Thursday, June 30, 2011

EAT TO LIVE, DON'T LIVE TO EAT

Some people just seem to live (love?) to eat, without considering the health problems they may encounter down the road! And then when they "hit the wall" and realize something needs to be done, it's almost too late. Then they may try some new fad diet that they read about or a friend recommended to them, but to no avail. They may try it for a week or two, and then give up due to the diet not "working". First of all, the fad diets usually don't... won't work! And God forbid they use exercise to help in getting better physically fit!
So, how about considering a more healthful approach, one that when used over a period of time, will allow your body to attain it's own natural weight! Of course , if you have read my previous posts, you know that I am speaking of a vegetarian (or at least a close facsimile thereof) diet. I realize that "old habits die hard" and that most people will not give up animal products completely. But weaning yourself of them slowly will let you start seeing a difference in the way you feel and look.
Just ask yourself, does it really matter if I choose to become a vegetarian? Will it make a difference in the whole scheme of things.? You can make a difference, not only for yourself, but for thousands of animals being raised for food, almost always being raised in deplorable conditions! I highly recommend the book by Tim Robbins - "Diet For A New America". He was heir to the Baskin-Robbins business until he started researching how animals were raised for their meat, milk, and eggs. If you love animals, it can be a pretty shocking read!!
Numerous sources will tell you that the number one cause of death in the United States and other countries with a meat-centered diets is heart disease. If it weren't for meat, eggs, and dairy products, which are the three biggest sources of cholesterol, heart attacks and other heart and blood related problems would be less common!According to EARTHSAVE, a non-profit organization concerned with such matters and others, the average vegetarian has about one-fourth the possibility of having a heart attack as the average non-vegetarian.!!! As for absolute vegans, people who abstain from all animal products, they have less than one-tenth chance of having a heart attack as non-vegetarians!!! Shocking, huh?
In addition to a healthier heart and circulatory system, you'll get many other health benefits being a vegetarian. You definitely won't be exposed to as many preservatives and antibiotics, which are prevalent in meat and have been linked to many types of cancer. You also won't be exposed to the hormones that are put into most animal feed (heard about any of our more famous athletes using growth hormones?). They can disrupt the normal hormonal processes that occur in our bodies. You also won't consume as much lactose, which is contained in milk, and that a large number of people find hard to digest! It can be a contributing factor to many digestive problems, according to many dietitians.
Let's not forget the other half of this equation. You'll also help reduce your share of the immense suffering that we as humans inflict on animals! According to Veganoutreach.org., the average American consumes over 2,500 animals in their lifetime!!!! WOW. If you were to quit eating a meat-based diet today, you could literally prevent the suffering and death of thousands of animals in your lifetime. And let us not forget the old "eggs and milk" that we were raised on. There's a lot of suffering and death with chickens and dairy cows and their offspring as well.
So the answer to our original question is that you can make a difference, not only for yourself, but for thousands of animals that are used and abused for our "benefit"!?! Check this information out and check some of my links. You might discover that when you start to"EAT TO LIVE AND NOT LIVE TO EAT", you may not only be saving your own life, but thousands of our animal friends too! See ya!
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