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Meaty Facts MAG
Humans are physiologically, mentally, and physically made to eat meat. If you are a vegetarian, I hope you think twice before trying to change a meat eater’s mind about their steak dinner. These are just the facts – believe them or not. Humans, in general, are omnivores, and I can prove it.
Historically, humans have been natural meat eaters. Why do you think meat tastes so good to us? It’s because our species has evolved to eat it. According to National Geographic, “We have an improved ability to process cholesterol and fat.” Ninety-eight percent of the world eats meat, and it tastes good to most of us because chemicals are released in our brain that tell our body it’s good.
Switching to meat gave our ancestors an advantage. Researchers at the University of Southern California have found that when ancient humans began to consume meat 2.5 million years ago, they gained access to a new source of protein that helped produce larger brains and superior intelligence. Where would we be if we hadn’t discovered the first steak?
Secondly, humans are physiologically designed to eat meat. We need the protein, iron, and nutrients that only meat can provide. Without it, we face the risk of inadequate vitamin and mineral levels. As omnivores, our bodies are designed to process both meat and plant matter. According to TIME online, “a quarter-pound of meat stimulates almost twice as much gastric juices as does a quarter-pound of carbohydrates, and is correspondingly better for normal digestion.” We may not have teeth like a cat that can shear a deer, or an intestinal track that allows us to eat raw meat, but we have the single-chambered stomach common to carnivores and omnivores. Herbivores, on the other hand, have multiple stomach chambers. Humans find cellulose (the main component of plant tissue) totally indigestible, while we digest meat quickly and efficiently.
Lastly, people who choose not to eat meat do not reach their physical peak. UK Cohort hosted a study of 3,086 meat-eating women and 593 non-meat-eating women. The non-meat eaters had significantly lower levels of energy, protein, zinc, and fats than meat eaters. In the TV series “The Truth About Food,” professional athletes (both vegetarians and meat eaters) were studied as they changed their regular diet. The vegetarian athletes ate meat two times a day, while the meat-eating athletes consumed only carbs and vegetables. Colin Jackson, a former world-champion sprinter and hurdler, said that he felt “physically weaker” after not eating meat for a month.
Eating meat is what people are supposed to do. We as a species are smarter, healthier, stronger, and more developed since we began to eat meat. Why would you want to change that?
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This article has 66 comments.
First of all, fake meat is NOT real meat. There is the word FAKE in front of it.
Secondly, the hormones and pesticides you speak of are not supposed to be in the meat. Blame it on the people who give it to the animals. Besides, people who are eating excessive amounts of meat are abusing what they have. The author of this article was simply stating that it is necessary for formation and development. Nowhere above did she mention that eating meats excessively is healthy.
I would just like to point out that almost everything that we eat was once alive or came form something that was alive. And sometimes when we harvest our food, we kill the plants that preduce it. Yes, plants are alive. The pasta that you had for dinner last night had wheat in it, wheat was once alive.
The first sentence of your comment is irritating beyond all belief. Just because we are sentient doesn't me we can "choose" what our body needs to survive. Choosing to not eat meat may be acceptable today with man-made, nutrient enriched foods, but when our digestive systems were first developing, these sort of luxuries were not available. In nature, it is not only beneficial but necessary for survival to eat meat. Even with new sorts of food available today, it has still been proven that certain nutrients, like phosphorus, are more easily processed when aquired from meat. In foods like cereals, phosphorus is present in phytic acid, which needs to be hydrolized before the body can use it. Phosphorus in meat can be absorbed without being hydrolized, expending less energy.
Now think about what you said about "choosing" our own food. By that same logic, do you find canabalism to be acceptable? Eating isn't an issue left up to personal choice or preference. If someone preferred to eat only potato chips and ice cream for the rest of their life, their doctor, friends, or family would tell them they shouldn't because A) these things are bad for our bodies and B) they wouldn't be receiving the nutrients necessary for our bodies to work properly.
And since you mentioned starving children, I'll have you know that it's not the poverty of the country that is keeping these families from getting food. The governments that run these countries keep these people in poverty so that they can live in luxury. I know of several cases personally of people who sent money or food to third-world countries and the government either sent the food back, saying it wasn't "good enough," took the money for themselves, or sold that very same food on the streets for the same prices that the people living there cannot afford. So don't tell people to send money when it's not going to do any good.
In all due respect, I don't agree. Firstly I found your opinion a little succint, and it lacks support in some parts... I mean, as most people stated meat isn't the only food that provides protein iron and nutrients. Secondly, you say it is the reason our 'species' has become smarter, healthier, stronger and more developed. I would agree with some of that, but it's not all true and definitely a minor cause. Also, the study seems a bit weird to me. 3000 meat-eaters against 600 non-meat-eaters? That's a bit unbalanced. Also, you mention that our species has 'evolved' specifically to eat meat. But this isn't all true, firstly because evolution is coincidence. It is actually because in prehistory, meat was pretty much a staple food (although the consomation levels were much lower) and so our system has a natural appreciation of it. Actually it is evolution, but not on purpose... if i make sense. Comparing our ancestors to people of today is not exactly right, I would say. Our brains will not expand because we take an larger portion of steak.
So... basically, I'm not sure if I agree. Seems like you need to back up the facts a little more (:
You also failed to mention the various unhealthy hormones and pesticides found in meat, as well as the cost of eating meat.
Plus, research has found that vegetarians live on average 7 years longer than meat-eaters. SEVEN YEARS! So while carnivores are drowning in their own cholesterol, I'll go on living. I think being vegetarian definately has its perks.
http ://teenink .com /opinion/social_issues_civics/article/131052/The-Veggie-Truth/
http ://teenink .com /opinion/social_issues_civics/article/131052/The-Veggie-Truth/
educate yourself...
i have been studying vegetarianism since i was little.
and there is numorous amounts of evidence and research that proves that a vegetarian diet is healthier for you. and of coarse you are going to try to make up excuses for yourself and try to prove me wrong... but its true.... if you really want more information email me at amber_houston_05@hotmail .com
and i will send you a paper i wrote about vegetarianism... you might learn a few things.