The Wolves & The Deer..

As hunting season draws near, I am subjected to enduring the regular discussions of all the rednecks I share my high school with, as they all eagerly anticipate the return of their favorite activity....being all manly, sitting in a tree, shooting deer with big antlers to hang on their wall.

One of these such individuals favorite reasons to give for why they hunt, is because they need to control the deer population, otherwise the deer would starve in the winter. And this is true. But I wonder whether any of them ever actually bothered to stop and wonder why we have to control the deer population? Doesn't it seem odd that every other species has a perfect natural system of checks and balances, but the deer don't?

Well, if you think about it, it's not hard to know why. It's because we've hunted the natural predator of the deer - wolves - to near extinction. And it's still legal to hunt wolves, with a permit. Why?!

It can't be because wolves logically pose a threat to human lives - significantly more people are attacked by dogs than by wolves each year. So the only possible excuse for killing wolves, must be that they kill and/or eat farmers' livestock.

So, I realized that I had just come upon yet another problem that a global switch to veganism would solve! We would finally be able to stop killing wolves, and in turn, we would no longer have to kill deer either! The ecosystem would finally be able to return to its own natural balance!

There are just so many reasons to give up meat. So. Many. Reasons. Come on already, jump on the wagon, join the vegan party and save lives, the environment, the ecosystem, the rainforest, and your health!

Peace!

DAIRY=VEAL

Why Are People Still Eating Meat?!

(the video and text say the same thing, so you can watch or read, based on your preference)

Do you eat meat? If so, could you tell me why, if i asked? Honestly, it blows my mind that so many people still eat animal products, and i want to tell you why. A lot of meat eaters aren't going to want to hear about this, but I really hope you'll read this through youth the end. I can't make you agree with me - but I really want to help you at least understand why many people are switching to a vegan diet themselves.

First of all, the meat industry obviously causes suffering to the animal that is destined to be eaten. Most live out their lives in tiny, uncomfortable, unclean, crowded spaces where they are nearly unable to even move. On top of this, even free-range animals must go to slaughter, where they are still alive and frightened as they are hoisted into the air, and are still conscious and kicking as their throats are slit and the blood drains from their necks, taking their only life with it. A lot of people know this to some extent, though many pretend they don't, or they deny that it is true.

This is only the beginning, though. It's not just domestic animals that are being killed for the purpose of our animal consumption. Elsewhere in the world, rain forests are being cut down for space to raise animals or forage for these animals. As rainforest is cut down, exotic plant species are disappearing and animals are going extinct at a breathtaking rate as their habitat is destroyed.

Huge amounts of fossil fuels are used to grow crops for all of the animals that we eat, and even more are used to transport these grains, as well as water and other supplies...and finally, the livestock itself must me transported to and from the slaughterhouse. Add all of this up and - did you know that animal farming is the number one producer of greenhouse gasses emitted to the atmosphere?

Did you know that with all the grain we produce just for livestock in the US, we could feed 800 million people? That means that if we were to feed this grain directly to people, rather than animals, we could virtually eradicate world hunger. Knowing this, I believe that by extension, one could say that by eating meat, we are contributing to the starvation of men, women, and children in 3rd world countries.

Finally, it's about time we all just accepted that meat is not necessary for optimum health. In fact, many studies have been conducted which show that eating animal products is actually detrimental to human health (for more info see Forks Over Knives), and that a diet of whole plant foods is the best and most straightforward way to stay healthy.
Despite this, there are many people who still argue that without meat, you will not get the protein you need. To those people, I say - did you know that there has never in history been a case of protein deficiency, without a caloric deficiency? This means that if a person is eating enough calories even from nothing but rice (not that i am suggesting it) they will NOT be deficient in protein. Supplement with some beans, greens, or nuts and seeds? Your getting more than enough.

When I asked you why you eat meat, you probably thought "because it tastes good", right? Well, I implore you right now - is all of this...starving children, species going extinct, poor health and degenerative diseases, as well as suffering animals...worth a few moments of sensual pleasure?
If you know the answer to this and you don't like it, I hope you will try to take a step out of your comfort zone and try out some soy products and/or experiment with some vegan recipes.

What can a little bit of experimenting hurt? I think we've all got a lot more to gain than to lose from your brave, mature, and selfless decision to go vegan.

Vegetables?

I had the most delicious peach this afternoon. It was delicate, sweet, juicy, flavorful... Just another little reminder that fruit is so perfect for us.

If it smells good, feels good, looks good, and tastes good in its natural, raw state - then it is probably the ideal food for us. Simple concept, right? That's why I love it. ☺

Fruit fulfills all of this criteria.

Certainly, meats, dairy, eggs, legumes, and grains do not.

Neither do vegetables, in my experience.

SHOULD we be eating greens? Its still a question that I toy with in my head, and I have been very back-and-forth on the topic for the past few months.

For now, I have come to a conclusion: eat only fruit until I find myself attracted to or wanting to eat these greens in their raw, natural state. Until this happens...I cannot believe that we should be eating them.

Peace, sunshine (actually if you're in the US, I s'pose we'd be better off wishing for rain...) and loads of fruit to all.

❧

Damn Illegal Immigrants! (LOL)

Going vegan will get rid of illegal mexican immigrants!

LOL. Just to clarify, I'm not racist at all. Though I don't totally agree with illegal immigration, I actually do sympathize.

However, I wanted to appeal to the meat-eating redneck population. How to do that? Racism and "patriotism". LMAO (;

Fruit Is Sexy!

VS

Honestly? The fruit one is just so much sexier. ....And so much more tasteful, too. 

No?

Eat fruit, be happy, be healthy, be SEXY! 

Preaching

I was thinking today, about just how much I preach to people about my diet. I prattle on about it to my family, friends, people I barely know, the wide open internet... I spend so much time talking about the way I eat.

It is kind of a big deal for me. It is definately something I am passionate about, finding the 'perfect diet' (if it exists. Haha). I spend a lot more time on my diet, and learning about it. I guess I just invest a lot more in my diet than a lot of people do. And I think that might be part of the reason that I seem to have this insane need to defend the way I eat, and try to make other people understand.

But another reason is: I care, to put it simply. I have found something that works really well for me, and that I absolutely believe in. I want to share it with people I care about. I want my friends and family to have lots of energy. I even want to help that depressed freshman girl feel better about the world and about herself with this fruit diet. And I want to help you - that's (partially) why I post a lot of what I do on this blog. Because (I know it sounds cheesy) it really does make the whole world a better place. I believe you will have more energy and empathy and optimism and just.. So many more positive emotions and ideas, that will influence those around you. In addition, following a vegan or fruitarian diet contributes to a more violence and pain-free world, which is really an goal that we should all be striving towards however we can.

So, no, I am not going to stop annoying you, trying to share this information with you. It's sort of a moral dilemma for me, because I don't want to annoy people, with the message. I know people are often irritated with vegans for just this reason... But I can't sit by and watch people that I care about essentially destroying themselves with foods that they eat only because it's all they know to do. I will not silently watch as millions of animals are being brutally murderd, daily... Only to lead to chronic and detrimental diseases in the humans that ingest them. So, until you take responsibility for your own diet and the world around you, I am going to keep trying to share what I know with you. I guess it's just the kind of person I am. So, sorry. 

Anyhow, all that...is not to say that I am absolutely sure this is the right diet at all. I'm just gonna keep preachin' as long as I believe it is. 'Cause as of today, based upon the information that I have and that I've gathered, I feel this is right. However, I might add that we are daily discovering new, important information about diet (and everything else!). None of us really knows nearly as much about anything as we all seem to assume. I think of how many times I have changed my mind concerning my diet, upon recieving new information, or even just new experiences. Three years ago, I wasn't even vegan and thought I was eating really healthily. I felt the same about the succeding veganism and raw veganism.

So yes, I realize that I'm not always right... And, for this reason, I wouldn't want anybody to make a decision about their diet based just on what I believe and say. What I really hope I can do is maybe just inspire enough curiosity in people to research their diet and learn abut their options and what's good for them, for themselves, and come to their own conclusions... And to help people who already have researched and have come to some of the same conclusion as I.

In addition to this... I know a lot of the terms and expressions and explanations that I use to explain why I eat the way I eat make it seem as though I think you're a terrible person if you choose to eat meat. I do feel that the action is absolutely wrong... But I really don't mean to sound condemning to you as a person.

To be perfectly honest, I do sometimes have issues with being compassionate towards people who chose to eat this way, just because... well, we all do have to share this world, and eating meat takes a pretty big toll on it, the environment, animals, my tax dollars (or, well..my parents'. Haha).

However, it is absolutely wrong of me to judge somebody for their actions, from my point of view... When I do this, it's totally me at fault, and not the meat eater. I (and probably a lot of other vegetarians/vegans/fruitarians) need to remember this. I used to eat meat. It took me a long time to get to the place I'm at now in my diet... and I know (hope) that I am going to keep progressing. I recognize that we are not all at the same place in life, and we are not all emotionally, financially, mentally, whatever.. ready to go vegan/fruitarian. Or wanting to go vegan/fruitarian. It's easy for me to forget that sometimes, but... no matter how you eat and choose to live your life, (even if that includes making dumb comments about my diet,) I promise, I don't believe that you are less of a person for chosing to eat differently, or follow a different path in life than I am chosing.