Guest guest Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 ONS, Wow, it's so interesting to hear all of these points of view. I just wanted to add that I was raised vegetarian from birth, although I was given goat's milk, not cow's, until I was six or seven. When I was 19 I tried adding chicken and fish to my diet because people were constantly telling me that I was too thin, or that it was impossible to be properly nourished as a vegetarian. The result was that I began experiencing frequent intense abdominal cramping as my body tried to learn how to digest meat. I went to a few doctors, nutritionists and a naturopath, all of whom told me that it was not necessary for me to eat meat, and advised me to get off it, which I did. I know there's a lot of conflicting info out there on this subjuect. One thing I would submit though is that when looking to studies for clarity that we carefully examine who is funding the study. As it turns out a lot of the studies out there claiming that vegetarians/vegans are not properly nourished or are getting cancer, etc. are funded by the dairy and meat industry. My point is that the studies out there to the contrary are not funded by industries with great interest in the results. There is no giant "veggie industry" out there who is constantly putting out propeganda about why veggies are a must, although maybe there should be! The last physical I had (9 months ago), the doctor was quite impressed with my health. He noted that my cholesterol levels were excellent, that I was not anywhere near anemic, as many vegetarians can be, and that I seemed to be "the picture of health" as he said. His only concern was that I stay out of the sun, as I am high risk for skin cancer, being just about the whitest white girl I've ever known! My issue with meat and dairy is the cruelty involved. There are lots (and increasing numbers) of organic dairies and free-range farms out there, and meat-eaters can now make more compassionate choices. One warning though, the FDA has no regulations about what "free range" means, and there are lots of egg and chicken companies out there that print "free range" on their packaging, when the animals are anything less than freely ranging around. Usually companies that actually do use humane farming practices proudly describe what they do on their packaging, like Horizon and Clover organic dairy products. Also the Humane Society has a seal of approval that they will put on a package when a farm is met with their approval, so anytime you see their logo, you can be assured that the animal which brought you your meal has seen sunshine, fresh air, good health and compassionate treatment. While these products can be more expensive than mainstream dairy and meats, perhaps a caring consumer could choose to cut back a little on the quantity and go for the quality of the life who contributed to the meal. I know that not everyone will become a vegetarian or vegan, for so many reasons, as we've seen here. But I do pray that we will see the end of animal torture in the meat, dairy, leather, fur, experimenting and entertaining industries. There is a way to farm that actually honors and upholds the dignity of God's creatures. It's only in the last 100 years or so that modern farming practices have become this way. The UK and most western european nations have adopted strict laws protecting the rights and well-being of the animals raised for food and other purposes, while the US has passed legislation in over 30 states that exemplifies farm cruelty as being classified as animal cruelty, and stating that those practices which are considered "industry standard" (such as allowing a high percentage of cows, pigs and other animals to not be fully stunned before dismemberment), not be held as a violation of any law. So I hope and pray and support awareness of these issues and urge caring consumers to choose to support humane farming practices whenever possible. Eat meat if you must, but remember the power of concsious choice. Some of us may feel that eating meat is something we have to do for various reasons, but none of us have to wear leather or fur, and we can all choose products that are not tested on animals. There are lots of ways to help besides becoming a vegetarian. love, Prajna "Children, all of spirituality is contained in that one word: Awareness." - Amma Talk is cheap. Use Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 Namah Shivaya, Along these lines, it's interesting that according to Jewish law, which is thousands of years old, an animal has to have a painless death, or it is not consumable. As my husband said "The animal has to be given away to a goy." I remember when I studied macrobiotics, if one ate a fish, one gave thanks to the fish, acknowledging it had given it's life. As for free range chickens, my sister saw something on TV about them. The feed was in a shed in a trough, and because there were so many chickens they were all crowded at the trough, so unless a chicken was full and decided to go for a stroll, it seems that it pretty much lives like all other commercial chickens, except for the antibiotics, etc. And it is horrible that animals are eviscerated before dying. And it's true that one has to look at who funds these studies. Also, many studies come to the wrong conclusion anyway because the studies are not designed well. BTW, my husband has been a vegetarian for 30+ years and is very healthy. As I posted earlier, I eat meat because I feel my sick body needs it. I was a vegetarian for many years. I don't thing that it contributed in any way to my illness. Prasadini Prajna - Brianna wrote: > ONS, > > Wow, it's so interesting to hear all of these points of view. I just > wanted to add that I was raised vegetarian from birth, although I was > given goat's milk, not cow's, until I was six or seven. When I was 19 > I tried adding chicken and fish to my diet because people were > constantly telling me that I was too thin, or that it was impossible > to be properly nourished as a vegetarian. The result was that I began > experiencing frequent intense abdominal cramping as my body tried to > learn how to digest meat. I went to a few doctors, nutritionists and a > naturopath, all of whom told me that it was not necessary for me to > eat meat, and advised me to get off it, which I did. > > I know there's a lot of conflicting info out there on this subjuect. > One thing I would submit though is that when looking to studies for > clarity that we carefully examine who is funding the study. As it > turns out a lot of the studies out there claiming that > vegetarians/vegans are not properly nourished or are getting cancer, > etc. are funded by the dairy and meat industry. My point is that the > studies out there to the contrary are not funded by industries with > great interest in the results. There is no giant "veggie industry" out > there who is constantly putting out propeganda about why veggies are a > must, although maybe there should be! > > The last physical I had (9 months ago), the doctor was quite > impressed with my health. He noted that my cholesterol levels were > excellent, that I was not anywhere near anemic, as many vegetarians > can be, and that I seemed to be "the picture of health" as he said. > His only concern was that I stay out of the sun, as I am high risk for > skin cancer, being just about the whitest white girl I've ever known! > > My issue with meat and dairy is the cruelty involved. There are lots > (and increasing numbers) of organic dairies and free-range farms out > there, and meat-eaters can now make more compassionate choices. One > warning though, the FDA has no regulations about what "free range" > means, and there are lots of egg and chicken companies out there that > print "free range" on their packaging, when the animals are anything > less than freely ranging around. Usually companies that actually do > use humane farming practices proudly describe what they do on their > packaging, like Horizon and Clover organic dairy products. Also the > Humane Society has a seal of approval that they will put on a package > when a farm is met with their approval, so anytime you see their logo, > you can be assured that the animal which brought you your meal has > seen sunshine, fresh air, good health and compassionate treatment. > While these products can be more expensive than mainstream dairy and > meats, perhaps a caring > consumer could choose to cut back a little on the quantity and go for > the quality of the life who contributed to the meal. > > I know that not everyone will become a vegetarian or vegan, for so > many reasons, as we've seen here. But I do pray that we will see the > end of animal torture in the meat, dairy, leather, fur, experimenting > and entertaining industries. There is a way to farm that actually > honors and upholds the dignity of God's creatures. It's only in the > last 100 years or so that modern farming practices have become this > way. The UK and most western european nations have adopted strict laws > protecting the rights and well-being of the animals raised for food > and other purposes, while the US has passed legislation in over 30 > states that exemplifies farm cruelty as being classified as animal > cruelty, and stating that those practices which are considered > "industry standard" (such as allowing a high percentage of cows, pigs > and other animals to not be fully stunned before dismemberment), not > be held as a violation of any law. > > So I hope and pray and support awareness of these issues and urge > caring consumers to choose to support humane farming practices > whenever possible. Eat meat if you must, but remember the power of > concsious choice. Some of us may feel that eating meat is something we > have to do for various reasons, but none of us have to wear leather or > fur, and we can all choose products that are not tested on animals. > There are lots of ways to help besides becoming a vegetarian. > > love, > > Prajna > > > "Children, all of spirituality is contained in that one word: > Awareness." - Amma > > > > Talk is cheap. Use Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great > rates starting at 1¢/min. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 Om Namah Shivaya, I haven't fully kept up with this thread, but want to comment that the studies I've read indicate that vegetarians run a significantly lower risk of getting cancer, as well as other dieases that are so wide spread. (Diabetes, heart problems, etc ...) When eggs & milk are omitted from one's diet, studies indicate that disease rates lower even more. I would reccomend reading John Robbins "Diet for a New America" for anyone wanting more information. It covers how pesticides are channelled through our food chain via meat, how industrialized farming practices grossly mistreat animals, & how raising animals for food affects our environment. As a side note, some years ago before meeting Amma, I had a surprising spiritual experience in the presence of a sadguru. That experience changed me a lot, & one of the things to drop away almost effortlssly, was the desire to eat meat. It's almost as if it was lifted from me, I believe by Grace. I've also heard that Amma says when one is in the presence of such a realized master, then this sort of satvic tendency from a past incarnation, can be reawakened. Sweta Prajna - Brianna <prajnaji > wrote: I know there's a lot of conflicting info out there on this subjuect. One thing I would submit though is that when looking to studies for clarity that we carefully examine who is funding the study. How low will we go? Check out Messenger’s low PC-to-Phone call rates. Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! Visit your group " Terms of Service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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