Eating meat makes people the nth consumer that takes only 10 percent of energy from the meat we consume. Why not be the first one waiting in line or the primary consumer that eats vegetables and fruits? This is one of the philosophies of people who choose to be vegetarians. But first we ask, “Who are vegetarians?”

They are those who save hundreds of animals every year simply by choosing a plant-based diet. Many look at the facts and become vegetarians for health reasons.  Others are excited about the positive impact they can have on the environment, while some become vegetarians because they’re seeking the spiritual growth many of the world’s religions teach.

As a vegetarian myself, I have been asked the same repeating questions throughout the years, and now I finally have the chance to share my answers to the world.

1.  Is it natural for humans to eat meat?

Human digestive systems, tooth and jaw structure, natural instincts and bodily functions are absolutely distinct from that of carnivorous animals. Carnivorous animals share many unique characteristics which set them apart from all other members of the animal kingdom: very short bowels-three times the length of the body-for rapid expulsion of putrefactive bacteria from decomposing flesh; stomachs with 10 times as much hydrochloric acid as non-carnivorous animals, anti-down motion of jaws; sharply pointed, elongated canines; lack of molar teeth.

These show that humans are not carnivorous by nature; our anatomy and digestive systems must have evolved for millions of years living on fruits, nuts, grains and vegetables. As in the case of the anthropoid ape, man’s bowels are 12 times the length of his or her body being designed for the slow digestion of vegetables and fruits which are noted for slow decay.

2.  Are there dangers in eating meat?

Poisoning. Just before and during the agony of being slaughtered, the biochemistry of the terrified animal undergoes profound changes as it futilely struggles for life. Toxic by-products and large quantities of adrenalin are forced throughout the body, thus pain-poisoning the entire carcass. According to Encyclopedia Brittanica, body poisons, including uric acid and other toxic wastes are present in the blood and tissue: “…protein obtained from nuts, pulses (lentils, peas, etc.), grains and dairy products is said to be relatively pure as compared to beef with a 50 percent impure water content.”

The fats of animal flesh, such as cholesterol, line the walls of water vessels, and as the meat-eater gets older, the openings of his vessels get smaller and smaller. Pressure on the heart increases: heart failure, high blood pressure, and stroke results.

Among the most prominent wastes a meat-eater loads in his or her body with are urea and uric acid (nitrogen compounds). Beefsteak, for example, contains about 14 grams of uric acid per pound. So kidneys of meat-eaters have to do three times the amount of work to eliminate poisonous nitrogen compounds in meat than do the kidneys of vegetarians. When people are young, they are usually able to bear this extra burden so that no evidence of injury or disease appears, but as the kidneys age and become worn out prematurely, they become unstable to do their work efficiently and frequently, kidney disease is the result.

3.  Is it right to kill animals?

Since it is possible for us to live healthy lives without ever eating meat, it is appropriate to ask whether meat eating is a moral and humane habit. Clearly, animals do not give up their lives voluntarily so that we can have the luxury of eating meat. Many religious and spiritual groups have advocated a vegetarian diet, acknowledging the sacredness of all life and the need to live without causing suffering.

This is the idea: If vegetables are available, animals should not be slaughtered. Secondly, under any circumstances before killing any animal having developed or underdeveloped consciousness (awareness on things happening around), it is to be considered whether it is possible to live in a healthy body without taking such lives.

4.  What about the politics of hunger?

Meat is the most uneconomical and inefficient food we can eat. In order to produce meat, vast acreage of land is user to grow cattle feed. The cattle consume about ten times more protein and calories than they return in the form of their meat. In other words, 90 percent “goes down the drain.” Adding the expense of their feed to the other costs of rearing, the cost of meat protein comes to about 20 times the cost of the plan protein.

Instead of wasting land for meat production, these acres could be used far productively if utilized to plant grains, beans and legumes for direct human consumption. For example, one acre of land used to raise a cow will provide one pound of animal protein; but this same land planted with soybeans will produce 17 pounds of soya protein. In addition, soybeans are more nutritious, contain less fat and free from the poisons of meat.

If we considered our grain supply and gave it to the poor and malnourished, instead of to the cow, we could easily feed all of the chronically underfed people of the world. If we ate half as much meat, we could release enough food to feed the entire “developing world.” If vegetarianism becomes the norm, we will have much more food, more space, more natural resources, and a better world to live in.

Overall, the decision whether to eat meat or not is still a personal one, but based on the arguments against it, it is rather difficult to find a case in favor of meat-eating-except of course where it is absolutely necessary for physical reasons.

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For the ones who love wearing natural live leather, there is a wide offer. Lots of nudist beaches both in northern and southern Europe, nudist camping sites, a few nudist hotels and a whole nudist resort in Cape d’Agde in the south of France. In general these beaches are very quiet, are often  in a separated sector of a  traditional beach or in more isolated areas. Seeing there families with children is not so unusual.

Well, being naked among strangers is not for everybody but I am happy that whoever like it can do it where it doesn’t offend the ones who don’t want to see it.

You may be familiar with the law of attraction or perhaps not. Basically this universal law states that like attracts like. Therefore if you are grateful for the good things in your life, you will attract more good things to be grateful for. The energy that you put out into the universe is returned to you. You manifest what you are putting out there.

A gratitude journal is a way that some people like to reflect on what they are grateful for in their lives. A simple thank you is an easy way of expressing gratitude. In a way living in a state of gratitude is simply good manners. We all have something to be grateful for, many of these things can be blessings that we take for granted like our health, clothes, shelter, food and water. We must remember to be grateful and give thanks for all the blessings in our lives, big and small.

Please feel free to leave a comment telling the world what you are grateful for. Thank you for reading!

So don’t give up on what you want because it’s not easy coming. Seriously, if you want it bad enough, it’s worth the wait. It’s worth working for it. It’s worth the blood, sweat, and tears. If you really want it, don’t ever give up. Ever. It will all be worth it in the end. Everything you accomplish means something. It all adds up to something great, it adds up to you. So, don’t be afraid to live your dreams, to try your hardest, to aim to be the best. If you fall short, you can say you tried and missed your mark instead of having to say “I’ve never really set a goal, aimed for a dream, accomplish what I’ve always wanted to. I’ve never really tried,” when someone asked if you have made your dreams a reality.
Take the responsibility for your actions. Take your punishments. Rejoice in your good times. Celebrate with your loved ones and cling to them, for they won’t always be around. Cherish everyone around you. Make peace with everyone, be in their good book. It takes more energy to hate someone than to love them. Remember that relationships you have now won’t last forever. Hold tight to them. Hold tight to what you love and do it no matter what people think. If they don’t believe in you, it doesn’t matter, believe in yourself, believe in them. They’ll come around.
People, I’m shouting out to you. You can make a difference, a monumental one, if you just endeavor to so all you can do in your life. How do you think that The Beatles became a phenomenon? How do you the Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, N*Sync, and even Brittney Spears got so popular? How do you think Martin Luther King Jr. accomplished what he did? How do you think Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves? How do you think Gandhi did what he did? How do you think Obama got to be our first African-American president? How do you think Palin got to be vice presidential candidate?

They all followed their dreams, their hearts. They did everything they could to get where they are, to where they’ve been. That’s the beauty of dreaming, it can come true. That’s the beauty of America, it allows it to come true. We have so many opportunities everyday, so many open doors and windows. It’s amazing. And we have every chance and every freedom to make our own paths and destinies. We have every right to our dreams. We have everything to win and nothing to lose by trying our hardest.

What could happen if we aim a little to high and fall short? We’ve still made it higher than not aiming at all.

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First, hydroponics. It is described as “a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil.” One main advantage is that since the water can be reused, we would not need to use overabundant amounts of water. Another advantage is that since absolutely no soil is needed, just about anyone can have their own hydroponic garden, which is good for people who live in big cities such as Los Angeles and New York. Plus, it would produce higher yields of crops, and would generally be lost costly to maintain than regular planting methods.

Now, moving on to in-vitro meat. Yes, it would be made in a lab. I know that people tend to do a triple take when they hear that food is being engineered in a laboratory, but I do not think that the scientists who would be producing the food would have received their degrees from whatever respected institution the attended if it was not thought that they would do a damn good job at their job. So, what it in-vitro meat? Well, it is meat made from the cells of an actual animal, most likely stem cells, and then cultured to be like actual meat. It is still in its infancy, and I am not entire sure how exactly they will make the meat, but I am sure it can be done.

I am also sure that we also know the benefits. The environmental benefits being one of the biggest. It has been suggested that current methods of meat production is contributing to global warming, so creating meat in a lab would greatly lessen the effects of that. Plus, having so many organisms concentrated in such a small place is bound to be a harbinger for the spread of disease. Think of being in a house full of people and somebody has a cold. The disease is liable to spread because there are so many people in such a small place.
I do not think I even need to mention the barbarism of shoving animals into cages, force feeding them extra hormones, which is not only cruel to the animal, but a health risk to the human that eats it. On a happier side, it is also proposed that lab meat would be much cheaper to produce, as well as being much healthier.

Now, I realize that producing food in a lab or a hydroponic garden will have drastic effects on the agriculture industry, but that is just a risk we are going to have to take if we care about our survival on this planet. I also realize that people do not like the idea of genetically engineering food, even though we’ve been doing it for thousands of years, which is how many of our plants are even edible in the first place. If we are to continue to make advancements in science and society, we must shed these two seemingly disadvantages and move forward to a new society based on sustainability and responsible production.

This will lead to daydreaming and list-making, both of which will sharpen your sense of purpose. You need a sense of purpose. It is the correct means to most ends. The end you are seeking is a happy and productive life and if you don’t have one it will be your own fault.

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Some lives are sorely afflicted by acts of God, so-called because they happen, there’s nothing you can do about it and you have to blame someone. They include famine, plague and pestilence. Should you find yourself in a plague situation, bear up. More than likely, your lives will only be assailed by the regular challenges of survival and aspiration in a western democracy. These should be met with vigor. They will probably include a career, marriage,  and possible frustrations of everyday life but you will manage.

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You have been born with an intellect, a will and the power to choose, so you can and must accept responsibility for yourself. This doesn’t happen overnight but by the time you are thirty or so you should be able to cope with different issues in your life. For many years prior to this you will be struggling to stand on your own two feet.

Be grateful as life is a privilege and to waste it is sinful. You didn’t ask to be born but you were, against all odds, therefore you should be grateful.

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In view of the privilege, you must use what talents you have to the best of your ability and contribute somehow to the common good. Your conscience will connect you to the common good and if you want to sleep at night, you should listen to it.

The common good will present itself to you every day: a friend will want to talk endlessly about herself; an old lady will need help crossing the road and talk endlessly about herself (possibly me); your father will want his stapler back. This is goodness at its most basic but you will improve if you practice. Self-sacrifice is the key to being a better person. Don’t go overboard. Martyrs are social failures.

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You are smart, employable, motivated and know how to use your contacts. You only have to work hard, get the breaks, read the wind, speak your mind and so forth. It’s a mistake to imagine your job is what you are or that your success as a human being depends on great career moves. You must  learn to value yourself for what you are because the value of others is never reliable.

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            To quote this book directly, “WELCOME OR NOT, change is unavoidable.” The book, Changing for Good was written by not only one but three practicing psychiatrists. James O. Prochaska, John C. Norcross, and Carlo C. Diclemente spent over twelve years and conducted over fifty different studies on thousands of participating individuals to find exactly what it is that causes people to intentionally change. Their research has been said to have caused a revolution in the in the science of behavior change. The old way of describing change was one that viewed change as dramatic and discrete, this viewpoint causes people to enroll in brief programs in which they are expected to change their habits and chose healthier lifestyles. This theory is flawed because that is only one step of six that a person must go through before they can change behavior for good.

            As we all know major lifestyle changes are hard and not very easy to accept. That is what makes this book so interesting. The writers have defined the six step model in this book to first identify what stage of change the reader is in and secondly to complete that desired change and to not have a relapse. It is stated in this book that everyone can change. It sounds silly but some people may think that change has an expensive price tag on it because of groups or therapy. This is not entirely true, self changers, people who want to change and do so without professional help, are able to benefit from the text as well.

            For those that may be thinking that this book is lame, this next paragraph could change your opinion. The six stages are proven steps that everyone takes in every choice that they make in life. This book walks you through the steps of change like a map. The steps are: Pre-contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance and Termination. An example could be someone who is trying to eat better. The Pre-contemplation stage would be that person telling himself or herself internally that just one treat won’t hurt them. When someone is in this stage it is hard to get out without help from someone. The next stage would be Contemplation in which he or she would try to reason that they want the snack but don’t need it. In this stage a person wants to change but is still resisting. Next he or she would be in the Preparation stage where the person is still not all the way ready to say no to the treat but is confident in not taking it. As you can see this is the third step and still the right choice is not made. Next in the Action stage, the person would at this point not take the snack. Finally they said no but this is not the end of the road. The Maintenance stage is where things get really hard, this is pretty much where the person would fail and relapse back to eating unhealthy again. But if they can get through that Termination is next, this is where the person would never eat unhealthy again. This one can go many ways, never again or sometimes is usually the end result of this stage.

            So as you can see, change is a very tricky thing to really accomplish if you do not know what to expect. This book will supply you with the knowledge needed to make any changes that you want in your life so I hope if you need help changing you will read it.   

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The Top Ten Things to be Learned

The ten concrete things practicing managers should take from this book are:

1.     Change happens weather we like it or not

2.     Changing something takes a lot of time and effort

3.     Relapse is a tool not a hindrance

4.     You have to be patient with change

5.     Everyone can change if they are willing to try

6.     You have to fulfill all the steps to change

7.     Shortcuts result in failure

8.     Some people need help changing

9.     Willpower alone is not enough

10. Finally, be aware of the people around you, they may see something about you that needs to change and you never knew it was there.    

Full Summary of Changing For Good

Introduction

            -The authors of the book decided to break it into two parts to cover both the science behind their method and the application of their method. The first half of the book discusses different forms of psychotherapy, as well as some of the research that the authors used to develop their model.

Part One: The Science

How You Change

            – There is no one system of psychotherapy that is better than the other to help with change. If there was it would be a house hold name. The authors have made it there life’s work to find what causes people to change without the benefit of psychotherapy.  Prochaska specifically wanted to research the people who he refers to as self changers. These are the people who change without the help of psychotherapy because they cannot afford it or for some other reason.

            – This research proved that there is no specific cure all for change because of the numerous different ways in which people change.

            – Like most things in life affective change is all about timing. Different processes are used at different times in the stages of change. The next few bullets are going to be different process that are used to help in the process of change, however these were used before the writers developed their method. They will be bolded to help identify them.

            -The most commonly used change process was developed by Sigmund Freud and is called Consciousness-raising. This process is one that encompasses any knowledge that furthers information about yourself or the nature of your problem.

            – Social liberation is a process in which any new alternatives or external environments help you to begin or continue your change efforts.

            – Emotional arousal is a process where a person becomes aware of his or her defenses against change.

            – Self reevaluation is the process where a person gives thought to how their behavior affects their personal values.

            – Commitment is the process of choosing and committing to act.

            – Countering is the process of substituting alternatives for problem behaviors.

            – Environment Control is where people avoid stimuli that elicit problem behaviors.

- Reward is the process in which a person rewards them self or someone else rewards them for making changes.

- Helping Relationships is where a person seeks the help of someone who cares, this person will help to support them and motivate change.  

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When You Change

- The writers decided at this point to start doing experiments with smokers. There seems to be a larger number of smokers in society than most other addictions so they felt like this was a good demographic to start with. They interviewed over two hundred people and stumbled across a person who was detrimental to the writers’ research. She explained that she used the different change processes at different times, in some of which she used none. This lead to the breakthrough that change unfolds through a series of stages. 

- Each one of these stages is a predictable, well defined stage that takes place in a period of time and has a set list of tasks that must be completed before moving onto the next stage. This does not mean that a person will move directly from one stage to another, they can get stuck on a stage. The key to this cycle of change is understanding what each step demands in order to progress to the next.

- There are six well defined stages of change and they are Pre-contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance and Termination.

- Pre-contemplation is the stage where people do not see that they have a problem but everyone around them can clearly see it.

- Contemplation is the stage where people acknowledge that they have a problem and begin to think seriously about solving it.

- Preparation is the stage where people are planning to take action within the next month and they are making the final adjustments before they begin to change.

- Action is the stage where people most overtly modify their behavior and surroundings. 

- Maintenance is the stage where a person must keep up the change and not slip back into relapse or lapses.

- Termination is the final stage where a person has changed for good and will not slip back into relapse or have any urges to lapse.

- It is very common for a person to relapse and to go through parts of the cycle numerous times before they actually reach the final stage and won’t relapse again.

Making Changes

- The writers performed more studies and the results of which were non conclusive. However, one night Prochaska decided to remove people who relapsed form their findings and all became clear. The people in the study helped to develop systematic relationships between the stages and processes of change.

- This new information was based on successful self changers whose wisdom can now serve as a field guide to help lead people through change.

- Now armed with this information there are four myths that have to be busted.

-Myth one says: Self change is simple, but as we all know self change is not simple. Myth two states: It just takes willpower; this is wrong because it take more than only will power to affective change. Myth three says: I’ve tried everything nothing works; this too is wrong because a process might have been used at the wrong time so it was ineffective. Myth four says: People don’t really change, well if that was case this book would be pointless, but the fact is that people can really change.

- The last thing in this chapter is to figure out what stage of change you are in. There are four statements that you can answer yes or no thus figuring out what stage you are in. The statements are: 1) I solved my problem more than six months ago, 2) I have taken action on my problem in the last six months, 3) I am intending to take action in the next month, and 4) I am intending to take action in the next six months.

-If you answered no to all the statements you are in the Pre-contemplation stage.
If you answered no to all except 4 you are in the Contemplative stage. Those in the Preparation stage will answer yes to statements 3 and 4. If you answered yes to 2 and no to 1 you are in the Action stage. You are in the Maintenance stage when you answer yes to 1. And you might be a red neck if …. Never mind. 

Part Two: The Application

            – In this second part of the book, the authors discuss different applications of the method they developed.

Pre-contemplation- Resisting Change

- The first subject that is discussed in this chapter is the attitudes of pre-contemplaters. These groups of people feel demoralized and they often feel like their cause is hopeless. The fact is that they will most likely stay in this stage unless someone helps them. These people actively resist change because of their feeling that “fate” is keeping them from achieving their goal.

- The next subject discussed in this chapter is the defenses of pre-contemplaters. Every person develops psychic protectors in their lives. These defenses protect our mind from threats both real and imagined. However they can also distort our vision on things, this leads to people not being able to see the problems in front of them. The author makes it very clear that a person must break down his or her defenses so they can fix the problems they wish to fix.

-Lastly the processes of consciousness-raising or social liberation must be completed in order to move to the next stage.

Contemplation- Change on the Horizon

            – Contemplators wish to change but they are resisting change unknowingly at the   same time. This resistance comes from the fact that people are creatures of habit and they deeply fear change.

            – The process of emotional arousal is used in this step. Our emotions can give us   the boost of energy that is needed to do something that we don’t want to do, even change. This boost can cause a person to move from this step to the preparation and action stages.

            – If consciousness-raising was used to get to this stage from Pre-contemplation, the defenses a person has will be lower and they will be able to further examine their problem and its effects on them.

            – The last process in this stage is self-reevaluation. Through this process a person can prove to oneself that their problem is in conflict with their essential values. This leads to a greater desire to solve their problem

            – After the completion of these processes it is time to move to the Preparation stage. 

Preparation- Getting ready

            – During this step a person must get the things that will help them change together. This encompasses everything form physical supplies to mental preparation.  

            – Again in this step a person continues to self-reevaluate. This is used to help focus on the future and the new person someone can become. This process will help to increase the chances of success because the outcome can be seen somewhat.

            – The process of Commitment also falls under this step. This not only a willingness to act, but also a belief in your ability to change, which leads to will being increased. This process will help a person harden their resolve.

            – After these processes are completed, the Action stage is next.      

Action- Time to Move

            – The action stage is one in which failure is a very possible outcome. It may take weeks or months for this stage to be completed. In this stage the focus is on the processes of control, countering, and reward, with a continuing emphasis on the importance of helping relationships.

            – The process of countering is used in this step. Countering is one of the most powerful tools a person can use to change because it exchanges healthy good things for the problematic behaviors. An example of this would be exercise or something along those lines.

            – Environmental control is another process used in this step. Unlike countering were a person changes their responses toward a situation, environmental control makes a person change the situation itself. This will lead to a person not putting themselves in the middle of the problem that they are trying to change. Drinkers should avoid bars; this is a statement to sum up the idea of this process.

            – The reward process is also used in this step. This is where people are rewarded for making the right choices and punished when they chose poorly.

            – With these process fulfilled a person can move to the next step, Maintenance. 

Maintenance- Staying There

            – The Maintenance stage is the hardest stage in the cycle. All of the hard work people have put into change up to now has to be kept up and used to maintain all that has been achieved. If a person fails to do so they will relapse and maybe even   have to start the cycle over.

            – In this stage a person needs to make their old habit have no value to them whatsoever, but they must realize that they are still vulnerable to the old habit until this actually happens.

            – Unlike the previous stages there are no “set” processes to follow in this stage.

            – If a person can endure this stage they are almost home free. This will lead to the Termination stage.  

Recycling- Learning from Relapse

            – There are ten important lessons to learn from relapse (in bold below). The authors also included some information in this chapter for people who self change is not working for. They included sections about seeking professional help and where to do so. But seeing as this is a book report about the main part of the book I will only discuss the ten lessons only. Everyone is different so only they can decide when they need to seek help.

            – Few changers terminate the first time around. It is extremely rare that someone can change a habit one the first try.

            – Trail and error is inefficient. If a person learns the processes that go along with each stage of change they can change much faster than someone who is guessing as they go.

            – Change costs more than you budgeted. People do not realize that change takes a lot more time, energy, and sometimes money then they could possibly imagine.

            – Using the wrong process at the wrong time. People need to learn the processes and when to apply them correctly to change effectively.

            – Be prepared for complications. Some problems are connected to others and when you fix one, another one can become larger. Luckily a person can solve similar problems with similar solutions.

            -The path to change is rarely a straight one. Change follows a cyclical path everything a person started with is not lost, but it is changed.

            – A lapse is not a relapse. A lapse is a slip up but it does not undo all of the work that was done to change a behavior. Relapse does undo all the work that was spent on the change.

            -Mini-decisions lead to maxi-decisions. Small decisions that people make may lead them to relapse. A recovering alcoholic keeping beer in the house is a great example of this.

            – Distress precipitates relapse. The most common cause of relapse is distress.

            – Learning translates into action. People should use what they have learned through relapse to further their growth toward change.         

A Changer’s Manual

- This chapter helps people track what they would need to do to overcome problems with smoking, drinking, and psychological distress.

- This chapter has a lot of examples in it so the brief overview that I gave previously would suffice to rap this one up.

Termination- Exiting the Cycle of Change              

            – This chapter supplies the reader with four defining criteria to determine if a  person’s problem is terminated.

            – A new self-image. If a significant revision in a person’s attitude or self-image  has occurred then that person will approach termination.

            – No temptation in any situation. This simply means that if a person has no temptation to revert back to their old behavior in any situation then they will  approach termination.

            – Solid self-efficacy. This occurs when a person is convinced that they can  function well without ever again engaging in their former behaviors.

            – A healthier lifestyle. A new lifestyle is essential for maintenance. A lifestyle in  which a person does not perform their former behavior is created. 

Personal Insights

            Reading this book made me think differently about the topic in the sense that I now can see why a habit is so hard to get out of, and what it takes to get out of it. The first difference that I have found in myself is that I now have more sympathy for people who really want to change but simply don’t know how. Another way I am thinking differently is that I now know how to make the changes I have tried to or will try to accomplish happen. And lastly I have come to realize that a permanent change is not an over night thing, these so called changes end up spiraling the person back to the habit they were trying to fix in the first place.

            I’ll apply what I’ve learned in this book in my career by always remembering that people who have bad habits and are trying to change are going through a lot more than most people realize. I will always try to be patient with someone when and if they are trying to change because I can now see that failure is a part of the changing process.

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To contact the author of this summary/review, please email Daniel Blanchard at dan2blanchard@gmail.com.

David C. Wyld (dwyld@selu.edu) is the Robert Maurin Professor of Management at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana. He is a management consultant, researcher/writer, and executive educator. His blog, Wyld About Business, can be viewed at http://wyld-business.blogspot.com/. He also has a book summary/review blog that is a collection of his students’ works at http://wyld-about-books.blogspot.com/.  

Animal agriculture is the third largest contributor to green house emissions, according to a United Nations study.  That’s more than the entire transport system of the world!  They also have reported that a vegan diet can feed more people than an animal-based one.  Estimated projections revealed that the 1992 food supply could have fed about 6.3 billion people on a purely vegetarian diet, 4.2 billion people on an 85% vegetarian diet, or 3.2 billion people on a 75% vegetarian diet.  The meat industry, from raising to packaging, has a devastating impact on the environment.

In the United States, 50% of its water is being used to grow crops for grain-fed animals, as opposed to 35% that is used to grow food crops for humans.  It takes 15 times as much water to produce the same amount of protein from an animal than we can get from plants.  It takes about 23 gallons of water to produce a pound of tomatoes.  It takes about 2000 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef.  A ratio of 1/86.96.

Animal waste is the largest source of environmental emissions of nitrous oxide.  The livestock sector generates 65% of human-related nitrous oxide, which has 296 times the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of CO2.  Most of this comes from manure.  It accounts for 37% human-induced methane, 23 times the GWP of CO2, and 64% ammonia, which contributes significantly to acid rain.

Rain forests are being levelled for pastures.  Less trees means less oxygen.  Livestock grazing erodes soil, drying out the land, and making it unsuitable for other types of farming.  The amount of livestock raised for human consumption poses a great threat to Earth’s biodiversity as wildlife habitation is being destroyed for use as pastures.

Runoff from cattle farms contains nitrogen, phosphorus, waste-borne pathogens and detergents.  This often flows directly into waterways, destroying fish habitats.

The meat industry burns massive amounts of fossil fuels, to run machinery that provide heating, lighting, cooling, slicing, dicing, and packaging.  The burning of gasoline and diesel, used to transport animals as well as animal products, also has a massively negative impact on our environment.  More than a third of fossil fuels used in the United States are used by animal agriculture.

Research on the amount of fossil fuel needed to cultivate and process various foods, done at the University of Chicago, found that the average American diet that consists of about 28% animal foods generates the equivalent of 1.5 tons more carbon dioxide each year than a comparable vegan diet.  Because driving a hybrid car conserves a little over 1 ton of carbon dioxide a year, you could reduce more emissions being a vegan than driving a hybrid car.

All the protein, vitamins and minerals that humans need to survive are easily found in vegetables, fruit, legumes, whole grain and grain products.  You will lower the risk of cancer and heart disease as well as have lower cholesterol levels.  Eat your veggies and save the planet while living a healthier life!