Negative Effects Of Meat Consumption

All semester we have discussed how our actions impact our environment and what we can do to limit this impact, or to make our impact more “green.” From smart green homes, to rain barrels, to smart cars, there are many different ways that we can improve our environment and lessen our ecological footprint. One of the biggest ways to do this is by reducing the amount of meat that we consume.

Major food corporations with the mantra of “feeding the world” have started a cycle of chemical abuse and sterilization of the earth. Frances Moore Lappé talks about this in his article, Diet Of The Small Planet, giving readers the harsh reality that our increasing meat centered diets are causing. The consumption of meat has been linked to the single-minded belief that beef/ham/chicken were the only source of “much needed protein.” According to the data that Lappé has gathered though, this “meat principle” could not be further from the truth. For instance, take the fact that a cow needs to ingest “21 pounds of [plant protein from grains] in order to produce 1 pound of protein for human consumption.” (Lappé) In fact, all the grains grown in the US that are supposedly suppose to “feed the world” at least “78%” (Lappé) is given to livestock as feed. This ridiculousness is further emphasized when Lappé mentions the stark contrast of livestock to the protein producing ability of plants per acre. The protein production of “cereals, legumes and leafy vegetables” easily produce up to “15 times more protein per acre” (Lappé) than the average piece of meat. The most startling example of the protein conversion inefficiency of meat through comes from the comparison to Spinach, which Lappé notes, is actually able to produces “26 times more protein per

Most Americans are aware of global warming, cancer, heart disease and the fact that the earth’s supply of good water is diminishing. In an effort to conserve our planet people drive hybrid cars, recycle, and use low energy light bulbs and appliances, which is great. However, most Americans are unaware and uninformed about how meat effects global warming, our health, and how much of our planet’s water and resources meat production consumes. Meat contributes to global warming, increases risk for cancer, causes heart disease and uses a tremendous amount of resources to produce, therefore people need to be informed about what they are eating through food labeling and Surgeon General warnings, as well as

The world has a need for meat, and it is almost obsessive. Most cultures typically consume some sort of domesticated animal in agriculture. Whether it is cows, chicken, lamb, deer, turkey, or fish, many people are not educated to the fact that the alternative diets are better for their health. There are different animal products for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Hundreds if not thousands of diverse chain restaurants dedicated to meat consumption.There are also many different holidays around the world such as Thanksgiving and Christmas where meat is consumed. With affordable prices and an acquired taste, it is likely to be a lifelong habit. There are vast miles of subsidized agricultural land dedicated to the cultivation of animals. According to Amir Khan, staff writer for U.S.News, reporting on the American Meat Institute, Americans consume, “57 pounds more meat than they were in the 1950s”(Khan).

For example, Simon (2013) states, “...high consumption levels damage our health and costs billions of dollars to treat.” Simon portrays that eating a wide variety of meat is no longer healthy for individuals. Moreover, it can age and promote growth amongst individuals quicker. Some effects have even gone as far to be as detrimental as cigarette and tobacco use. As the public generally becomes more and more aware of such concerns, there are two possibilities. The first being that people decide to not change what they eat, and therefore, suffer from the costs that come along with a multitude of health problems. The other alternative, is for an individual to decide to change their diet. In turn, the businesses that function around serving meat, will have to restructure and remarket to the general

Beef accounts for so much water usage and methane emissions and carbon dioxide and greenhouse gasses and it all contributes to global climate change. We are killing our planet because we like the way meat tastes. It is crucial we leave the old ways behind so that we may embrace the new lifestyle that is caring about the world and doing something about it. It is crucial that everyone understands what they are doing to themselves when they eat processed foods. It is important to recognize severely hormone treated meat as the carcinogen

We’ve all heard environmentalists explain what global warming is, why it’s dangerous, and what we can do to stop it. People protest against auto emissions and fossil fuel daily. “ But the one industry that produces more greenhouse gases than all the SUV’s, cars, ships, planes, and trucks in the world combined, has carefully avoided scrutiny” (Goveg.com). Often overlooked in environmental destruction is the meat industry. This industry has a major source of deforestation, wasted natural resources, and pollution. As consumers we expect our food to be safe, but Americans should pay more attention and fear what may affect our environment in the future.

Everybody loves meat. From steak to pork chops, it’s all good, just not good for you. In the past few decades, as our population has increased exponentially, so has our demand for food. Because of this, we have changed in the way we get our food. The way that the food is produced has changed and because of this the health risks increased and the environment is also affected. People need to know that there are consequences.

Did you know that buying that burger at dinner or frozen chicken at the grocery store is killing you, your family, and the environment? Despite that you grew up eating meat and accumulated the thought that you “can’t live without it,” you CAN go without consuming meat. If you were to give up meat, even for a while or better yet all together, you would not only be helping the earth, but also your health, and even our future generations to come. Believe it or not, eating meat causes huge side effect to your health. Factory farming even causes more pollution and chemical fume releases than cars. On top of that, it is wiping out vast sums of land and is causing deforestation, which is even causing plants and insects to become extinct every day. Factory farming and the consumption of meat is bad and should be limited or stopped altogether.

I am really concerned about our eating habits in America, and I am beginning to wonder if the meat industry is negatively affecting America 's health and well-being. During this course I have efficiently held that the meat industry is in high demand, because we have dramatically increased the amount of meat consumed over the last twenty years. My understanding of this topic is that animals such as cows and chickens are being mistreated; this due to them living in small compartments, and in unhealthy conditions. I also think that a lot of bacteria is being created out of the unsanitary conditions in which these animals are kept, This bacteria ends up in our food and is harmful to us. A reason why this topic became very appealing to me is because I grew up in a small town in Mexico. My family’s eating habits were very different from the ones here in the United States. We raised our own cattle and chickens and I now believe that we did so in a healthy environment for animals. We would also cultivate our own vegetables and fruits. I remember the meat having a different taste. The cattle and chickens were not as big as they are here, they didn’t grow as fast, and they surely didn’t reproduce as quickly as they do in farms here.

Did you know the average American eats 209 pounds of meat per year. Americans need to drastically cut down on the amount of meat we eat because the animal agriculture industry is not sustainable, livestock have created more than 500 nitrogen flooded dead zones around the world in our oceans, and it's responsible for up to 80% of destruction done to the Amazon rain forest.

Nutrients and diet play a big role in people’s health and condition. Poor diet and frequent exposure to certain nutrients leads one’s health vulnerable to various diseases or abnormalities. Cancer is the continuous abnormal cell division, which causes countless people’s lives every year. There isn’t only one factor triggering the development of cancer, but several factors together play a big role in the development of this deadly illness. According to several studies done, red meat and processed meat is one of the contributors to this illness, but how does the most consumed type of meat in the United States cause cancer? Research has shown different types of cancer developments linked to the consumption of red meat and processed red meat, the kinds of red meat involved in this association, and the carcinogens present in red meat which, makes it toxic.

In recent years, red meat has been controversial because it has been linked to heart disease and cancer. The truth is today’s red meat wasn’t what it has used to be. Those we ate nowadays is vastly different than before. The meat products may have been processed before sale. Regardless of the fact that humans consumed red meat through different methods, many experts still believe that it is more harmful to human body than health aspects. Eating red meat raises the risk of early death. As red meat is high in protein and fats, it can contribute to different kinds of diseases and cancer to our human body. Some people claim that red meat is healthy. However, there are some good reasons that this is not true.

Meat is an important part of our diet not only because it provides essential nutrients to our body, but also helps our body be effective. Many people think the only reason we eat meat is to satisfy hunger and to receive protein, but it is for so much more than that. Meat is more than just a complete protein unlike soy products, for example, which need to be combined with supplemental proteins to be considered "complete." It's loaded with other healthy goodies, including high levels of iron and B vitamins, such as niacin and riboflavin which enables the growth of healthy skin and nerves as well as help digestion and maintain good vision. Meat also contains selenium, which works as an antioxidant with vitamin E to protect the human body from heart disease and other health problems. Phosphorus, which helps regulate metabolism, is also

In fact I would be healthier if I had animal proteins in my diet. As an ethical and responsible human being you should have a moderate amount of healthy animal products.” As a vegetarian Bouvier can admit to the benefits that animal products in our diet is extremely beneficial to the health in all areas of one’s body. A huge reason why many vegetarians choose their eating habit is because they have been convinced that it is going to be healthier for their body, which could not be any further away from the truth. Meat has an extensive amount of important nutrients that will strengthen any person. Flesh has saturated fats, which has been proven to not be responsible for the thing that they used to be blamed for, such as heart disease, cancer or obesity. Instead in moderate amounts they enhance the function of the immune system and the nervous system by making sure that the vitamins in the fat reach their internal receptors in the brain. Meat also contains nutrients like vitamin A, D several of the B complex vitamins, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, selenium, iron and taurine, some of these are only present in animal products and they are vital to survival.