When I was 16 and had recently become a vegetarian, I saw a bumper sticker that read: IF WE’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO EAT ANIMALS, WHY ARE THEY MADE OUT OF MEAT? I laughed heartily at it; it was a good reminder not to take myself too seriously.
I stopped eating meat mostly because I didn’t like the taste and texture. As I grew older and learned more about the mistreatment of farm animals, the environmental impacts of the meat industry, and the health benefits of a vegetarian diet, I felt increasingly good about my choice.
But when I began grad school in Chinese Medicine some years later, my Asian professors were perplexed by the high rate of vegetarianism among the students. They asked us, “Why wouldn’t you eat meat if you can afford it?” To them, vegetarianism was an involuntary choice necessitated by poverty. They pointed to meat’s high protein and iron content and its place in the history of human diets. They weren’t familiar with any of the issues or fads; they only cared about what’s best for human health. So, I decided to set aside my biases and earnestly seek the truth.
When I began my clinical internship, I met numerous vegetarian patients – and even more vegans – who were tired and had weak immune function. Many of them also had chronic digestive problems, like irritable bowel syndrome, bloating, and gas. Often, they were under the impression that simple abstinence from meat would make them healthy, even though it clearly wasn’t.
When these patients began to eat meat – often because I advised them to experiment with it – nearly all felt stronger and healthier. I even met some people who thrived on meat, whose bodies seemed to crave meat over anything else and whose only intolerances were to certain plant-based foods. Meanwhile, there was a growing trend toward paleo and keto diets, while grains and other carbs were increasingly seen as unhealthy.
Today, as the father of a 16-year-old, I’m increasingly aware of my impact on the environment and the burdens our children will inherit. I realize I had been trying not to think about the downsides of large-scale meat production, which is among the most destructive of human activities. I read a study that estimated that if the whole world wanted to consume like Americans (not just meat but all the other stuff, too), we would need the resources of eleven Earths.
I’ve found myself in the middle of the complex intersection of nutrition, industry, environment, ethics, and politics – and I no longer have an easy answer to the question of whether people should or shouldn’t eat meat.
On the pros side, many people feel healthiest when meat is part of their diet. Some have numerous sensitivities to plant foods, eggs, and dairy products, and meat is one of the few things that sits well in their body. In my opinion, there’s really no arguing with this. Bodies are different and some bodies thrive on meat.
Does this mean everyone thrives on meat? No. Does this mean we need meat to thrive? No, but for some, it may take work and sacrifice to thrive without meat. Does this mean those who do well with meat should have lots of it? No. One of the things the longest-lived cultures of the world have in common is that they all consume small amounts of meat (or none at all).
On the cons side, large scale farming often entails mistreatment of animals and the destruction of irreplaceable resources (rainforest, water, endangered species, etc). It directly contributes to climate change. Numerous studies claim that a high meat diet may increase one’s risk of certain cancers and ischemic heart disease. In contrast, plant foods are rich in fiber and other nutrients, and contain valuable phytochemicals with a wide range of health benefits.
With just a few exceptions, production of animal-based foods is much more resource-intensive than production of plant-based foods. Raising meat animals (especially mammals) has a massive carbon footprint – both through greenhouse gases and deforestation (we need trees to sequester carbon like giant sponges). Meat production is also a source of nasty new viruses (e.g., bird flu and possibly COVID) and a major cause of antibiotic-resistant “supergerms.” 70 to 80 percent of the world’s antibiotics are administered to farm animals, and this is often done in a “preventive” way that’s totally unnecessary.
Animal welfare regulations have gotten a little better in the past few decades, but in the “factory farms” where about 95% of our food supply originates – humanity is not a priority. Are there exceptions? Definitely. Look for products from humanely-raised animals and get to know local farms. Because raising animals with compassion requires more space, the price is usually higher – but isn’t it worth compensating farmers for giving animals a more natural and dignified existence?
We can’t expect the rest of the world to bear the burden of our colossal rate of meat consumption. We must eat less meat and also change the way we produce animal products to make them more sustainable. Intentional animal husbandry is more eco-friendly and can even restore poor land. But such practices represent a tiny minority of total agriculture and simply can’t be scaled to meet current meat demand. Can plant farming be destructive too? Absolutely, though not on the same scale as meat production. We need to make all agriculture more sustainable.
Does the world need to go vegan? I don’t believe so. I have seen sustainable global diet models that allow for some meat, egg, and dairy consumption, but we do need to shift to a primarily plant-based diet if we endeavor to feed everyone and maintain a viable planet. We should also be open to lower-impact meat options, like insects and lab-grown meat. It doesn’t help that several states have already banned lab-grown meat, ostensibly in an effort to protect farmers.
If you care about these issues – health, animal welfare, the environment, hunger, etc. – I encourage you to read more and challenge your assumptions. Many of our habits are only tolerable through a collective practice of willful ignorance. (The food industry depends on it.) What are you putting out of your mind in order to not feel conflicted? Imagine how good you’d feel without that inner conflict.
As I see it, the global solution depends on a large-scale willingness to be uncomfortable. It will help us avoid even greater discomfort in the future. This may mean being honest with ourselves about the cost of our choices; seeking out more sustainable options even if they’re less convenient, less tasty, or more expensive; and growing or buying more food from local sources.
What’s your story? What are your solutions? What changes are you willing to make? Share with us in the comments section below.
Take care,
Dr. Peter Borten