Are you worried about becoming a vegetarian?

Question

When Sir Isaac Newton was criticized for refusing to eat a type of "blood pudding" (a dark sausage containing pork, dried pig's blood and suet), it was pointed out that diet was closely tied to Christian Theology in Europe during this period. Yes, Sir Isaac Newton was a vegetarian.

Even before this period in history in the sixth century B.C., Pythagoras founded what was known as "a mystical mathematician community who observed a general prohibition against eating animals as having a right to live in common with mankind. Yes, Pythagoras too was a veggie.

Modern day vegetarians such as Paul McCartney have continued the moral debate. McCartney said, "If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian”

A recent report by the U. N. Food and Agriculture Organization reckons that at least eighteen per cent of the global-warming effect comes from livestock, more than is caused by all the world's transportation systems.

It has been estimated that forty percent of global grain output is used to feed animals rather than people, and that half of this grain would be sufficient to eliminate world hunger.

Broadly speaking, though, for many centuries the debate centered on three questions, each of which was reflected in Newton's dietary choices and the objections raised to them.

There was the religious question, concerning the implications of Scripture for human alimentation. There were medical questions about the effect of eating meat on human health and character.
There was a philosophical debate about the proper relationship between man and other animals.
There was no distinct category you could call moral, because all of them were, as they remain, intensely moral.
Vegetarianism has always been less about why you should eat plants than about why you shouldn't eat animals.

It might be worth publishing 'doodlenatty's theory just to see what the scientists around the world think.

Answer 1

I became a vegetarian over five years ago and have been healthier then before, I also find it more filling, more energetic and happy. It is possibly one of the best decisions I have made, which was based on an ethics study I followed then, I must also say that it was easy especially at dinners and other gatherings, and it was a disgust for animal products that helped me through. Try it and you will probably never go back.

Answer 2

I was vegetarian for 18 years until I sat in a restaurant with a friend who had Steak.
I had the veggie option. My mouth was watering all evening!
The next evening I went back to the same restaurant and had a Steak myself.

Since then I have eaten meat again and I love it.

The argument you make about "A recent report by the U. N. Food and Agriculture Organization reckons that at least eighteen per cent of the global-warming effect comes from livestock", well if we eat a lot more meat then the amount of Livestock will reduce thus helping slow Global Warming.

"It has been estimated that forty percent of global grain output is used to feed animals rather than people, and that half of this grain would be sufficient to eliminate world hunger." with this again, if we all ate a lot more meat then there would be less livestock requiring feed. Then the remainder of the feed produced can help abolish world hunger!

"If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian” - This just means that people tend to be squeamish.

We are a race of omnivores and we need some goodness from vegetables, some from fruit and some from meat.

I have no problem with anyone standing up for what they believe in, but some Vegetarians and Vegans eat the way they do, from a sense of moral outrage at the treatment of the animals and the way they are killed.
Others avoid meat and animal products because they believe that ALL animals have a right to life.

Flip the coin over.
Does ALL LIFE have a right to continued existence?

Fruit and vegetables are alive simply not mobile. They have no lungs or hearts or brains. They cannot communicate because they have no voice. Who decided that plants that we eat don't have a right to live?

Is it sentient beings only?
Dolphins, most primates and some birds are considered to be sentient but are still eaten.

Self awareness?
That applies to dolphins and roughly 40% of primates. And us of course.

I am not worried about becoming a Vegetarian because I have been one. I will never go back because I enjoy meat too much and if I am completely honest with myself and everyone else, I don't care how the animal was treated just as long as it is prepared well and tastes great!
I apologise if I offend anyone with this statement but it's the way I feel.

Answer 3

Pythagoras also did not eat beans because he believed them to be a kind of mystic pod in which souls are stored while awaiting reincarnation (presumably because a bean resembles and early foetus).

The main augment I find against eating meat is that the human body is actually designed to eat vegetables and carrion. People say we have carnivore teeth but if you look at you teeth do you really think "these are designed to be able to tear out the throat of a large herd animal like a wildebeest". Of course not. We are designed to eat things we find and the remains of carcases that other animals have killed. We have hands to use rocks to smash bones and get marrow out and to crack open skulls to eat the gooey brains.
Basically if you want to eat a natural diet then don't go for steak go for bones and offal.
I don't want bones or offal and I don't want to give my body unnatural foods like chops and joints of meat so I don't eat meat.

Answer 4

My advice is eat healthy! A balance of fruits and veggies, whole grains, and legumes (like beans and chickpeas and lentils) will cover most of the nutrition you need. Get some good recipes or at least ideas how to make your food flavorful. If you just eat tasteless stuff like steamed veggies and iceberg lettuce you're going to have a hard time. Things like curry sauce, hot peppers, garlic, spices, etc. will make a world of difference. Stay strong for that month, and enjoy!

Answer 5

Am I worried about becoming a vegetarian? -- YES! Have you looked at the inhumane way plants are grown for the uncivilized use of humans (and other animals). They are grown OUTSIDE completely without shelter. After growing a single season, they are mercilessly pulled from the ground (many while kicking and screaming). Families are separated. There is NO question that when you're eating vegetables YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MURDER!

Some barbaric people even use the outer "skins" of plants for clothing. I think that people who wear cotton clothing should have the blood (sap) of plants thrown at them to publicly humiliate them.

It's unfathomable to me that someone with the scientific background and training of Paul McCartney could endorse such a course. Personally, since animals are out and I can't in all good conscience eat a plant, I think we need to turn to rocks!

Answer 6

Good points, but humans are intended to be omnivores not vegetarians.

I think the problem lies with the fact that developed nations such as our own over-produce and therefore much of it goes to waste. Things are hugely imbalanced but probably will never change. I watched an interesting video recently re. 3rd world poverty that stated that it is beneficial to the developed nations to keep these countries in poverty because they can lend them vast amounts of money, knowing full well they will struggle to make the repayments and so then can bargain cheap labour/products etc from them...therefore ensuring that that country will not benefit from these things themselves, thus remaining heavily indebted. The rich just want to get richer!

Presumably your comment about me refers to my comment that humans are intended to be omnivores? It is not a theory, it is a fact. Humans have evolved as meat eaters, hence the dentition and enzymes. However, before you attack me I am not completely disagreeing with you. A reduction in meat consumption would be hugely beneficial, I just don't think that total vegetarianism is the way forward.

Answer 7

It's nice to have evidence of reasons to become a vegetarian, but you're not really asking a question, are you? I mean, there's nothing to be afraid about as far as whether vegetarianism is a good idea.

The usual concerns are: meal planning, improper nutrition (especially among "grilled-cheese vegetarians", who don't eat balanced diets), fear of craving and missing favorite foods, and how to handle all those awful relatives who press sausage biscuits on you and ham at holidays and don't understand your high-falutin' "morals."

The info is nice, but you're not addressing all the real-world problems.

Answer 8

Interesting. Funny that this isn't pounced on by the media. Oh, I forgot. The media has no conscience.

Answer 9

Why should I worry about something I will NEVER become. I mean, me eating nothing but vegetables? That's just not on!

Answer 10

I'm not worried I've been vegetarian all my life....Everyone will be...it will be law in the future obviously..