I’ve gotten so many inquiries about my personal change of diet and also for advice on health and fitness, that I thought it was time to put more details and info into my blog. I absolutely LOVE helping to inspire others to lead healthier, better lives. Everything changed for my Husband and I on January 1, 2017. After almost 2 years of no meat, over a year of no fish, cooking 100% vegan in our home and very limited consumption of dairy products, our family has changed for the better. We are healthier. Happier. We feel so much more confident that we are helping to better the Earth and our future generation. And, we haven’t been sick in 2 years. So why do we eat the way that we do? What is the research we have found? Take a look, take time to do your own research as well, and really examine your lifestyle. Here are our thoughts:
In order to change our lives for the better, and ultimately attempt to change our world, we believe we must start by examining our own thoughts, our
beliefs, our assumptions and expectations about the way the world is, and the way things are meant to be. We must challenge our beliefs and adopt new ways of thinking and acting if we are to change our world.
Marcus and I grew up presuming dairy
and meat were healthy choices for over 30 years of life because 1) that’s what we learned from our parents growing up and 2) that’s what mainstream society/media continually informed us.
What we believe to be true, is it true? Or do we just believe that it’s true because we were taught that its true and never looked any further?
beliefs, our assumptions and expectations about the way the world is, and the way things are meant to be. We must challenge our beliefs and adopt new ways of thinking and acting if we are to change our world.
Marcus and I grew up presuming dairy
and meat were healthy choices for over 30 years of life because 1) that’s what we learned from our parents growing up and 2) that’s what mainstream society/media continually informed us.
What we believe to be true, is it true? Or do we just believe that it’s true because we were taught that its true and never looked any further?
Dairy Milk: https://saveourbones.
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Did you know that in Medieval England parents would tie rabbits’ feet around their babies’ necks to ward off illness? Doctors would also spit on wounds b
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I know it can be a joke, but humans are the only species on Earth that drinks the milk of another species. I literally have no idea why it became a normal thing for humans to consume the
baby formula intended for another newborn animal.
- Casein in cows milk is the most relevant cancer promoter ever discovered.
- Calcium from cows milk is poorly absorbed compared to plant-based calcium.
- Lactose doesn’t digest properly, leaving people chronically bloated, gassy and sick.
- Cows milk is packed with saturated fat and cholesterol, increasing cardiovascular disease risk.
- Plant milks are 100% cholesterol free.
Once we understood the reality of dairy, first from a dietary standpoint, and then secondary from a humane standpoint, we started thinking: Jeez, We’ve always been told nothing but “Milk does a body good.” It’s always been a fundamental thing. From
there we were like, “what else are “they” lying about? So we started realizing there are all these things we’re brought up to believe that are just a complete hoax, just bullshit marketing (and Marcus is a marketer, so he knows!).
Animal Meat:
There is no such thing as humane meat. Animals do not willingly offer themselves up for our momentary palate pleasure.
To figure out if something is humane, we must first ask ourselves if we’d want this done to us or our loved ones. If we love pets (dogs, cats, etc.) and say we love animals, we need to stop eating them. All animals feel pain, fear death and want to
live, not just the animals that we in Western society view as pets. How arrogant must we all be to believe other animals exist for our personal use.
There is no such thing as humane meat. Animals do not willingly offer themselves up for our momentary palate pleasure.
To figure out if something is humane, we must first ask ourselves if we’d want this done to us or our loved ones. If we love pets (dogs, cats, etc.) and say we love animals, we need to stop eating them. All animals feel pain, fear death and want to
live, not just the animals that we in Western society view as pets. How arrogant must we all be to believe other animals exist for our personal use.
Aside from the morality of killing animals for our temporary pleasure, research has led me to believe that humans
are anatomically meant to be herbivores. That can be backed up by research that looks at a human’s intestines (10-12 times their body lengths) compared to a carnivorous animal’s intestines (3-6 times their body length). It’s very hard to get meat through
a human’s digestive system, which means it can sit in pockets for years, causing internal disease. Also, our dental structure is aligned with other herbivores and frugivores, not with carnivores. Finally, the strongest animals upon Earth (elephant, rhino,
gorilla, horse, etc.) are all herbivores.
are anatomically meant to be herbivores. That can be backed up by research that looks at a human’s intestines (10-12 times their body lengths) compared to a carnivorous animal’s intestines (3-6 times their body length). It’s very hard to get meat through
a human’s digestive system, which means it can sit in pockets for years, causing internal disease. Also, our dental structure is aligned with other herbivores and frugivores, not with carnivores. Finally, the strongest animals upon Earth (elephant, rhino,
gorilla, horse, etc.) are all herbivores.
Humans don’t even like the taste of meat. If we did, then why do we change the appearance (look, taste and smell) of meat before we eat it? We skin it, cut it into small objects, take the
blood out, we cook it to take the slime out of it and make it firm, and then we cover it in plants (herbs) to make it taste good. We don’t really want the rotting animal tissue the way that carnivores actually consume meat. If we really think it’s natural
for humans to eat meat, then we should be eating the entire animal with no cooking, no seasoning, no sauces, etc.
blood out, we cook it to take the slime out of it and make it firm, and then we cover it in plants (herbs) to make it taste good. We don’t really want the rotting animal tissue the way that carnivores actually consume meat. If we really think it’s natural
for humans to eat meat, then we should be eating the entire animal with no cooking, no seasoning, no sauces, etc.
Additionally, only plants make protein. No animal makes protein. Any protein found in animal meat is recycled
protein. Diets that rely heavily on animal protein are typically also much higher in compounds that contribute to cardiovascular disease, such as saturated fats and cholesterol. Even lean sources of meat are still filled with additional hormones and antibiotics,
as well as bacteria, parasites and carcinogens.
protein. Diets that rely heavily on animal protein are typically also much higher in compounds that contribute to cardiovascular disease, such as saturated fats and cholesterol. Even lean sources of meat are still filled with additional hormones and antibiotics,
as well as bacteria, parasites and carcinogens.
Processed meats (bacon, turkey slices, etc.) are Class 1 carcinogens, the same as tobacco products and asbestos, per the IARC. The International Agency for Research on Cancer is an intergovernmental
agency forming part of the World Health Organization of the United Nations. It’s role is to conduct and coordinate research into the causes of cancer.
agency forming part of the World Health Organization of the United Nations. It’s role is to conduct and coordinate research into the causes of cancer.
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The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is the specialized cancer agency of the World Health Organization. The objective of the IARC is to promote international collaboration in cancer research.
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Just as doctors and medical experts at one point stated that smoking cigarettes was not dangerous to one’s health (https://www.cbsnews.
there was finally enough evidence to sway public opinion around 50 years ago that cigarettes were actually very unhealthy and caused cancer. We’re on the cusp of such a turning point with the meat and dairy industry.
You don’t have to completely agree with our meal choices, but we’ll ask you to at least examine your own beliefs and assumptions on the topic. The fact remains that processed meats (bacon, turkey slices, ham, etc.) are classified as Class 1 Carcinogens, the same as tobacco products and asbestos, per the IARC. Eating meat for nutrients is like smoking for oxygen. If you wouldn’t give your kids cigarettes to smoke, why give them processed meat sandwiches to eat?
When you choose a plant-based diet, you give up nothing. You simply stop taking what was never yours to take in the first place. The only argument one can have against a plant-based diet is that they just don’t care.
There are around 350,000 plant species in the world, and about 80,000 are edible for humans. So why would anyone “need” to kill an animal and eat decaying flesh for food? If we aren’t eating animals for health (we’re not), and we don’t need to kill them and
eat them to survive (we don’t), what are we doing this to them for?
When you choose a plant-based diet, you give up nothing. You simply stop taking what was never yours to take in the first place. The only argument one can have against a plant-based diet is that they just don’t care.
Okay, lots of info shared above, so in short: We decided to take responsibility for what we put in our body and our kids’ bodies. What you eat either harms you or heals you. Let food by your medicine and medicine by your food.
You can believe that because dairy and
meat have always been a part of your life, it should continue to be, and as well as for your childrens’ lives. However, we have a feeling that mainstream society will eventually view plant-based diets as the norm. History
will not look kindly upon us for the manner in which we consumed animal products, as well as treated other sentient beings, all while physically destroying our environment/Earth.
meat have always been a part of your life, it should continue to be, and as well as for your childrens’ lives. However, we have a feeling that mainstream society will eventually view plant-based diets as the norm. History
will not look kindly upon us for the manner in which we consumed animal products, as well as treated other sentient beings, all while physically destroying our environment/Earth.
We never intended to one day
give up meat and dairy for a plant-based diet. We simply examined our own beliefs and assumptions, and decided we should better understand why we have a certain viewpoint on a topic. That’s why we made the informed choice to have a plant-based diet and are raising our girls to do the same in our home.
give up meat and dairy for a plant-based diet. We simply examined our own beliefs and assumptions, and decided we should better understand why we have a certain viewpoint on a topic. That’s why we made the informed choice to have a plant-based diet and are raising our girls to do the same in our home.
If you’re interested in examining your own beliefs on this topic, the following list are some thought provoking documentaries that can possibly help you understand if what you believe
to be true, is in fact true.
to be true, is in fact true.
Forks
Over Knives: A health focused documentary that establishes a strong correlation between degenerative diseases and meat-based diet with some solid, statistical
proof. The film features a team of doctors and researchers to highlight common pains and sufferings like obesity and diabetes that have become the fate of most Americans today, and asserts how it can be alleviated by adopting a plant based diet.
Over Knives: A health focused documentary that establishes a strong correlation between degenerative diseases and meat-based diet with some solid, statistical
proof. The film features a team of doctors and researchers to highlight common pains and sufferings like obesity and diabetes that have become the fate of most Americans today, and asserts how it can be alleviated by adopting a plant based diet.
Vegucated:
A socio-comical documentary about 3 omnivore New York guys who plan to go plant-based for six weeks for weight loss and other health benefits. But during their
journey, they uncover the dark side of animal agriculture, and all of a sudden find themselves against the very industry they patronized a few weeks before.
A socio-comical documentary about 3 omnivore New York guys who plan to go plant-based for six weeks for weight loss and other health benefits. But during their
journey, they uncover the dark side of animal agriculture, and all of a sudden find themselves against the very industry they patronized a few weeks before.
Earthings: A documentary
film by Nation Earth that portrays the pathetic treatment of animals. The documentary uses hidden cameras to bring to you shocking footage of what goes on behind the closed walls of
the meat and dairy industry.
film by Nation Earth that portrays the pathetic treatment of animals. The documentary uses hidden cameras to bring to you shocking footage of what goes on behind the closed walls of
the meat and dairy industry.
I’m not asking you to change your lifestyle. I simply want you to fully understand our thoughts on this particular topic, as well as examine
your own beliefs and assumptions, and decide for yourself why you have a certain viewpoint.
your own beliefs and assumptions, and decide for yourself why you have a certain viewpoint.
October 2, 2018 @ 12:07 pm
Love your research, Lindy. A few years back, I read Skinny Bitch, a book that touches on the disgusting practices used in the dairy and meat industry. I also remember was a fuss the TX ranchers made when Oprah dissed on meat. It's all about money, as usual. My journey is more and more vegan, I started and continued on the Whole30 plan to stop my insanity of food cravings, and meats are rarely on my table, soon to be gone. Thank you SO much for your writing!��