Should humans eat meat?

• Tatsigi wrote on 2012-02-28 02:08
  Well I haven't posted in a while but I found this topic interesting so I decided to. IMO, there is nothing wrong with human eating meat. As stated earlier though, our bodies aren't made to eat meat. That is why we are unable to eat raw meat without getting a stomach ache. Personally, I'm very picky with the meats I eat. All seafood taste nasty to me and most natural meats such as the ones that come from cows and pigs taste bad to me as well. Chicken is the only meat I find appealing. So. While I think humans can eat meat, those of you who do shouldn't call the people who don't idiots. Typed from my phone so I hope there are no errors.
• Episkey wrote on 2012-02-28 02:52

  Quote from Cynic;788773:

  
  My only issue with the whole meat thing is how the animals are killed and treated before they are killed. There's no reason why they need to be treated as such when they benefit humans in such a way. The whole "ohh it's too costly" or "ohh they're a lesser species" thing is just a convenient excuse for laziness. It doesn't really take much effort or even money to give them a semi-decent life before they're killed. It also provides a much better end-product of meat, making better treatment beneficial to humans.
  
  A lot of people seem to assume this means pampering the hell out of animals, when instead I actually mean providing decent living conditions (a bit more space + no living in pounds of feces and piss) and then killing them in a decent manner.

  
  
  Makes sense. I actually do notice somewhat of a quality difference in eggs who's chickens were cage-free and ate grass. Along with chicken.
  I can look into the conditions of animals that are used for food and compare their "end-product", so to speak. :skip:
  
  

  Quote from Bakuryu;788816:

  Human physiology matches that of a herbivore, not carnivore, not omnivorous. (Google Human herbivore, or something, Steve Pavlina, an amazing man, puts it simply, so google for that one, I won't bother explaining - And before someone tries to be a smartass and yells "canine teeth", all mammals have those, on herbivores they are more flattened than with carnivores, they are mostly used to bite on hard fruit, like apples. )
  
  A lot of common diseases would be non existent among humans if no one ate meat.
  
  Humans have been eating meat for a long time, because whenever the primitive man realized they can hunt an animal, cook it, and eat it. It was a great idea, more food for everyone, considering no farming technology had been invented yet, any food was great. And that has remained throughout the ages.
  Another fact, is that every single carnivore, is able to just hunt down some animal, and eat it raw. We can't, obviously, you'll get some serious stomach ache, because we don't have the stomach acidity for such a thing, not to mention chewing on the raw meat is going to be quite difficult for you.
  
  P.S: I'm Vegan, and lack of protein/vitamins, etc, are not a problem if you just google around for vegans recipes and stuff and educate yourself.
  
  edit: Here it is: http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/09/are-humans-carnivores-or-herbivores-2/
  (which, by the way, like the slogan suggests, the site is highly recommended for any intelligent person looking to improve oneself.)
  Oh, and about protein : http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/09/the-great-protein-myth/

  
  
  Very interesting! I won't say human beings are herbivores because if I recall correctly even herbivores won't eat any meat whatsoever. I guess it could differ from being to being.
  
  Thank you for the sites.
  
  

  Quote from EndlessDreams;788839:

  
  "Organic" food is the same as "non-organic" food except when it comes to prices. Keep in mind that "Organic" is quite different from the actual organic term that Organic Chemistry uses. Technically, all food are organic because they contain Carbon and Hydrogen atoms. The term "Organic" the food industry and media uses actually has little meaning except for the fact to justify price raises.
  
  You cannot tell the difference between "Organic" and "Non-organic" food if it were laying side by side.
  
  Don't know about that. A lot of people seem to suffer from hypothyroidism at later ages because they not getting a lot of iodine.

  
  
  I'm sorry. But, what? Yes, I agree the term organic isn't the same in the food industry - but that does not signify that the term is non-meaningful.
  
  In the United States, the usage of the word "organic" implies very strict procedural guidelines which are currently in place. Specific definitions of the word organic can be found here.
  
  So no, it's not just a fancy word. The increased price cost is certainly justifiable.
  
  Also, hypothyroidism? Are you sure you aren't talking hyperthyroidism?
  Thyroid issues due to abnormal levels of iodine are almost completely non-existent within the United States. Potassium Iodide is added to salt is order to prevent hypothyroidism.
  If anything, most people have an excess of iodine - but not enough to cause harm.
  
  

  Quote from Blassreiter;788853:

  If I had a choice I would eat more veggies than meat. But American market says otherwise. The average price of a bowl of salad in NYC is like $6 and it's only the bowl of salad while a Big Mac meal (includes fries/drinks which makes you full unlike the small bowl of $6 salad) costs like $7 give or take. American market is promoting meat consumption and demoting vegetable consumption. {I find this as an ulterior motive; in other words it is easier to get fat and harder to go on a diet. Thus smart entrepreneurs make it easier(cheaper in cost) to get fatter(i.e. more fattening foods primarily meat included) while they make it harder(more expensive for a lesser amount) to keep a slim figure(i.e. a small box of fruits costs more than a Happy Meal). This psychology is sly, since it is easier to get fat you should sell fattening foods at a lower price and healtier foods at a higher price. This is because many people would want(demand) healthy foods and since they have a higher price and you need more of it to see effects you as the seller will make a crapload of profit.
  
  tl;dr Meat is cheaper to go with...

  
  
  Good call with the fast food, I didn't fully think about that. Fast food however, in the long run, isn't that healthy nor cost efficient for most people.
  
  But is meat really that cheaper? If you make food from scratch, I find that meat is more expensive T_T
  
  

  Quote from Tatsigi;789029:

  Well I haven't posted in a while but I found this topic interesting so I decided to. IMO, there is nothing wrong with human eating meat. As stated earlier though, our bodies aren't made to eat meat. That is why we are unable to eat raw meat without getting a stomach ache. Personally, I'm very picky with the meats I eat. All seafood taste nasty to me and most natural meats such as the ones that come from cows and pigs taste bad to me as well. Chicken is the only meat I find appealing. So. While I think humans can eat meat, those of you who do shouldn't call the people who don't idiots. Typed from my phone so I hope there are no errors.

  
  
  Chicken is pretty much most of the meat I eat. Red meat and fish, I only consume on average one time a week.
  
  And yes, I agree with you on the calling others idiots, but I'm sure it was intended for those people who take extremist views on either side. [S]Even though I don't like calling others idiots. [/S]
• Milk wrote on 2012-02-28 03:01
  Well we are born with both teeth made for ripping and teeth made for grinding and chewing. This implies that humans are meant to eat both meat and other edible substances.
• ValkyrieHamster wrote on 2012-02-28 04:02
  I'm pretty sure I'd die without eating meat...and you know what they say about greens! Helps with the poop!
• Cucurbita wrote on 2012-02-28 04:34
  To clarify something, most animals will eat meat even if they're herbivores. Try feeding a rabbit some meat and see if it ever wants to eat lettuce again.
• BobYoMeowMeow wrote on 2012-02-28 04:53
  It's easier to feed with vegetables and plants
  but people don't care and they love the taste of meat
• Bakuryu wrote on 2012-02-28 04:57

  Quote from BobYoMeowMeow;789303:

  It's easier to feed with vegetables and plants
  but people don't care and they love the taste of meat

  
  I think most people haven't tried a lot of vegan food (/recipes) either :v So they can't really compare.
  
  

  To clarify something, most animals will eat meat even if they're herbivores. Try feeding a rabbit some meat and see if it ever wants to eat lettuce again.

  FFS...
  It would hurt the rabbit, and I would be willing to bet a lot of money that the rabbit WILL eat lettuce again.
  Just because you can shove something down somethings throat, doesn't mean it's something it's supposed to eat, FFS
• Episkey wrote on 2012-02-28 05:00

  Quote from The Hero Luka;789249:

  To clarify something, most animals will eat meat even if they're herbivores. Try feeding a rabbit some meat and see if it ever wants to eat lettuce again.

  
  
  Hmm, funny that you should mention that. I did some research into that and you seem to be right.
  But ... isn't that kind of the same thing as letting a cow eat meat? Sure, they might but ... is that a good thing? That's how mad cow disease started.
  
  I think humans have this amazing adaptability when it comes to food choices. When I think more about it, it's quite amazing.~
• Cucurbita wrote on 2012-02-28 05:10

  Quote from Bakuryu;789314:

  
  FFS...
  It would hurt the rabbit, and I would be willing to bet a lot of money that the rabbit WILL eat lettuce again.
  Just because you can shove something down somethings throat, doesn't mean it's something it's supposed to eat, FFS

  
  
  It was an experiment where they gave the rabbit the option to eat meat or lettuce. They went for lettuce.
  
  Then in the next experiment they starved the rabbit and meat was the only option. They ate the meat.
  
  Afterwards, they would actually refuse to eat lettuce unless it was their last option. They always preferred meat.
  
  As far as health issues go, a nutritionist said that it wasn't good for the rabbit because they were unable to hold themselves back to the taste of meat and would stop eating other foods they need. The eating of meat itself wasn't actually a problem.
  
  Of course, thats just rabbits. Pigs can do it too. But cows most definitely can't. Their stomachs can't digest meat. They have multiple stomaches which slowly digests vegetation, regurgitates it, chews it up some more, then re-digests it repeatedly.
  
  Its pretty difficult for humans to survive off only meat obviously, though its supposedly possible. It really is just healthier to have a balanced diet of everything you know? Food pyramid etc. America is really filled up with meat though. Their idea of a "serving" has gone completely insane.
  
  Listen up everyone.
  
  You're supposed to have 2 to 3 servings of egg/meats/nuts a day.
  
  What Americans think a serving of chicken is:
  
  

  [Image: http://massmultiverse.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/kfc-double-down-kentucky-fried-chicken-bunless.jpg]

  
  
  What a real serving of chicken is, size comparison to a pack of cigarettes:
  
  

  [Image: http://img.foodnetwork.com/FOOD/2007/04/30/portioncontrol_chicken2_lg.jpg]

  
  
  What Americans think a serving of nuts is:
  
  

  [Image: http://www.robinschicks.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/FancyMixedNuts.jpg]

  
  
  What a real serving of nuts is:
  
  

  [Image: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9mNHNOMqaqM/S-5-GcsDzrI/AAAAAAAAC70/gJanOfprm9Y/s1600/NutServings2.jpg]

  
  
  Get it? 2 to 3 of these a day. Most other countries pull it off quite well. Americans consume like 6 servings in their breakfast meat omelet. Ridiculous.
• Cucurbita wrote on 2012-02-28 05:14

  Quote from Bakuryu;789314:

  
  FFS...
  It would hurt the rabbit, and I would be willing to bet a lot of money that the rabbit WILL eat lettuce again.
  Just because you can shove something down somethings throat, doesn't mean it's something it's supposed to eat, FFS

  
  
  It was an experiment where they gave the rabbit the option to eat meat or lettuce. They went for lettuce.
  
  Then in the next experiment they starved the rabbit and meat was the only option. They ate the meat.
  
  Afterwards, they would actually refuse to eat lettuce unless it was their last option. They always preferred meat.
  
  As far as health issues go, a nutritionist said that it wasn't good for the rabbit because they were unable to hold themselves back to the taste of meat and would stop eating other foods they need. The eating of meat itself wasn't actually a problem.
  
  Of course, thats just rabbits. Pigs can do it too. But cows most definitely can't. Their stomachs can't digest meat. They have multiple stomaches which slowly digests vegetation, regurgitates it, chews it up some more, then re-digests it repeatedly.
  
  Its pretty difficult for humans to survive off only meat obviously, though its supposedly possible. It really is just healthier to have a balanced diet of everything you know? Food pyramid etc. America is really filled up with meat though. Their idea of a "serving" has gone completely insane.
  
  Listen up everyone.
  
  You're supposed to have 2 to 3 servings of egg/meats/nuts a day.
  
  What Americans think a serving of chicken is:
  
  

  [Image: http://massmultiverse.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/kfc-double-down-kentucky-fried-chicken-bunless.jpg]

  
  
  What a real serving of chicken is, size comparison to a pack of cigarettes:
  
  

  [Image: http://img.foodnetwork.com/FOOD/2007/04/30/portioncontrol_chicken2_lg.jpg]

  
  
  Edit: I was told that is a deck of cards. Same shit.
  
  What Americans think a serving of nuts is:
  
  

  [Image: http://www.robinschicks.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/FancyMixedNuts.jpg]

  
  
  What a real serving of nuts is:
  
  

  [Image: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9mNHNOMqaqM/S-5-GcsDzrI/AAAAAAAAC70/gJanOfprm9Y/s1600/NutServings2.jpg]

  
  
  Get it? 2 to 3 of these a day. Most other countries pull it off quite well. Americans consume like 6 servings in their breakfast sausage omelet. Ridiculous.
  
  

  Quote from Episkey;789329:

  Hmm, funny that you should mention that. I did some research into that and you seem to be right.
  But ... isn't that kind of the same thing as letting a cow eat meat? Sure, they might but ... is that a good thing? That's how mad cow disease started.
  

  
  
  Yes and no. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovine_spongiform_encephalopathy#Cause
  
  There is no profit in feeding cows beef. Thats insane. You're throwing money away.
  
  What they fed the cows were sick byproducts and mushy meals that had contact with BSE.
• Rin wrote on 2012-02-28 05:18
  I'm not sure if our bodies are actually built as carnivores. After all, we don't have claws, do we? Nor do we run fast enough to chase down... a cow. I find little value in saying teeth are proof we are supposed to eat meat.
  
  For example, here's an orangutan's teeth:
  
  

  [Image: http://www.connecticutvalleybiological.com/images/sp2002.jpg]

  
  
  Obviously, they have canine-like teeth. But an orangutan's diet consists of fruits, nuts, and leaves. Therefore, I don't believe that just because humans have teeth that can tear through meat, means we're supposed to have a meat diet.
  
  Why is it we need fire to properly digest meat, compared to other carnivores? Why is it we have to build and use tools to hunt, rather than relying on our own bodies to hunt the prey?
  
  As for the question itself, I don't really have a formed opinion on this. Namely, because I'm considering eating a whole lot less meat and adapt more vegetarian options into my diet. And it works with many people today for a lifetime, hasn't it?
  
  But I guess humanity's too used to eating meat (and its taste) to think otherwise about what our diet originally was (like we ever found out yet). That's perfectly fine with me; meat nowadays is the cheapest and most abundant form of protein.
  
  If humanity's so accepting of meat, why restrict ourselves to land animals and seafood? Why not insects if we're so meat-accepting? It's amazing how adaptable humans are with survival, and thus their diet in general.
• Episkey wrote on 2012-02-28 05:20

  Quote from The Hero Luka;789374:

  Yes and no. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovine_spongiform_encephalopathy#Cause
  
  There is no profit in feeding cows beef. Thats insane. You're throwing money away.
  
  What they fed the cows were sick byproducts and mushy meals that had contact with BSE.

  
  
  Ah. Yes, you are correct. I should have specified that a bit.
  The bolded part is really what I was going for, it still had meat in it. The crises might have been averted otherwise.
  Besides, who puts such things in a cow's food? :barf:
  
  I agree, moderation is the key.
• Bakuryu wrote on 2012-02-28 05:24
  Everytime I see the how the meat industry in the USA is, I feel like puking. Over here it's more "decent".
  
  About the rabbit. Well fuck, I guess I would have a lost a lot of money, I still obviously believe it's utterly wrong, not to mention as humans we are smarter, we get to reason what's better for us. I'm not like other vegans trying to shove my believes into everyone, but I would definitely like if people at least gathered up the facts about how shitty that shit is for you AND THEN if you want to keep eating meat, well then it's up to you.
  I would love it if everyone watched the following video, WARNING, some strong images in there, there are warnings before these appear though.
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es6U00LMmC4
  After that, you can make your own educated decision.
  Turning to vegan wasn't that hard either, there's so many yummy recipes that make you forget about meat.
• TA wrote on 2012-02-28 05:27

  Quote from Bakuryu;789314:

  I think most people haven't tried a lot of vegan food (/recipes) either :v So they can't really compare.

  
  
  There are some things I'd like to try, but I have no clue where the hell you'd get the ingredients.
  
  http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2007/05/barbecued-seitan-ribz.html
  http://www.care2.com/greenliving/better-than-beef-meatless-meat.html
  
  Oh and apparently cats can be vegan... http://www.care2.com/greenliving/can-cats-be-vegan.html
• Bakuryu wrote on 2012-02-28 05:31

  Quote from TA;789430:

  There are some things I'd like to try, but I have no clue where the hell you'd get the ingredients.
  
  http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2007/05/barbecued-seitan-ribz.html
  http://www.care2.com/greenliving/better-than-beef-meatless-meat.html

  
  Oh, my brother cooks this, I never tried, getting the gluten out of the <English vocabulary is not enough :c (dough thingy?)> (/stupid) is annoying.
  But it's really yummy.