You Are What You Eat~~Ever Hear That Phrase?
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
February 19, 2008 1:05am CST
Okay sort of embarking a bit on a philosophical type of discussion here.
As many of my friends know, I'm a "bit" of an animal activists. I have signed up for alerts to let me know what is going on in the animal world to let me know especially of forms of cruelty against animals...so I often get alerts from ASPCA, The Humane Society, and yes,..gasps..Peta.
I just did a discussion about that beef recall, the largest in America yet where 143 million pounds of beef was recalled by the government and processed at the Hallmark/Westland company. The ground meat was the frozen type to be shipped to all the schools in about 37 states for school lunch programs, but from what I understand the beef is also included in various other programs....who knows? Maybe for the Meals on Wheels programs
The Humane Society has a video showing how the cattle, many of them sickly and "downed" cattle which are NOT supposed to be used for human consumption where none the less slaughtered and used anyway and thus the recall as the meat has the potential of many serious health hazards.
Anyway, this got me thinking about factory farm raised animals in general. If anyone has seen any of the numerous video exposés of how cows, chickens, pigs, etc are kept one would seriously be outraged...most of these animals are raised for human consumption especially at fast food places like KFC,Burger King, MacDonalds, etc...all fast food places.
I'll be honest I'm no vegan by any means and I have cut down significantly on eating red meat...I go out of my way to go to this one supermarket in my area to get organically raised meats...yes, it costs more, but at least I'm not eating meats that originally came from some factory farm environment
Now here's the "philosophical" part of my drift here. You are what you eat. So I'm sitting here thinking...is this why though, why so many people in general have more health and yes maybe even emotional problems than ever before? Think of it...the meat foods that are consumed especially at fast food places come from these factory farms... The animals are raised and treated in the most inhumane conditions possible...they are pumped up with a cocktail mix of chemicals to fatten them up to make them grow at a faster rate than normal..they are pumped up with antibiotics, and god knows what the hell else...They are raised in cramped quarters, many often die and the dead bodies of the animals (especially chickens) are left dead on the floor,...they know nothing but pain and cruelty...then when they are killed, they aren't killed the fastest or most kind or humane way, but horrifically, almost sadistically cruelly.
So when we the consumer eat these foods of these animals, are we also eating their "pain", the cruelty they felt...is this why we are sicker now with health and emotional problems cause we are eating pain and cruelty? You Are What You Eat after all. I don't even know if I'm explaining this as well as I could be....But do you have some kind of understanding of my meaning here??
If you're wondering about the image here...I bet the cows raised in farm factories never get one kind word or feelings of kindness let alone get "kissed"...they are just good for profits...
7 people like this
14 responses
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
20 Feb 08
I read somewhere how hormons of the slaughtered animals are affecting those who eat them. I can't remember where I read this, but since I never consume meat more than 0.5 lbs in 2 days, I feel that there are not as many animals have been killed let alone abused, to feed me.
Whoever wrote it, was not telling nonsense. If only I can provide the link, you will see scientific research there too. I have made plans to eliminate meat from my grocery. My husband surely is meat eater nothing I can do about that, it's his choice, but for him I buy organic only. Since January 70% of meat that we buy end up in my husband's belly. By end of 2008, no more cow/chicken/pig etc should be killed (in humane or humane) to feed me. When I was young meat was expensive so we ate seafood mostly, so my biggest problem is not eating seafood at all, but that's another plan in 2009.
I don't care if people call me vegetables because of what I eat. At least vegetables doesn't harm ill or injured animals.
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
20 Feb 08
I couldn't agree with you more. I am very happy that you made your choice. It is proven by so many people that vegetarian diet is healthy for you and can save many lives....:))
2 people like this
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
20 Feb 08
thanks pola. I realized this is not everybody's cup of tea. If they are raised eating a lot of meat, stop eating it will be impossible. but hopefully they will go with organic.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
22 Feb 08
I've cut down on eating meats too, but still not on a total vegan path...I was raised in an environment that ate a lot of meat...also being part Native American who were very heavy meat eaters (although mainly meat from deer and buffalo) it's admittedly hard to give up meat completely...When this govt started setting up reservations in the late 1800s and even now..the govt supplied the reservations with non-meat products...rice, beans, peanut butter, but no meat....about 90 percent of the Native American population has type 2 diabetes, due to the rather lousy diet they have now...I mean it's not like they can go out and hunt buffalo anymore like they used to and buffalo meat has the least amount of cholesterol level of all wild meat...Many Native Americans are overweight especially among the Southwestern nations like the Navajo--But while heavy meat eaters, at least in the past The Native Americans utilized every part of an animal, not only for eating but for clothing,etc...there was no waste....Wouldn't it be great if that was our attitude now....that if we're going to kill an animal to eat, to use every part of it at least
If it were up to me, I would at least eat more seafood, and no never cared for lobster or crab....but do love salmon, catfish, perch, trout and bass..but now seafood is so expensive--
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
19 Feb 08
I couldn't agree with you more. We are what we eat.
If we all can live healthy life of Hunza.
Hunza has people who routinely live to 120-140 years, in good health with virtually no cancer, degenerative disease, dental caries or bone decay.
Of all their organically-grown food, perhaps their favorite, and one of their dietary mainstays, is the apricot.
Besides apricots, the Hunzas also grow and enjoy apples, pears, peaches, mulberries, black and red cherries, and grapes. From these fruits, the Hunzas get all the vitamin C they need, as well as the other nutritional richness of fresh fruit, including energy from the fruit sugars.
Typical Hunza Bread is made fresh each day from stone ground grains, primarily, wheat, barley, buckwheat and millet.
They eat meat only twice a year and they live in peace with animals.
(they take regular walks, a 10 or 15 miles hike is considered quite normal)
We all have a choice to slow, eat less and eat healthy. An average person in western world eats 60% more than his body needs. Most people have poor quality diet made of meat and sugar.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Feb 08
I think the reason why the average person in the western world eats more than they need to since the quality of food in general lacks true nutritional value--the empty calorie syndrome--more and more people have gotten used to the fast food phenomena and is the lifestyle of many, rather than at least take the time to cook their own food at home from scratch like our ancestors did.
LOL..funny you should mention the Hunza and cherries...I'm sitting here munching on cherries since I read how good they are for arthritic pain like I've been having in my feet and ankles..
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
20 Feb 08
It is not only about what we eat, but also what we don't eat.
The United States Department of Agriculture estimates that the average daily food intake for Americans of all ages amounts to 3,300 calories, with 100 grams of protein, 157 grams of fat and 380 grams of carbohydrates, In contrast, studies by Pakistani doctors show that adult males of Hunza consume a little more than 1.900 calories daily, with only 50 grams of protein, 36 grams of fat, and 354 grams of carbohydrates. Both the protein and fat are largely of vegetable origin (Dr. Alexander Leaf, National Geographic, January, 1973).
I spoke with obese lady yesterday. She asked me what to eat to loose weight. Her diet is mainly with meat, potato and sweets. I asked her about fruits and veggie. She said that she hates fruits and veggie....
Between ham and steak, there is not even much room in her diet for bread, but lots of room for coke.
I was speechless....she weights 240 and takes medications for high pressure...
I was ready to bounce my head against the wall.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
22 Feb 08
One of those ...like duh moments huh, with that woman? I know a woman myself, one of my neighbors who is obese as well. I don't exactly know what her full "diet" consists of but when I see her come in from shopping she has a wagonful of nothing but sodas, and not diet soda either....She too take meds for high pressure
I have to admit my diet might not be the perfect ideal, certainly not like the Hunzas, but like to think it's healthier than most peoples
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
19 Feb 08
oh my I must look like chocolate and steaks. just couldnt stop myself from that one.
as for fast food places I have stopped eatng from them years ago when the meat started tasting like cardboard.
Its a hame what these poor animals have to go thru but I would never think I was eatting pain and cuelty.
and this makes me even more wanting to raise my own but alas I cant here.
There is an old rancher here been here over 65 years and I have now drove passed the place and seen how he has had to pen up his cattle ( very shameful) and its all on account of housing developers. Building homes all around his ranch!
and the new home owner complain about the SMELL?
WEll he was there fisrt way before that desert was thought of being put into home places.
and I think they just may as well put up wit the smell . I feel sorry for the cattle being penned up and not being able to roam like they used too.
and my son is thinking of buying a house right acroos the street from his fenced in ranch.
told him get used to the smell lol.
2 people like this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
20 Feb 08
me too
and yes he was there first and has to battle in court to keep his land I think it id awful how land developers can come in and try to distroy what the old man had built up thru the years.
and I hope he keeps winnning I would really rather son buy over here where we have more land to our house where he is at can almost shake hand with neighbor thru the windows not quit that bad but al most
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Feb 08
I haven't eaten in fast food places in decades either, and yes did notice that food there, like hamburgers tasted horrible...even the frozen hamburger patties one can get in a supermarket taste funny which is why I'd rather get fresh meats.
Well if the new homeowners complain about the smell...well gee, they didn't have to move there did they? That rancher was there first
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
19 Feb 08
I think you put it very well, Pye, and I think you have a good point. I'm sure we're all affected by all the hormones and antibiotics given to the animals that are later slaughtered for us to eat. But the idea that we may also be affected by the pain and suffering and emotional trauma these poor animals must go through makes sense, to me anyway. Sometimes I think I should really make an honest attempt at becoming a vegan!
Annie
2 people like this
@bonbon664 (3466)
• Canada
19 Feb 08
I really believe our kids are being affected by the hormones in milk. Has anyone noticed how tall kids are now? They seem to be growing like crazy. Could all be in my head, I don't know.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Feb 08
I'm glad you understand my meaning anniepa...I really don't know what the answer is though..as far as becoming vegan.....look at all the chemicals dumped on produce to make them grow...yeesh, can't win, huh?
You raise a point bonbon...never mind milk..how do we know that kids eating the meat foods pumped up with a cocktail of chemicals isn't causing some of the emotional/behvorial problems as well?
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
19 Feb 08
I really don't know if there is a connection with respect to emotions. Since what we are eating are processed and cook already. However, I do agree that you are what you eat. I think the reason why we have so many health concerns nowadays are because of the foods we eat. Let say, chicken for example, organically it would take a few days for the chicken to be harvested, but with the chemicals added, they have shortened the time for chicken harvest and in a short span of time, its already big and ready because of the chemicals. In anyway, I think this chemicals go into our system once we eat the meat and causes health problems later on.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Feb 08
Yes who knows what the effects are of all the chemicals pumped into animals to make them grow faster...also, perhaps the heat of cooking the food makes it even more toxic to our systems
@DBabbit (42)
• United States
20 Feb 08
It isn't only chemicals giving to the animals! According to an article in Mother Earth News (2008), "feedlot cattle are fed anything and everything - beet pulp, carrot tops, stale bread, candy, heat-treated garbage, chewing gum still in aluminum wrappers, stale pizza dough, candy bars, french fries, tater tots, potato peels, chicken feathers, salvaged pet food, ground-up laying hens, and urea (fertilizer)."
Food for thought?
1 person likes this
@DBabbit (42)
• United States
19 Feb 08
You've posed an interesting thought. Perhaps we do consume the physically and emotionally felt pain cells. Personally, I've noticed that I do feel worse when I eat meat than when I don't - both physically and mentally - or is that "moodily"? Now that is a terrible pun, not intended!
I grew up on a farm - Don't remember kissing our cows, but they were never treated as horribly as feedlot animals are!
I'm not totally vegan, but I have cut way back on how much meat I've eaten, and I've also gone organic. I don't mind paying more for an animal that is cleaner.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Feb 08
And just think of all the chemicals we are eating from meat that has been raised in farm factories to make them grow faster.
@bonbon664 (3466)
• Canada
19 Feb 08
A "bit" of an animal activist? HA! You're the most passionate person I know about animal rights. I have a huge heart when it comes to animals, and I have been sickened by the video of those cattle. If slaughter wasn't bad enough,....AHH, I can't even think of it. I have made a concerted effort to reduce red meat, and eat organic free range chicken. Now, even with that, we're being sold a bill of goods. To have the words "free range" on a product, farmers have to let their chickens out for literally a minute a day, that's it. So, if people think they're getting happy chickens from Sunnybrook Farms, they're not. So, I think the best we can do, is not eat meat at all if we want to get serious about this cause. But, being the hypocrite I am, I don't think I want to give it up. So, I don't know what the solution is.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Feb 08
Yeah, I'm just a "bit" of an activist..LOL
I don't think it would be easy for me to give up meat entirely either due to my blood sugar problem..(low)...I was a vegan for awhile and got sick not getting enough protein....just can't do with the tofu or soybean thing...found out I was soy intolerant..LOL I at least have cut down on eating red meats.
@kitchenwitchoftupper (2290)
• United States
19 Feb 08
You have stated your feelings so well that I was moved to tears with empathy. This is the reason we bless our food before consuming it. We also bless the hands that raised, manufactured, and sold it. Perhaps all of those hands were not pure, but maybe our blessings touch their hearts to make them a bit softer. Thank you so much for your observations.~Donna
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Feb 08
Oops...think zu has a point there and have to agree with her....after seeing those types of videos of how farm factory animals are raised how can you bless the people that raised the animals in such abusive conditions??...by blessing them it's like condoning how they treat the animals--I don't think blessing them could ever soften their hearts to be softer cause all they are concerned about is the mighty dollar and making profits...Maybe the only way to soften their hearts would be to turn the tables on them, and treat them the same way they treat the animals
@Aussies2007 (5336)
• Australia
21 Feb 08
I know what you are saying...
But eating the pain of an animal is a bit far fetched.
The biggest concern is what they feed the animals to make them grow faster.
I have heard of chicken factories in Australia... but not cattle. We have strict policies on all that in Australia.
Anyway... even so I don't approve of farm factories...
Remember the old say
"You never miss what you never have".
There is no mental pain because those animals don't know anything better.
It is like saying that people in third world countries suffer because they don't have a computer and a DVD player. Everything is relative.
1 person likes this
@dianagnes (1088)
• Singapore
20 Feb 08
Yup,you are what you eat..i heard it before..Its somewhat true.What we eat do defines our personality means inner self and also physically.=)
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
19 Feb 08
I think this may be bringing philosophy to an extreme. I tend to think that things are a lot more humane now than they were 40 or 50 years ago. And if one wants to be totally humane then give up eating meat of all kinds. That would include eggs too....those organic eggs you get at the store don't have a pretty picture behind them, trust me I worked at an egg farm. The organic egg chickens have a life expectancy of about 18 months to 2 years.....there's humane for you.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Feb 08
I don't know how you can consider that things are more humanely done than 40 or 50 years ago....not if you look at any of those videos about the conditions animals are raised and treated in farm factories. I don't even think they had many farm factories then
@rowantree (1186)
• United States
19 Feb 08
You raised some very good questions. I used to be vegan, now we eat chicken, pork chops, turkey. Very rarely beef. Still it makes me sick to know that we're eating these animals, let alone the environmental impact due to eating meat.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Feb 08
I was vegan during my college years...and gee, that's what triggered off my blood sugar problem..was fine up until then..LOL
@lolalolacherrycola (899)
• United States
19 Feb 08
I totally get what you are saying. It makes me sad and sick inside.
I find it difficult to even think about; guess I am weak.
Thanks for sharing.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
22 Feb 08
No, you're not weak....you're caring...makes me sick and sad too
1 person likes this
@Bethany1202 (3431)
• United States
24 Feb 08
I agree. There is too much violence in society as it is, and this is further reflecting in the meat-eating society.
If I can stop eating meat and decrease suffering even a little bit -- I sure as hell am going to do it! I've been veggie for almost 20 years and feel great. I am healthy and LOVE the food I eat. I am not vegan but I don't indulge in much dairy and never eggs.
Thanks for posting this. You are appreciated! :)
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
25 Feb 08
I think if more people were made aware just what goes on in the raising of animals in farm factories, everyone would become vegan
