Manuel Ruiz Eating Meat Causes More Problems than It Solves From the moment of their birth, they

are torn away from their mothers as they both scream to be close to each other. If they are fortunate enough to be born a female, they usually live within the same building as the mother but are still separated by fences. As for the males, they will be transported, starved and sickly, to another building where they will be sliced up and their muscles processed to be sold as cheap meat. Going back to the females, their life of torture will last much longer. As they grow over the coming weeks, they will be marked and put into exhausting and intensive work. Those in control will pump them full of antibiotics to prevent them from getting sick since they are surrounded by massive amounts of their own feces and urine. Next, they are artificially impregnated so their breasts can be used like machines to produce milk. Over the next five to seven years, their breast will become so sore and pus filled that their sole duty as a milk machine is no longer needed. They then follow the steps of their young brothers and are transported to be slaughtered for their meat and organs. If it has not come to mind yet, this is the average life of modern cows and bulls. This inhumane treatment only reminds one of one thing, the Holocaust. One group of individuals taking advantage of others based on ideas of false entitlement. Humans are responsible for murdering fifty-six billion animals every year, which averages out to six hundred and fifty animals killed every second (Standing in Livestocks Shadow). The delicious taste of meat is not worth depriving a fellow being of its basic rights when considering the torture animals endure during the production of meat. Paul McCartney once said, If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian. The cruel mistreatment of animals, among other reasons, is why one should consider

adopting a vegetarian diet. But excluding beef, pork, poultry, and fish from meals not only helps animals, the benefits range from being healthier to leaving less of a carbon footprint on the planet. Many people all over the world have taken notice and the amount of vegetarians is constantly growing. Vegetarians can be divided into two main groups, lacto and lactoovovegetarians. Lacto vegetarians are those who exclude meat from their diet but continue to eat dairy products. Lacto-ovovegetarians eat dairy and eggs. Vegans go even further to avoid harming animals, as they do not wear clothing made from animals or do not dairy products, meat, eggs, or any animal byproducts such as gelatin. The history of vegetarianism can be traced back to the early days of ancient India. Many people back then did not eat meat for religious purposes but their motives were based on the same thoughts as vegetarians today, which is for animal welfare and being healthier. Vegetarianism nearly left the minds of humans during the widespread teachings of Christianity. It wasnt until two-thousand years later that people really started to think of other forms of life. During the 1960s along with the racial issues, human rights issues, and government issues, did the problem of cruelty to animals come into the minds of the mainstream public. Frances Moore Lapp's bestseller Diet for a Small Planet, published in 1971, is widely recognized as the main contributor to the sudden boost of vegetarians (Pollan). A study in 2002 concluded that Great Britain doubled the number of its vegetarians in the last year. Germany now has eight million vegetarians, up from five million last year. Italy added one million vegetarians in the past 12 months (Motavalli). Unlike our friends across the pond, the study also found that information on the drawbacks of an omnivorous diet has had little effect on the people of the United States (Motavalli). 10 million Americans consider themselves to be practicing vegetarians (Corliss). A big change in eating habits is needed from the people of

America. The United States has a major influence on the rest of the world and their actions can be the stepping stone to a planet full of healthy humans and happy animals. For those looking to enhance their health, a vegetarian diet is a great way to get started. The effects of vegetarianism have been studied by many and conclude it to be greatly beneficial to human health. A study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention found that those put on a diet excluding meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy products had a six-teen percent drop in the chances of developing cancer, and even better results were found for women, who had a thirty-four percent drop in the possibilities of developing breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers when compared with those eating meat, eggs, and dairy (Vegetarians Live Longer). Another commonly known benefactor of a vegetarian diet is that it is good for the environment. Many people do not realize all that is required in the production of meat, thus ignorance is bliss. There are numerous documentaries and books that delve into this problem. A quick viewing of the documentary Earthlings can change anyones mind about eating meat. The horrible footage of slaughterhouses can be traumatizing but it is necessary. People should not be shielded from the unknown damage that comes from eating a hamburger or hotdog. This one stride into vegetarianism can be the catalyst to a complete lifestyle change. Not all is good on the veggie front; many vegetarians are suffering from malnutrition. There are some drawbacks that arise from excluding meat, which is that most veggies, nuts, or fruits lack the essential vitamin B12. It is particularly important in the development of the brain. B12 is usually created from bacteria within the stomachs of animals and is passed on to those who consume the meat. Paul Walter notes in his article about a major concern dealing with vegetarians is not consuming adequate amounts of the vitamin B12, and also that B12 ingested from plants and supplements do not have the same health benefits as B12 consumed from meat

(Walter). Although some vegetarians are completly aware of the nutrients in their diet, many more lack knowledge of attaining essential vitamins. Nutrition experts advise vegetarians to find supplements containing B12 and many are easily found on the internet or at local health stores. There are some worries associated with a lot of practicing vegetarians. There is worry about getting the right amount of protein in meals. Many are oblivious to the fact that there are plenty of veggies with high amounts of protein which results in low-protein diets that interfere with calcium absorption and lead to problems with skeletal health (Corliss). These are the scientifically researched problems with vegetarianism. A similar problem arises among many new vegetarians who dont research on ways to attain vitamins and minerals. Weight loss is thought to be an advantage of a vegetarian diet but that is not always the case. Lack of knowledge in ones diet often leads to a diet full of bean burritos, cheese pizza, pop tarts and salads with way too much ranch dressing. This high intake of pastries and saturated fats is no healthy alternative to a meatless diet. These complications may be noteworthy but the drawbacks of an omnivorous diet vastly outweigh those of a vegetarian diet. The average diet of omnivores living in advanced economies consists mostly of packaged and preserved foods. It seems taste is of more importance than what nutrients are inside. This can lead to terrible consequences, in the article Standing in Livestocks Shadow, studies have shown that on a worldwide scale, inadequate amounts of nutrients and the overconsumption of meat attribute to more than fifty percent of worldly diseases (Henning). On top of malnourishment, eating meat is a leading cause of obesity on planet Earth. Obesity is a major concern, best stated in the book The Omnivores Dilemma by Michael Pollan: According to the surgeon general, obesity today is officially an epidemic; it is arguably the most pressing public health problem we face, costing the health care

system an estimated $90 billion a year. Three of every five Americans are overweight; one of every five is obese. The disease formerly known as adult-onset diabetes has had to be renamed Type II diabetes since it now occurs so frequently in children. A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association predicts that a child born in 2000 has a one-in-three chance of developing diabetes. (An African American child's chances are two in five.) Because of diabetes and all the other health problems that accompany obesity, today's children may turn out to be the first generation of Americans whose life expectancy will actually be shorter than that of their parents. The problem is not limited to America: The United Nations reported that in 2000 the number of people suffering from over nutrition--a billion--had officially surpassed the number suffering from malnutrition--800 million. The overconsumption of meat is very harmful to the human heart. It is worsened due to many not exercising after eating meals high in fat. Since cholesterol can only be found in meat and its byproducts, this results in a high rate of clogged arteries. Vegetarian diets usually include food low in fat, when compared to diets of omnivores (Vegetarians Live Longer). It is commonly advised by many doctors that lack of a healthy diet and exercise can cause Coronary Heart Disease, which is the leading cause of death in America, but not many are told that overconsumption of meat raises ones possibility for developing particular forms of cancer. Risks for developing certain types of cancer can easily be lowered by following a vegetarian diet (Vegetarians Live longer). Countries with the highest rates of meat consumption have the highest rate of those infected with lung, colon

and intestinal cancer (Walter). Along with the many health concerns surrounding eating meat, an omnivorous diet has detrimental effects on the environment. At grocery stores, cows are depicted feeding on grasslands but the reality of what goes on in producing meat is much different. The idea of happy cows is displayed purposely to consumers because if they knew the truth, they would not eat beef. In many places, producers of meat are fighting to get laws passed which outlaw videos or pictures on what happens inside of slaughterhouses (Food Inc.). Livestock raised by farmers is a thing of the past. Producing meat is big business, so cows are grown on a massive scale. In order to boost profit, there is little care for the welfare of the animals in modern productions of meat. Most animals never see the sun or breathe fresh air until they are transported to slaughterhouses. Until then, they are housed in dark buildings with little to no ventilation and very limited space. Often, they are surrounded by their urine, feces, and rotting food. This germ filled environment has led to many producers pumping animals full of antibiotics, which is passed on to those eating the meat. Also, most cows are given growth hormones in order to increase muscle mass (Pollan). Some cows become so heavy that they cannot stand on their own and it is thought that they bear the same stress as cyclists in the Tour de France. Many cows are also fed corn instead of grass in order to have meat that is high in fat. Cows are not meant to eat corn and as a result are constantly falling ill (Food Inc.). Hens probably suffer the most of all animals used in the meat industry. There are two ways chickens are used by those in the meat market, usually for their meat or for laying eggs. As for egg laying hens, a brutal process known as force molting is practiced where the birds are starved in order to induce more laying cycles (Earthlings). The cramped space, starvation, and lack of fresh air puts a lot

of stress on hens which has them acting in unnatural ways, such as resorting to cannibalism or de-feathering other chickens (Earthlings). At an early age, most bird farms burn off the beaks of the chicks, without anesthetic or numbing medicine, to prevent them from harming other chickens (Earthlings). After the chickens are no longer needed for laying eggs, they are shipped off to be slaughtered for their meat. At the slaughterhouse, the chickens feathers are removed using brutal methods. The cheapest and consequently most common method is using a de-feathering tank. Still conscious, the chickens are dipped in boiling hot water so their feathers will slide off easily (Earthlings). This cruel treatment of live beings has also had negative effects on those working in slaughterhouses. Although they might not show it, many slaughterhouse employees are very depressed. Employees in slaughterhouses have one of the highest suicide rates in the working world (Earthlings). Consumers need to inform themselves on all that goes into the production of meat. Most problems regarding the meat industry not only cause harm to animals but the environment as well, which in turn affects everyone. Although the meat industry employs many and is good for the economy, the ways in which it is done is inhumane and causes more problems than it solves. Most of todays environmental complications can easily be traced back to raising livestock for the meat industry (Cabrejas). 260 million acres of U.S. forest have been cleared to create croplands to maintain our meat centered diet (Panchal). That is not even close to the total amount of deforestation happening worldwide. In Latin America, seventy percent of land that was once part of the Amazon rainforest is now used as pastures for raising cattle (Haan). On top of ruining pristine forest, raising cattle is partly responsible for the damaging effects of global warming. It is estimated that the livestock is accountable for eighteen percent of all greenhouse emissions

(Cabrejas). The fumes from manure and flatulence of cows are responsible for a majority of methane and nitrous oxide emissions in the atmosphere (Cabrejas). The disposal of animal waste is another unknown contributor to environmental degradation. In an article written by Joaquin Cabrejas entitled A Deeper Shade of Green, he notes that The environmental protection agency estimates that farm animals produce 500 million tons of waste a year in the United States alone. This animal waste is usually kept in specially made canals or reservoirs. More times than not, the overflow finds its way into nearby water supply. This has led to tainted water which is known to cause still born births (Henning). This runoff of animal waste not only affects humans but nearby ecosystems. Biodiversity of surrounding plants and animals is in danger from the toxins contained in this waste. The Amazon rainforest of South America is suffering the most. Many consider the current rate of extinction caused by the livestock sector to be the worst in recorded history (Henning). The environmental degradation of today is not the only worry to arise from raising livestock; many resources are allocated to these animals instead of being used for humans. The large amounts of grain used to feed cattle, pigs, and birds could easily be used to help solve the problem of world hunger (Earthlings, Food Inc., Henning, Cabrejas). Growing crops for feeding animals too contributes to the degradation of the environment. Nearly a third of land on Earth is used for either housing livestock or for feed crops (Henning). Water scarcity is another problem that stems from raising livestock. Vast amounts of water are used in the production of meat when compared to growing edible plants. Grain-fed livestock consume 100,000 liters of water for every kilogram of food they produce, compared with 2,000 liters for soybeans (Corliss). The companies who sell meat also have another major concern that is unseen by most, a high demand for petroleum gas for importing livestock. The United States

imports about 200 million pounds of beef from Central America every year (Panchal). This high usage of gas is another way the livestock sector is responsible of greenhouse gas emissions, the other being the fumes created in the digestive systems of animals and manure. For those who are worried about the limited resources on Earth, then adopting a vegetarian diet could help more than what is imagined. As the info on the consequences of an omnivorous diet is becoming better known, hopefully eating meat will soon be recognized as being just as harmful as sugar, alcohol, and cigarettes. By making a few changes in ones eating habits, it could improve human health, the lives of animals, and the condition of the planet. It is not necessary to consume animals to live a healthy life. Most people are oblivious to this because of the meat producing companys creative advertising to hide the truth. Eating meat has many undesirable costs. A diet full of meat, fish, and poultry has been linked to negative health problems such as obesity, diabetes, and lung, colon, intestinal, breast, and ovarian cancers. Animals cannot speak for themselves and there are not many laws regarding the welfare of animals. Vegetarianism can help to alleviate the suffering caused to the billions of animals who die at the hands of meat producers. The environmental problems that are caused by peoples high demand for meat could be what save the Earth from this downward slope humans are currently on. Albert Einstein knew this when he famously said "Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances of survival for life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet."