10 Reasons to Stop Eating Beef (and other Fast Food)

[Carol]

10 Reasons to Stop Eating Beef (and other Fast Food)

by Jonathan Campbell

Beef-eating is portrayed in the U.S. almost as a patriotic endeavor. Our favorite sports heroes - from Michael Jordan to Drew Bledsoe - are featured in McDonalds ads and toys. We are literally bombarded with ads for McDonalds, Burger King, and Wendy's. But there is something very odd about all this. There are hints (or front page headlines) telling us that there is something wrong with all this beef consumption.

In fact, a quick study of the issues surrounding beef consumption finds some very disturbing facts:

1. Beef contains significant quantities of the most toxic organic chemical known - dioxin. This chemical is toxic in the trillionths of grams. (A trillionth of a gram, called a picogram, is one million millionth of a gram. A gram is about 1/30th of an ounce.) Dioxin has been linked to cancer, endometriosis, Attention Deficit Disorder (hyperactivity in children), reproductive systems defects in children, chronic fatigue syndrome, immune system deficiency, and rare nerve and blood disorders. A single hamburger (a little less than 1/4 lb, or 100 grams) contains up to 100 picograms of dioxin. That is 300 times as much as the EPA says is "acceptable" for a daily dose for an adult! There are some scientists who say that there is no acceptable dose; they say that any dose can cause toxic effects, because dioxin is a hormone disrupting chemical which changes the functioning of our cells, against which we have no defense. The dioxin comes from microscopic particles of ash from incinerators that have settled on grass and crops eaten by the beef cattle, pigs, and chickens. All farm animals are affected - even herds grown on "all-natural" feed. See dioxin.

2. The huge amount of beef that we consume, in combination with the usual side-orders of other fatty foods (such as french fries) and caffeine and refined sugars (cola beverages) appears to be one of the major causes of obesity in the U.S. and Europe. Beef is "dumped" into our schools by the beef industry and the USDA - beef producers are paid by the government for "surplus" beef (the vast amount they cannot sell) which is subsequently "donated" to school lunch programs, helping our children to get hooked on this unhealthy food.

3. Beef production is the major cause of the destruction of the world's rainforests. The high price of beef encourages ranchers to burn the forest to create new rangelands. The fragile, thin rainforest soil cover is quickly destroyed by grazing in 1-2 years, and the ranchers move on to burn another area, in a never-ending cycle of destruction. Thousands of species of plants and animals have already been destroyed forever, as well as straining the earth's ability to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. At current rates, the rainforests will be totally destroyed in 30-50 years.

4. Beef production is the major cause of "desertification" around the world - the rapid degradation of marginal, low-rainfall soil areas into desert. The constant pounding of the hoofs of cattle disturbs and eventually destroys the delicate root systems which keep the topsoil layer intact. Erosion by winds or storms removes the topsoil, leaving the sand or clay subsoil layer behind.

5. Beef production is a serious social justice issue. Beef cattle and their grazing land take up nearly a quarter of the land mass of the earth, to supply beef to the U.S., Europe, and Japan. About one third of the world's grain harvest is used for feed for cattle instead of food for people. In the U.S., that figure is over 70 percent. It takes 16 pounds of grain to produce a single pound of beef. This, in a world where nearly a billion people lack enough food, is unjust. Beef production for the developed parts of the world is severely limiting the amount of food available for people in the poor and developing world.

6. Beef can harbor a deadly new germ, called e. coli O157:H7. This new germ is now a major cause of serious food poisoning. Beef and dairy cattle can carry the germ with no apparent adverse health effects. The germ, found in cattle feces, has contaminated beef and produce grown with cow manure. So far it has killed dozens of people and sickened thousands. In August, 1997, 25 million pounds of beef were recalled, the largest food recall in the world's history, because of O157:H7 contamination of beef destined to Burger King restaurants. The precautions against the germ - including cooking to 160º F (71º C) - reveals a disgusting side of beef production - there is no way to prevent fecal contamination during slaughter. See O157:H7.

7. The consumption of beef and fast food "restaurants" that promote it have created a new, super-exploitative work environment. High school students and people in poverty have learned an old social order - the sweatshop. The frenetic pace of a McDonalds or Burger King at lunch or dinner time is easily a match for the non-unionized factories and garment shops of the '20s in the U.S. (or most developing countries today). But this is the modern U.S. sweatshop, where we are all members of a "team" working for the common good - minimum wages and windfall profits.

8. Beef consumption has created a self-perpetuating and rapidly-expanding distortion of local economies all over the world. As more McDonalds "restaurants" are established and beef consumption rises, more arable land is consumed for grazing and cattle feed. In developing countries, the local economy changes from one based on local food markets and trade to one based on beef exports, enriching a few wealthy landowners and merchants and impoverishing the rest.

9. The "fast-food" industry giants that promote beef - McDonalds, Burger King, and Wendy's - have created and encouraged an artificial, plastic, uniform, standard "restaurant" environment that, because of their powerful advertising media, discourages diversity and local and ethnic culture in restaurants and in food choices. Beef - served as hamburgers - has been the driving force for this shift in how we view food and eating in the U. S.

10. The beef "fast-food" industry, notably McDonalds and Burger King, especially targets children in its marketing. As a result, millions of children (and in many cases, their parents) associate eating at those "restaurants" as a fun, positive, healthful eating experience. Obesity and other afflictions associated with excess animal fat intake and sedentary lifestyle are now affecting young adults and children in increasing numbers.

Sources: 1994 EPA Dioxin Reassessment, Dying From Dioxin by Lois Gibbs, Beyond Beef by Jeremy Rifkin, fact sheets from the McLibel case (Great Britain), Diet For A Small Planet by Francis Moore Lappe, Mother Jones magazine.
http://www.cqs.com/beef.htm
(Download a MS-Word 6 version for community organizing)

[BeaTnik-BandiT]

I agree for:
Industrial production of beef and fast foods of all kinds ARE destructive.

But on the other hand, i would say that eating organic meat once in a while is beneficial.
To grow and harvest food with respect to nature and harmony is the key.

[whitecrow]

Good post. Large quantities of flesh are bad for us on every level. When you ingest a fresh green vegetable you are absorbing living energy. You actually share in the life force that impregnates and adorns the planet.

When you eat meat, you eat something that has been killed, usually in extremely unpleasant ways that you don't want to know about. There is no life force, just a life spent doomed followed by fear and blood. There is a spiritual dimension to this.

We are large primates. Our DNA is more than 98% identical to the other large apes, and our dietary needs are pretty much identical. We are extremely adaptable...we can live on most anything. Large apes are mostly vegetarian. Chimps in particular eat meat, and have even been known to engage in cannibalism. So I don't make a case for never touching flesh. But you are right: we eat way too much animal flesh, and we eat it in a bad, nasty form. McDonald's is real bad karma.

A good rule of thumb is that the more legs it has, the worse it is for ya. That's for warm-blooded animals of course. Arthropods are nutritious, too.

[Genevieve]

I for one agree totally with your post Carol!!!

And i'm not even condoning total vegetarianism!!

But the large scale production of beautiful animals ( i have a great affinity with cows - gorgeous creatures they are) to live a life of horror- force fed grain (all Omega 6 laden as opposed to grass fed Omega 3 fats) forced to eat MEATMEAL to encourage growth, stand all their life in their own faesces!! all to make a cheap burger at the end of a sweatshop line - NOOO NOOO that is NOT good food!!

I will look into the dioxin thing in more detail Carol - but i wonder if those "burnt" particles of ash actually may come from the MEATMEAL they feed the cattle??? I have been particularly interested in the Omega 6 Omega 3 fat relation in the human diet - and i cant post the sources right this moment BUT suffice to say that where an ideal diet would havea ratio of about 60/40 6/3 ratio - the modern diet is almost exclusively omega6!

When people used to eat meat it was primarily grass fed and therefore omega 6 free - but nowadays everything is grain fed and supplemented with further additions of meatmeal which is also Omega 6 rich.

All our processed foods have flours and fats included and none of them are Omega 3 sources.

The efffect a saturation of Omega 6 has on our body is that it "hardens" the cell walls on a molecular level which slows metabolism, hinders transfers of vital nutrients to cells as well as inhibiting the function of the endocrine system of the body. It has been observed as a potential precursor to various auto-immune diseases such as asthma, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis etc.

And apart from all that - before I had even seen a Mcdonalds in my entire life i was already outraged that vast amounts of south america were cleared to graze the cattle (before the allotments) so that some little fat kids in America could munch on a burger!!! lol Now that was a long time ago obviously BUT what the hell is gonna happen when a country the size of China decides it NEEDS a burger outlet on every street corner .....?

[izz]

what about the sentient life forms being murdered in the slaughter house ..

that SHOULD be concern number 1 !!!!!!!!

if man can only give selfish reasons ... what future does he have ...
#
NONE

[Genevieve]

Ohh thanks for reminding me Izz

The other point i really wanted to address was that while we may discuss the horrors and atrocities committed to animals and the land so that western society can continue its fast food life

- and we all talk about hoarding gold or other survival necessities in view of the "economic crash"

- i have not seen one thread about all those MILLIONS of starving desperate fearful people in the world who probably have NO IDEA of an economic crash and couldn't care less as long as they get to feed their children tomorrow!!!

Maybe the meek really WILL inherit the earth

[Jeff Delano]

I have to admit this, I once had veal, and oh my god, it was the best ever thing I've eaten in my life. I just wanted to try it once, I knew what went in to making veal at the time so I didn't want to make a habit out of it. I'll never order it again, but I have to admit that it is delicious.

This was a restaurant though, it wasn't fast food.

[BeaTnik-BandiT]

Originally Posted by Jeff Delano

I have to admit this, I once had veal, and oh my god, it was the best ever thing I've eaten in my life. I just wanted to try it once, I knew what went in to making veal at the time so I didn't want to make a habit out of it. I'll never order it again, but I have to admit that it is delicious.

This was a restaurant though, it wasn't fast food.

One has to listen to his body's cravings. If you feel you crave for meat,
it's probably because your body needs it.

By using your wisdom, you then say, 'hey i don't want an innocent young creature being killed'.
Instead, you say: 'i will choose a full grown organic beef that was respected in the process, and fed with good food.'

There seems to be different needs for different bodies: some are more protein type, some more in carbs, other vegetables etc...

On top of that, it seems that we all need animal proteins once in a while.
These needs are different more or less depending on your nutritional type.

In fact, i read somewhere (Stewart Swerdlow and Dr. J. Mercola) that it's scientifically proven that humans are a omnivorous species:
they will need an amount of animal protein for their DNA to replicate well,
and their body to stay healthy.


salute.

[Reunite]

ahhh..that's why the ancient hindu's in India didn't eat cows but worshipped them

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7830/cow.htm

[Karen]

Originally Posted by Reunite

ahhh..that's why the ancient hindu's in India didn't eat cows but worshipped them

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7830/cow.htm

So it says in India the cows were "used" by humans. "Cows provide milk which helps sustain life, life of adults and children alike. The by-products of the milk, yoghurt, buttermilk, butter etc were an integral part of their daily diet. Their dung was a free, useful, year-round fuel supply. Being tame, they were an excellent beast of burden. By pulling carts and ploughs, they were partners in technology that helped develop new frontiers in the Indian sub-continent. Even after death, their skins were useful in various ways."

I think even more important than animal protein in the human diet, is the animal fat from pastured and well-treated animals. Yes, there are some humans that can live well as vegan, eating nothing from the animal kingdom including milk and eggs, but there are many humans, esp those of Northern European ancestry that cannot. The fat in whole natural old-fashioned milk from cows grazing on green pastures is packed full of the fat-soluble vitamins humans need including "Activator X". With some fat in the diet a person will feel satiated longer and not have to eat so much volume.

http://www.realmilk.com/price.html
http://www.westonaprice.org/transition/dairy.html
http://www.nourishingwisdom.com/arti...food-diet.html

Factory farming is a cruel enterprise and I agree action should be taken to change this abomination. For the last 3 years my mom and I together have bought one quarter of 100% grass-fed beef from a local rancher. I never eat at the fast food restaurants.

I have studied the vegan topic for many years. I have decided each person must listen to their own body for some people have become very very ill trying to follow the vegetarian or vegan path.
http://beyondveg.com/

Some people do better to include some organic/grass-fed dairy, or some eggs from free-range chickens. I am the metabolic type from Northern Europe that needs some fatty dark meat (high purine) everyday - just a few ounces.

Dr. Kelley outlines his categories of 10 metabolic types here:
http://www.whale.to/cancer/k/Ch8.html

Since we can not all be vegan and be healthy, we can still stand up for the humane treatment of the animals that we use to carry our burdens and that sometimes feed us too.

[Humble Janitor]

Sure, we can stop eating beef.

But, then what?

How do you convince people who aren't fond of veggies or legumes to suddenly start eating both?

Originally Posted by BeaTnik-BandiT

There seems to be different needs for different bodies: some are more protein type, some more in carbs, other vegetables etc...

The basic truth is Amino Acids...

Our bodies have the ability to produce all the proteins we need but there are 10 (currently recognized) amino acids that we MUST get from food

Back in biology (a long long time ago in a galaxy...) we were taught that the body needs 42... (the universal answer ???) We could manufacture all 42 if we had 7 amino acids...

If just ONE was missing, a whole group could not be created leading to all sorts of problems and deficiencies and disease.

I have seen vegetarians sick all the time because unless you know EXACTLY what you are doing, a veggie diet will ensure you miss some vital elements

Hindus may worship cows... but they drink the milk thus ensuring they get that amino acid group.

American do eat too much meat... it has been estimated that 80% of Americans walk around with 10 to 20 pounds of putrified meat in their intestines... Talk about health issues from tat

But I think its dangerous telling people to stop eating meat without PROFESSIONALLY giving the alternative that is needed to replace the missing amino acids


Sadly doctors in the US do not care about prevention... No money in keeping people healthy

As to the animals PITA ran a campaign showing Col Sanders as a mad butcher and ran an ad saying you were a child molester if you fed you kids hamburgers.

Needless to say that kind of mentality serves no one

And don't you be wearing any leather shoes or belts... or I might think you a hypocrite

[BeaTnik-BandiT]

Originally Posted by zorgon

The basic truth is Amino Acids...
....I have seen vegetarians sick all the time because unless you know EXACTLY what you are doing, a veggie diet will ensure you miss some vital elements

Hindus may worship cows... but they drink the milk thus ensuring they get that amino acid group.

Amino acids is an interesting point.Thanks for bringing it.
I am quoting (again) Stewart Swerdlow: He says that even animals that live out of a veggie diet, let's say cows or whatever,
get their dose of animal protein with multitude of insects scattered in the grass.

It seems that animal proteins are essential for optimum health.
When i said the needs where different depending on the bodies type, i was quoting Dr J. Mercola sayings that there are 4 nutritional types.

take care.

[whitecrow]

Originally Posted by BeaTnik-BandiT

Amino acids is an interesting point.Thanks for bringing it.

Agreed. Even for those who dislike meat, they should eat cheese and yogurt and probably even a few eggs from time to time. A vegan diet is not suitable for the human animal in the long run, although with care it can be maintained for a while. In time the deficiencies will manifest.

Originally Posted by BeaTnik-BandiT

When i said the needs where different depending on the bodies type, i was quoting Dr J. Mercola sayings that there are 4 nutritional types.
take care.

Yes quite true... and that applies to medications as well, something I have noticed doctors seem to ignore.... You will see a prescription filled for a small frail old lady being the same as a 6 ft 280 lbs 30 year old body builder

Same dosage... no regards to age, body type, absorption etc...

Same for food... cravings help... its your body telling you what you need. Another big mistake many make (especially here in Vegas Land of the Buffet) is mixing too many foods in one meal. This can cause weird reactions.

They also discovered that calcium is absorbed by the body better in the presence of vitamin C and have now added Calcium to orange juice

We are basically a chemical factory

Market does weird things too like the VC from Acerola cherries is better than the VC from oranges Pure Ascorbic acid is the same no matter where its extracted from...

[BeaTnik-BandiT]

Originally Posted by zorgon

They also discovered that calcium is absorbed by the body better in the presence of vitamin C and have now added Calcium to orange juice

We are basically a chemical factory

Ok. But if Magnesium is absent, Calcium cannot be properly absorbed.
It seems that people in industrialised countries are in a deficit of this mineral.

There is a fragile equilibrium at play here, between these 2 elements.

[Rumas]

http://www.viddler.com/explore/theVashonWay/videos/66/

Here is a video with a hundred more reasons not to eat meat. Not just beef. It breaks my heart to see how animals are mistreated on this planet.

I stopped eating meat over a year ago. I feel better, with more energy. I love animals but I don't like the way mankind treats their animals. I feel by not eat them I am not contributing to the mistreatment.

What would humans do if they found a planet with other eatable life forms on it. Would they mistreat them with the same uncompassionate care? Perhaps this is another reason why humans are quarantined on this planet? If this is what humans do with their food? How will they treat other alien races they don't get along with?

With lots of other protein sources, like beans and nuts why eat meat?

[Darren Swisher]

1 month ago i stopped eating meat all together, I can say after only 1 month i feel better, have more energy, have lost 10 lbs, My blood pressure is down and i do not miss the "Flesh" at all. 100% whole fruits and veggies, Whole grains and natural juices.

I do not get into plugging things for people i will provide the link about the book that i have used.


http://www.ravediet.com/whatsinbook.htm

I just wanted to note, I did this for health reasons only. I still cook for my family and there is meat involved. I just choose not to partake in the flesh right now.



Thanks

[Emman]

[QUOTE=Darren Swisher;46635]1 month ago i stopped eating meat all together, I can say after only 1 month i feel better, have more energy, have lost 10 lbs, My blood pressure is down and i do not miss the "Flesh" at all. 100% whole fruits and veggies, Whole grains and natural juices.

I do not get into plugging things for people i will provide the link about the book that i have used.


http://www.ravediet.com/whatsinbook.htm

I just wanted to note, I did this for health reasons only. I still cook for my family and there is meat involved. I just choose not to partake in the flesh right now.




I, too, made the shift to be a vegetarian. I bought the Rave Diet book from George Green's website. After watching the DVD called Eating that came with the book, I made the shift. This was back in May this year. I started out on a vegan diet for the first couple months. I have settled into a vegetarian diet as I will eat salmon or fish once in a great while as well as a little cheese.

I am surprised that I actually made the shift away from meat. Just several months ago I would not have thought I could do it even though I have been thinking about it for over a year. The shift coincides with my introduction into the Ground Crew. I think that my effort to raise my consciousness and vibrations have indeed allowed me to shift into a plant based diet.

My main reason for wanting to shift was because of the unconscionable treatment of the animals for our food. It wasn't until I got the Rave Diet book that I learned about how unhealthy it is be on a meat based diet. After that I shifted immediately. Virtually overnight if you will.

I am proud to be a vegetarian. It is one of the most proudest things I have done in my life. You have to understand that I could not even envision being a vegetarian at all not that long ago. I could not imagine not having my favorite BBQ sandwich called Pecos Pit in Seattle. I could not imagine not eating a wonderfully done tenderloin with a terrific merlot. I could not imagine not having my favorite dish that my mother cooks called sati babi, a grilled pork dish served with her peanut butter sauce. Seriously, these were some of life's greatest joys to me. Not anymore. Those are nice memories now. I think of it like the nice memories of childhood playing as a little kid. Even though my times as a child were wonderful, I have no desire to relive those times as I have outgrown them. I see my times as a carnivore the same way.

Since I have shifted to a plant based diet, it's been great in a number of ways:

I cook all the time now. I rarely eat out like I used to, which was about 4-6 times a week. I love farmer's markets.

Saved money. Because we don't eat out as much anymore, less money spent on food.

I lost weight naturally. I haven't weighed myself, but I my clothes are much looser. I took about 2-3 inches off my waist. My face is thinner.

No indigestion. You know, prior to my shift, I would have to eat several antacids like Tums every day. I would need to eat 3-5 Tums before going to bed every night because the food would creep up my pipe.

I'm healthier in general. I haven't eaten any eggs at all either. I'm not consuming any cholesterol, or just trace amounts if any.

[SIR GALAHAD]

Originally Posted by Rumas

http://www.viddler.com/explore/theVashonWay/videos/66/

Here is a video with a hundred more reasons not to eat meat. Not just beef. It breaks my heart to see how animals are mistreated on this planet.

I stopped eating meat over a year ago. I feel better, with more energy. I love animals but I don't like the way mankind treats their animals. I feel by not eat them I am not contributing to the mistreatment.

What would humans do if they found a planet with other eatable life forms on it. Would they mistreat them with the same uncompassionate care? Perhaps this is another reason why humans are quarantined on this planet? If this is what humans do with their food? How will they treat other alien races they don't get along with?

With lots of other protein sources, like beans and nuts why eat meat?

this is the most shocking sickess thing i have ever watched i just dont no what to say these people in these slaughter houses are actually getting off on this you can see it in there faces im lost for words i feel numb and sick to my core .

[izz]

Originally Posted by Genevieve

Ohh thanks for reminding me Izz

- and we all talk about hoarding gold or other survival necessities in view of the "economic crash"

- i have not seen one thread about all those MILLIONS of starving desperate fearful people in the world who probably have NO IDEA of an economic crash and couldn't care less as long as they get to feed their children tomorrow!!!

Maybe the meek really WILL inherit the earth

yes i totally agree - all this talk of hoarding and martial law - when actually right now that is all fantasy albeit a dark fantasy for us in the west - but it is reality for many - and our focus should be on them RIGHT NOW ..

our selfish thoughts continue dont they - and that is what has got us into this mess we are in now .. all take and no giving back ..

the meek in ego but the strong in heart will certainly inherit the world ..

[Mike_Jetson]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...ur+daily+bread

A good piece of video art that also helps to highlight how much of a machine the food industry is where living animals are concerned. Poor quality compared to the DVD but none the less a decent watch if you havnt seen many of these factories

[tandiwe]

Also non-organic beef and dairy products from cows contain traces of Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH). That's the thing they feed the cows to make them grow faster and fatter. It disrupts hormone imbalances in humans. Wonder where the obseity epidemic is coming from?

[Kahunamahalo]

Sorry, can't live without my Whataburger...

[BeaTnik-BandiT]

Originally Posted by Kahunamahalo

Sorry, can't live without my Whataburger...

HaHa !