavylover]

Here are some links if you're interested:

http://www.vegansociety.com/html/food/nutrition/b12/
http://www.vegsoc.org/info/b12.html
http://www.vegetarian-diet.info/vega...itamin-b12.htm
http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/b12.htm
http://veganoutreach.org/health/b12letter.html

Hope that helps.