Vegetarianism
I was first aware of animal abuse in our food chain at a young age. I went to a 'Smiths' concert, a band, in Boston Massachusetts, where I live, and there was a table set up with information about where meat comes from. The Smiths release they were promoting was called 'Meat is Murder'. It is obvious what this means. I took home a lot of information, and like a lot of people, was completely horrified at the behavior, we as humans, place on animals, just to indulge, (more about this will be discussed at this website at another time).
Amazingly, at that time, veal parmesan was my favorite meal. There was no nutrition labels on food then, and I started getting interested on what exactly was it, that I was eating. I started to look around my house, and reading ingredients on all those foods that had these labeled. I remember my mother at one point, wanting to stop buying 'kids' cereals, that were full of sugar, and to focus on more healthy cereals. I am sure this too, added to my interest as to what is in the foods I ate. I was astonished to find out some very simple things.
My mother had purchased some bread, labeled as 'wheat'. I read the ingredients, and the 'wheat' was hardly there, the molasses was what made the bread brownish in color, not the wheat. My mother was paying more, for what she thought was 'healthy' bread, but was just colored white bread. This was how it all started. I entered the world of vegetarianism for two reasons. One, to stop the suffering of animals and two, to look at what foods I eat were made of.
The next fifteen years, I dabbled in and out with vegetarianism. I worked at Mc Donald's for a year, but didn't eat the burgers, just the fish filets and cheese danishes. I eventually did start eating a lot of meat. At 19 years old, my cholesterol was 202. I am sure it had something to do with the fact that I ate a bacon cheeseburger every day at work, and at that time I was working at a hospital. My hospital experience also opened my eyes to what foods could make you sick, and how drastically our bodies are effected by what we ingest.
Finally, in my mid-20s, I decided to 'really' look at the foods I ate. I knew all about the way animals were treated, all about the effects on our health, all about how I was making myself sick, all about how the earth is ruined by the meat that is eaten. I quit drinking and smoking, had gained about 40 pounds. So I simply removed meat from my diet. Yes, all the weight literally melted off. I did work 3 jobs at that time, so I was active, I am sure that helped. But I lost the weight, which seemed like, not even trying. I felt better, had more energy and felt no guilt, since I wasn't harming animals for the foods I ate.
However, I still struggle with the cheese and dairy department. I am well aware of how cows used for milk are kept pregnant so they'll produce milk, and I am well aware that their calves, are sold off as veal. Along with how cheese is made with rennet, enzymes from calf stomachs, how egg laying chickens are treated so badly and that the waste that mega-farming of these animals produce, which poisons the environment and people.
So what do I do? I try to buy foods labeled vegan. I try to stay away from bakeries and coffee shops. I say 'try' because these kinds of foods, (muffins, cookies...etc...) seem to be my favorites. I use soy milk in my coffee, no longer needing the dairy. It did take me a little while to adjust to the vegan coffee, but it has opened up a whole new world of flavors. For instance, I get some flavored coffee, preferably organic, earth and farmer friendly. I then add either vanilla or chocolate soymilk. There is no need for sugar, dairy or that 'stevia' product that leaves a after-taste in your mouth. I am aware that coffee, of itself, if ingested too much, has it's own negative effects on the body, cholesterol being one of them. Moderation is the best in all we eat and do. Also variety. When a vegetarian, vegan or anyone else just eats the same things over and over, the body will suffer.
I have four pets : 'Elvis', the green iguana is a vegan, 'Shiva' the black lab, eats meat and vegetables, as does 'Inky' the cat and 'Antonio' the deer-head chihuahua. I have, in the past, looked into making Shiva, Antonio and Inky vegetarians and/or vegan, but I see how happy they are when they get meat and treats. This, in itself, should not be reason to not feed them a meat-free diet, but I enjoy seeing my companion animals happy. I know there are ways to have our pets vegan, food is sold with nutrients so the animals don't get sick, but I'd rather, like I said, see my companion animals jumping for joy over a treat or some raw meat.
At this time, the number one reason why I am continuing to live as a vegetarian, is health. What follows closely is, the suffering of animals, and the destruction of the earth, raising the animals eaten for their food they create. It is not a real struggle, these days. You can find vegetarian foods everywhere, and do not have to go to 'natural' or 'specialty' stores, like in the past. The one thing I try to keep aware of, is companies, that are not earth or animal friendly, that buy out vegetarian companies. Like 'Philips Morris' owns 'Boca'.
So you'd like to... Stop eating animals
"Switching to a meat-free diet is a great way to feel better about yourself. While it can be difficult for some people, it's a lot easier if you can share the experience with others and if you have access to the right information."
"According to biologists and anthropologists who study our anatomy and our evolutionary history, humans are herbivores who are not well suited to eating meat."
Includes:
"Guide to Health Charities That Do and That Don't Fund Animal Experiments" Booklet
Cruelty-Free Pocket Shopping Guide
"Companies That Do Test on Animals" Factsheet
"Companies That Don't Test on Animals" Factsheet
"Seven national animal protection groups banded together to form the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC - Leaping Bunny website). The CCIC promotes a single standard with an internationally recognized logo to help make shopping for animal-friendly products easier and more trustworthy."
Quotes
"I'm into being harmonious with nature and respecting all animals."
'Red Hot Chilli Pepper' band memeber 'Flea'
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"If slaughterhouses had glass walls, we'd all be vegetarians."
The late 'Linda McCartney, wife of Paul McCartney' of the group the 'Beatles'
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"I don't eat any animals or anything that has to do with animals - no fish or egg or dairy because I personally don't feel it's a good practice to eat anything that might run away from you."
Hip-Hop Mogul and Founder of 'Def Jam Records' Russell Simmons
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"Every book report I did in school was about animal rights. I rescue dogs. I love animals."
Singer 'Pink'
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have expressed concerns that tissue from an animal's central nervous system, which can transmit mad cow, can be filtered through the machine and make its way into the food supply."
"..... the most holy of the Hebrews, the Essenes, and the disciples and followers of Yeshua were all vegetarians."
"..... James, the brother of Jesus, drank no wine or strong drink, nor did he eat meat."
"..... the apostle Matthew partook of seeds, and nuts, and vegetables, without flesh."
"It is much better to be happy than to make our body become the grave of animals. This is why, the apostle Mathew used to eat seeds, walnuts and vegetables, and no meat."
"The unnatural consumption of meat is contaminating in the same way as the pagan adoration of the demons. When men take part in it they become companions of the devils."
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for actions you can take to improve food safety.
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