Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.
~ Albert Einstein
(Please Don’t Eat the Animals: All the Reasons You Need to Be a Vegetarian)
In my last post I described the part of my journey from eating animals to only eating animals that were humanely raised and slaughtered. Still, even after seeing EARTHLINGS, and thinking I was doing enough, my intuition was telling me that this was not the end of the story. So I starting searching at Amazon.com and settled on a book called Please Don’t Eat the Animals: All the Reasons You Need to Be a Vegetarian by Jennifer Horsman & Jaime Flowers. It is available on Kindle so I got it within moments and read the book in record time, neglecting my blog-mates and many of my chores in the process.
Hundreds upon hundreds of scientific articles from around the world demonstrate that a healthy vegetarian diet is the single most powerful thing individuals can do to promote, protect, or improve their health.
~ Jennifer Horsman & Jaime Flowers
(Please Don’t Eat the Animals: All the Reasons You Need to Be a Vegetarian)
There it was, right in the first chapter. As many of my readers know, my husband survived a heart attack and had triple-by-pass surgery four years ago, and we are both taking a host of drugs to deal with hypertension and high cholesterol. Also I’m being treated for osteomalacia and migraine. Trying to keep on a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet isn’t helping those stubbornly high numbers to come down. But not one doctor has ever suggested a plant-based diet to either of us, in spite of countless scientific studies indicating that this would be the best route to a healthy lifestyle.
I don’t understand why asking people to eat a well-balanced vegetarian diet is considered drastic, while it is medically conservative to cut people open and put them on powerful cholesterol-lowering drugs for the rest of their lives.
~ Dr. Dean Ornish
(Reversing Heart Disease)
I am so excited about possibly getting off all of these expensive drugs! Apparently eating even humanely raised animals is not good for us! I used to believe that since the animals ate each other nature was teaching us that it was perfectly natural to eat them. The circle of life. But while some animals are predators, there are many others who are not. The following information came as an enlightening surprise to me:
While humans can digest flesh, and it is likely that our ancestors did consume small amounts of meat infrequently, our anatomy much more strongly resembles that of plant-eating creatures. Like all plant eaters the human colon is long and complex, and our intestines are ten to eleven times longer than our bodies. Meat eaters have a short and simple colon, and in order that putrid meats pass quickly through their bodies, their intestines are only three to six times longer than their bodies. Human saliva contains digestive enzymes; meat eaters’ saliva does not. Our teeth resemble those of other plant eaters, with short and blunt canines, as opposed to long, sharp, and curved canines of the big meat eaters. Additionally, the meat our evolutionary ancestors consumed was wild game, which has less fat content than our modern domesticated meats.
~ Jennifer Horsman & Jaime Flowers
(Please Don’t Eat the Animals: All the Reasons You Need to Be a Vegetarian)
Once again science and spirit come together in my life. As I shared the results of the scientific studies mentioned in the book with Tim, he seemed to be open to the idea of trying a vegan diet. And then came the next question, “What’s for dinner?”
This book, to the left, has nothing to do with having pigs for dinner, but is a heartwarming true story about a very special pig. It is called The Good Good Pig: The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood by Sy Montgomery. Christopher Hogwood was a wise old soul, a teacher to everyone in the community who melted under his spell. He was a good good pig! I hope you will read it if you haven’t already!
Hi,
Sounds like a very informative book. You always know if you are really interested in any book that you buy, if it is interesting you just can’t put it down until you have finished.
I wish you all the best in your new cooking adventures.
Thank you for your well wishes, Mags. A well written book is a treasure trove and a wonderful way for humans to assist, entertain, inform, and share with each other across time and space.
I have completely, totally, and thoroughly enjoyed your last two blog posts. Again, thank you!
You’re welcome, Laurie, I’m very happy to know you enjoyed these posts so much!
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your posts on your transition to a plant based diet. I am so excited for you that I don’t know where to begin! Like most of us, I grew up in a household where meat and potatoes were the customary diet. Yet, through the years, I became more aware of where my food came from. For me personally, I transitioned to a vegetarian diet because of ethical reasons. To be specific, I had a problem eating animals because of animal cruelty. However, I do enjoy the added health benefits too. Nonetheless, I recently transitioned from vegetarian to vegan. I became a vegan because I had a real issue with the factory farm dairy cows. I didn’t realize the horrific conditions that they endure too. As I became more educated, I knew it was time to eliminate all animal byproducts. For me personally, it has been a spiritual journey. I am more at peace with animals, the environment, and myself. In other words, it has changed my life in a way that I never thought was humanly possible. It’s not just a lifestyle choice for me. Being vegan has given me such internal peace that words can’t describe. By the way, most of the guys assume my hubby is a meat and potatoes man (i.e., muscular build). However, when he tells them that he is a vegetarian they are so surprised! It just goes to show that you can still have muscles “and” be a vegetarian. There are tons of ways to get protein without eating animals. Being a vegetarian or vegan isn’t just for the ladies! Just curious, has your hubby tried “Gardein” burgers? They taste like real hamburgers on the grill. It’s a great way to transition. Also, “Gardein” has lots of other choices too. Anyway, this was an excellent post. Thanks so much for sharing your personal journey. I just want you to know that there are others out there who support your choices. Best wishes to you and your family.
By the way, I just noticed that you added me to your blogroll! Thanks! I’m really honored. I don’t have a blogroll yet, but your blog is awesome!
Thanks so much for your thoughtful comment, your support, and well wishes Donna! I appreciated learning about your spiritual journey to becoming a vegan, a goal we hope to reach soon, for all the same reasons.
Another thing I was not aware of until seeing the “EARTHLINGS” documentary is the cruelty found in the production of leather. It made my heart sick. I can see how and why you have found inner peace by eliminating all animal products. I think that we, humanity as a whole, will eventually find a way to evolve into a compassionate society that honors all creatures, great and small. If we learn kindness to animals no doubt we will be more inclined to show kindness to each other. They may go hand in hand.
Tim has tried various veggie burgers in the past, no doubt there are more choices available by now. I will keep experimenting until I find enough things to please his palate. It complicates things for us that I need gluten-free food. About to order a gluten-free vegan cookbook! 🙂 I found the Gardein website and they are sold at a local grocery store, though not the one I usually shop at. Will make a trip across town and check them out soon. Thanks for the tip! http://www.gardein.com/index.php
Barbara, the information you have conveyed in these two blog posts is very important and useful, and I’m glad you are giving it a good amount of thought on NOT eating the animals. We too, do not consume pig, pork and ham too, while most of our food is composed of vegetables. Let me tell you, its not at all a compromise on tasty food – the vegetarian recipes can be extremely tasty and pure. Plants have a natural effect on regulating the blood sugar and also cleansing the body, thereby removing the toxins from our body. Beetroot juice and carrot juice are very good for health. Also, stir fried vegetables are useful. Let me know if you need any Indian recipes, may be I can help.
Thank you, Sonali! I have noticed my blood sugar isn’t dropping so quickly as it used to after meals, and that has been a most welcome change. I would love it if you’d send me one of your favorite Indian recipes – it would be fun to try it! I am enjoying cooking more now that I don’t have to handle animal flesh – it always bothered me. Now if my hand would hurry up and heal so I could chop my own veggies!
Barbara,
I am a blog behind yet I am glad that you have found your way clear of eating animals, to a plant base diet… such is diet is full of possipilities..
Christina Pirello’s “Cooking the Whole Foods Way is a fab book to have in your collection…
“Cooking the Whole Foods Way” looks great – thanks for the tip! I just ordered it, along with a vegetarian slow-cooker cookbook and a gluten-free vegan cookbook. Along with the vegetarian cookbook I picked up at Borders I should have plenty of recipes to keep life interesting around here for a while.
You’re never a blog behind, Jeff – we always manage to catch up with each other sooner or later. 🙂
I’m a bit behind with my reading…
I’m glad you’re sharing your journey from being a meat and potato family to a couple of vegetarians with us.
I didn’t know about your husband’s heart attack and by-pass surgery. I know you’ll feel healthier eating vegetables. We aren’t vegetarian but we eat an enormous amount of greens that we buy at the farmer’s market every week. I love kale, and bok choy, and Chinese broccoli…
The book sounds interesting. I’m going to look for it.
I’m behind, too, Rosie…
It’s amazing to me how concerns about our health, the humane treatment and well-being of animals, and the health of our planet all came together to lead us to this decision.
I was astonished what scientists have learned about the link between animal protein and heart disease – but of course the food industry isn’t motivated to share these findings, they are only interested in profit. Dr. Ornish and other doctors have successfully reversed heart disease in their patients with diet alone, and even Bill Clinton has become a vegan to treat his own heart disease!
We haven’t tried the greens you mentioned yet, but I’m sure we will soon. 🙂 If you find the book you will fall in love with the good pig, Christopher Hogwood!
I am really enjoying your thoughts on your journey. 🙂
I’m happy you’re enjoying the journey, Robin, and you are so much a part of it! I will never be able to thank you enough for recommending the “The China Study” to me. 🙂
I know this post is a little late, but I find myself needing to mention how important exercise is in this picture of a healthy life-style. I have found that being active has impacted my health much more than diet ever has. No more migraines, no more getting sick, decreased stress, increased satisfaction… It’s just great. 🙂
‘Tis never too late to comment! 🙂 I agree that exercise is an essential part of a healthy life-style and I know it has helped you immensely. 🙂
That old expression that one person’s medicine is another person’s poison comes to mind. There are exceptions to every pattern scientists find. Some couch potatoes and/or smokers live to a ripe old age in spite of themselves and without ever getting cancer or diabetes or heart disease. But not many would claim that being sedentary or smoking is good for us. It looks like it will prove to be the same story with animal protein – not everyone who eats it will get sick but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a link.
When Dad was your age he seemed fit and trim, was very physically active and never sick. But his heart disease was there.
If you remember Uncle Andy – he did every thing the doctors told him to do after his first heart attack – took his prescriptions, took up jogging, ate a low-fat diet, lost weight, but still ate meat. He went on to have two more heart attacks in spite of being an ideal patient. Perhaps eating animal protein won’t make everyone sick, but if someone is already struggling with or has a family history of heart disease, diabetes or cancer, it makes sense to try eliminating the animal protein. There is nothing to lose by doing so, but possibly much to gain.