What is Actually in Meat?
Let’s just take a step backwards from our plant-based philosophy and take a look at what is actually in meat, and why humans feel it is necessary to eat it.
From a vegan’s perspective, we know that all plants contain protein. It’s a scientific fact, that we see horses and cows eat a vegan diet and are big, beautiful creatures. They obviously are healthy because humans use the horses for riding, and cows for their meat and milk.
But, what is actually in meat that would benefit us?
- The meat from animals—humans choose to eat (pigs, cows, chickens, fish, shellfish, etc.)—consists mostly of muscle tissue.
- And animal muscle is primarily comprised of 75% water, 20% protein, 5% fat (maybe more) and various assortments of carbohydrates, etc.
- Other things that might be in meat that could be detrimental to our own bodies? Arsenic, animal feces, contaminated water, hormones, antibiotics and other assorted drugs.
Now to be fair…
Let’s take a look at the nutrients found in meat.
- B Vitamins – Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, B6, B12
- Vitamin A
- Protein (up to 20+ grams)
And the bad stuff that can be found in meat?
- Saturated Fat – which has been consistently link to colo-rectal and breast cancer, as well as heart disease.
- Cholesterol – which can be a contributing factor to atheroschlerosis, or hardening and constricting of the arteries. And can cause hypertension and high blood pressure.
- Caricinogens – can be found in cooked meat, especially barbecued meats.
- Heme Iron – the type that is readily found in meats, can produce compounds which can also damage cells, leading to cancer.
- Purines – are meat byproducts that could lead to excess uric acid in the body, and can possibly lead to gout.
If Plants Contain the Necessary Protein…
It seems logical that the only reason people eat meats is because of the taste, since there are too many things found in meats that can cause health issues, like gout, cancer, heart disease and possibly stroke.
Plant protein seems like a cleaner source, and amino acids are abundant in plants in the form of enzymes (more on this in a later post).
Ethical Concerns…
Animals are slaughtered for their meat, and they are living sentient beings. If they know they are going to be killed they have emotions and try to flee. It seems logical that going to a plant-based diet would help the environment because raising billions of animals for slaughter each year puts a burden on our resources of water, crops, space and causes pollution in the form of greenhouse gasses.
From a economical standpoint, reducing our consumption of animal foods would reduce our overall carbon footprint, and provide more quality plant foods and water to humans.
