Vegan diets vs. Meat-Eating Diets

VEGAN DIETS vs.

MEAT-EATING DIETS

by René Eide Rasmussen

Vegan diets vs. meat-eating diets

by Dr. Tamasi József

FIRST OFF; WHICH DIET WOULD BEST SUIT HUMANS FROM AN ANATOMIC AND PHYSIOLOGIC STAND POINT? Wrong question! Although this question is often asked and discussed, it is still wrong because based on the human body and intelligence, a human being is capable of following many types of diets. This however does not mean that humans can go on following any of them without repercussions later. Human dentition, a long gastrointestinal system, the abdomen, digestive fluids, intestinal bacterial flora are capable of handling a mixed diet. In other words:

We are capable of eating meat, dairy and eggs, but anatomically there is no reason to consume all of these despite our capability We are capable of eating plant materials, in fact we can eat them alone. An exclusively plant diet will not cause our dentition or digestive system to get exhausted or start to malfunction.

From the perspective of food quality, we call a diet mixed if besides raw vegetables, one also takes cooked ones. Following a mixed diet includes eating dairy products, eggs too, it is not only meat that makes a mixed diet.

Our anatomy is not capable of consuming meat on its own, especially raw meat. Our dentition and digestive system is not at all like that of a tiger or lion. Therefore, I call such a diet predan (meat-eating), not predator (carnivorous).

Without doubt we are not capable of consuming grass on its own – that is raw grass – like in case of a cow, horse, or elephant’s digestive system. Some vegetables humans take cooked, prepared with heat, peeled, cut, using herbs, thus making it more easily digestible.

CAN WE GET ALL NUTRIENTS FROM MEAT? My answer is clearly no. But generally the misunderstanding is that almost all predans (eating meat and dairy products) are convinced that they do not consume much meat (“only 2-3 times a week”, “only once a day”, “only fish and poultry”) and besides this amount all the plant foodstuff are supposed to cover deficiencies.

Unfortunately this is not so.

CAN A VEGETARIAN/VEGAN DIET SUPPLY ALL THE NUTRITION WE NEED? Most certainly the right answer is YES. Let me emphasize however that to evaluate a diet with an appropriate dietitian perspective today is not to judge it based on the inclusion or abandonment of certain food ingredients. There is no such thing as a normal or a completely wrong, widely followed diet. There are only shortages, but those may appear in every single type of eating habit.

DIGESTION OF MEAT INCREASES THE NEED FOR PLANT MATERIALS Meat and dairy products disturb the proper ratio of plant materials by their volume, meat disturbs intestinal flora even in small quantity, not to mention an important fact that besides meat such people mainly consume milk, yogurt, cheese and eggs, even more than once a day. Such a “mixed” diet does not carry enough fibers, antioxidants, fresh plant materials, omega fatty acids, vitamins. Due to a mixed diet the intestinal flora becomes diseased and passage slower.

A growing number of people are forced to give up dairy products, gluten, meat or eggs due to food allergy and even such people’s nutrition needs can be supplied. Nutrition need of vegetarians and vegans can be fully supplied also, it only requires some knowledge as any other diets do. The same way predan diet has certain risks, deficiency symptoms, which need as much attention as risks of a vegan diet.

CHARACTERISTICS OF CARNIVOROUS ANIMALS No fibers – meat does not contain any fibers. Meat is free of fibers so it obstructs bowel movement, defecating.

Short intestinal tract – this compensates the lack of vegetable fibers, this is why a tiger does not have constipation.

Carnivorous dentition; long, pointed canine teeth for catching prey and tearing the hide and sharp-edged teeth in the back for shearing off chunks of flesh.

Eats raw meat – humans do not have such habits.

Quick digestion, special intestinal flora (putrefactive flora) that may cause a lot of diseases in humans, the same in tigers is considered normal.

Not fit for a vegetable diet – a tiger could not digest a simple salad.

CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMANS Ever since I first went vegetarian, I’ve heard comments like, “Eating animals is natural. Humans are omnivores, and we’ve eaten meat for thousands of years.” I usually respond by talking about the suffering of animals and explaining that just because something is supposedly “natural” doesn’t mean it’s right. After all, many people used to think that it was natural to enslave other humans!

Humans would get sick by eating only meat causing poor bowel movement due to the lack of fibers, improper intestinal flora, excessive easily digestible proteins in meat, toxins, saturated fat.

Humans aren’t omnivores at all; we’re natural herbivores. We thrive best when we eat only plants. Of course, people eat meat all the time, but our bodies are not well-adapted to meat-eating, and as a result, many people face a greater risk for health problems. Saying that humans are natural meat-eaters is like arguing that humans are natural smokers.

Human canine teeth are small and blunt, and we have flat molars for grinding up plant fibers.

Humans cook their food because that is how they can digest it well.

There is no other animal on earth which would cook its food.

Humans have hands that are useful for gathering vegetables and fruits but aren’t that good for killing and ripping skin and flesh.

HUMAN CANINE TEETH ARE SMALL AND BLUNT, AND WE HAVE FLAT MOLARS FOR GRINDING UP PLANT FIBERS.

FURTHER REASONS FOR EATING A LOT OF PLANT FOOD

FURTHER REASONS ABOUT HARMFULNESS OF MEAT

Besides the fact that a vegan/veterarian diet is full of fibers, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, here are additional important reasons in support of eating predominantly plant materials:

Besides lacking fibers, providing too much proteins, causing intestinal flora to become putrefactive, containing medicines and lacking antioxidants, here are some more arguments against meat:

It is rich in essential fatty acids Intake of saturated fatty acids is reduced Cholesterol intake and absorption is reduced It supports the balance of nitrogen in the body.

Acid-base balance improves (it is mostly fresh vegetables which provide an alkalic chemical effect on the body) It is lower in calories as well as it is also hard to over eat when eating only plant based foods that are not processed because of increased satiety (feeling of fullness after a meal) It is more favorable for physiological intestinal flora

Excessive cholesterol intake

IT’S SOMETIMES EASY TO FORGET THAT THE STEAK ON YOUR PLATE WAS PART OF A LIVING CREATURE.

Ratio of saturated fat is too high Purin, intake of nucleic acid acid base gets out of balance Can only be taken after heat has been applied to it (showing that our bodies were not meant to be eating it) It’s sometimes easy to forget that the steak on your plate was part of a living creature. But the path from livestock to entrée can be fraught with unbelievable animal cruelty. From locking animals in tiny cages, to slicing parts of their bodies off without any pain relief A staggering 51 percent or more of global greenhouse-gas emissions are caused by animal agriculture

THIS IS HOW MUCH YOU SAVE EVERY DAY

BY GOING VEGAN 3 SQUARE METERS OF FOREST

4100KG OF CO2

14.000L OF FRESH WATER

20KG OF GRAINS

1 ANIMAL’S LIFE

There is so much negative connotation and association in today’s society regarding vegans and vegetarians, so this booklet is hopefully going to help you get a better understanding of the benefits of having a vegan/vegetarian diet and lifestyle.