People for the Eating of Tasty Animals

[GI Joe]

Sorry but I have been in a time and place where dog, and horse were on the menu of the day. I have eaten both out of necessity and they weren't half bad.

I think we are designed to eat meat but I think most of us eat way too much.

Jeff

[MouseKilla]

The animals we choose to eat is strictly a question of culture. Eating cats, dogs and even snakes are things that are done in other parts of the world. I don't see what difference it makes.

[Pixie]

That is very true, cultural upbringing greatly influences our sense of morals thus to us north americans it is discusting and cruel to eat cat and dogs.

Why is it worse to eat a dog steak than a beef steak? People will say that dogs are intelligent and emotional. I'm sure I can find you a bunch of cow lovers that would say the same about cows.

I find it funny that people think it's fine to eat a slaughtered veal, lamb, cow, etc. but the thought of eating cat of dog repulses them and usually incites harsh judgement of the person who does.

I won't judge someone for what they eat! There are more important things in life to worry about. Would I personally eat some dog or kitty, nope. I'm quite happy with the meats I eat now which is a pretty good variety.

Pixie

[MouseKilla]

You're right and the next time my cat claws the couch his a** is goin' on the bar-b. LOL!

[Snakecharm]

I've got to go with Invictus on this one... and I'll tell you why.

I've spent my whole life overweight and in various degrees of, while not poor health, health that could cause me problems later on. High blood pressure, warning signs of diabetes, etc.

Six months ago my best friend and I decided to go on Atkins/low-carb together. I'd read Dr. Atkins' book a few years ago, and kind of halfway tried it and later walked away. This time I took it to heart and made a lifestyle change.

Suffice to say, I'm not looking back. In six months I've lost nearly sixty pounds. My blood pressure is perfect, without medication. Blood sugar levels and cholesterol, also perfect. I have more energy, I feel good about myself, and unlike every other diet I've ever been on in my life, I don't feel deprived or starved or like I'm being punished.

Eating meat is not what kills us. Eating meat is natural. What kills us is sugar, refined flours, and the pre-packaged, chicken-fried, sugar-coated assortment of 'treats' that our modern society downs by the handful.

I eat whatever lean meat I want, fresh vegetables, nuts, and those fruits that are naturally low in sugars such as berries and melons. I avoid starches like the plague. I can't tell you the last time I've had pasta, and while I occasionally indulge in a nibble of bread, it's a rare exception.

Think about it from this perspective. Mankind spent a whole lot longer as hunters and gatherers than they have as farmers. Hunters and gatherers hunt animals for meat and then gather what nuts, fruits, roots, herbs, etc they can find naturally growing because they don't cultivate their own. Our bodies are not built to live on all the carbs that we modern folk shovel into them.

I respect that some of you have chosen to be vegan or vegetarian, and if it has brought you good health, wonderful. However, it is a lifestyle choice that is not the only or necessarily the best one, anymore than mine is. I do think that I am at far less risk of dying of a heart attack now than I was when I was attempting to follow a low-fat, high carbohydrate way of eating.

Just my 2 cents.

[J-Man]

Snakecharm! YES! I saw exactly where you were going with this one. I completely agree. My dad has Dr Atkins on his radio show a while back... sad to hear that he died though

Anyway, yeah people often criticize that diet and say it'll cause high blood pressure and high colesterol etc... but it actually is great for all of those things.

[ohh_kristina]

Did you know that Dr Atkins himself suffered a heart attack? This is not what he died of, though it did happen.

[J-Man]

Look at those whacky viking guys. They ate nearly all meat and the bread they did eat was hardly refined at all. And they were in great shape... when they died it wasn't from health problem

[J-Man]

Yeah I did hear that. Now correct me if I'm wrong but I THINK he had the heart attack BEFORE he came up with the idea for the diet...?

[GI Joe]

Didn't the vikings die of food poisoning from eating spear tips?

[Snakecharm]

Nah, it was the sauce they put on the spear tips. Nasty stuff.

[Pixie]

This has become a very interesting discussion for me and I thank everyone for their respectful points of views. It's really nice to see a touchy subject discussed well

Snakecharm: Your input is very informative too. Like I said about the vegetarian diet, I can't say if the high protein Atkins diet is any better. I am very happy that it works for you and others with good results. What more can you ask for!

What I find very interesting about these 2 opposite diets (vege/meat) is that they have one BIG thing in common. Both eat heathier foods and have cut out all the crap in their diet. Wether it is choosing to eat lean meats or vegetables & tofu, both diets highly restrict or totally eliminate "junk foods" that have no nutritional value.

I think that much can be learned from examining the different diets that are working for people and see the common elements.

It's amazing how much crap we feed our bodies and I am not out of that group. Why in the heck do we as an intelligent species often choose to eat the poorer quality foods???

Pixie

[Snakecharm]

Originally posted by ohh_kristina
Did you know that Dr Atkins himself suffered a heart attack? This is not what he died of, though it did happen.

::shrug:: I honestly am not sure, I'm certain I could find out if I looked it up. If that's supposed to concern me, it doesn't. Because, while I'm at it, I'm sure I could find piles of people from every lifestyle and walk of life that have had heart attacks. Including vegetarians. It's all about lowering risk, eliminating it doesn't seem to be an option.

As far as that goes, I can only speak for myself and the results I've had. My doctor is aware of and monitoring my progress, and is fully supportive of what I'm doing because the benefits are obvious.

[MouseKilla]

I'm glad that folks have found ways of eating for the benefit of their health. I don't think the views are opposites here. The opposite of being a vegitarian would be converting to a totally carnivorous diet. Anyone doing that? LOL! This wasn't originally intended as a discussion of vegitarianism but I guess the dialogue goes where it goes. I was hoping that there were maybe some PETA folks kicking around here or other animal rights activists so I could have their views. I was hoping to grill someone who holds the belief that animals are equal to people, so far we haven't had that.

I've always been a big meat eater. I have been lucky enough to eat most of the exotic game species and some of the micro-cultural meats(meats common among specific areas or ethnic groups) found in the United States. Traveling in a number of 3rd world countries exposed me to even more unusual choices for BBQ or stew, some of which were a bit much even for me. I only object when the consumption becomes irresponsible, eating an endangered species just because your rich enough to find it is different than eating an endangered species because poverty and location make it what's available. Most animal populations have the reproductive capability to allow managed harvesting of animals for consumption, the desire for quick profit and lack of any type of management is where we encounter the problems I see in non-typical meat animals.