It has become more apparent in recent times that meat is taking on somewhat of a villainous role in society. Despite the flurry of negative attention meat receives on a regular basis, it’s important to seek the unbiased truth. This applies to whatever topic it may be. Are there positive studies on meat eating? Is it better for the human body and environment to cut down or eliminate meat? What does the research say?
It’s important when delving into a complicated topic like this to realize how much “science” in the world is manipulated. Unfortunately, unbiased science is more of a rarity than commonplace. Shockingly, more studies have rigged outcomes and financial interest before they even begin. But what do the unpopular studies and historical evidence say, is meat essential for the human body?
Thousands of years across the globe says yes, yet modern studies say no. How can this be? We’ve never seen any culture be healthy and strong for 3-4 generations without any meat or animal-based nutrition. This is because of the level of critical nutrients it supplies that are needed for fertility and proper development. In modern times, vegans and vegetarians have a surplus of supplements to fill in the gap. Despite that, many vegans are experiencing shocking declines in overall health and vitality after only a few short years.
What Does the Research Say on Meat Eating?
Studies on the longevity, life-enhancing merits of cutting out meat have been conflicting. Some show benefits, while others show the opposite. Moreover, the reasons for benefits usually have more to do with lifestyle choices associated with that group than the diet itself. There are some theories as to why the vegan and vegetarian diet falls short in some studies.
An article in the Mechanisms of Aging and Development attempts to understand why the benefits of vegetarianism aren’t more profound. What they found was those who choose to forsake meat eating from their diet will form deficiencies that profoundly influence health. Studies have highlighted the many deficiencies that vegans and vegetarians usually suffer from. Some of the deficiencies include zinc, selenium, B12, B6, niacin, iodine, iron, vitamin D, calcium, DHA, EPA, creatine, and much more.
Certain amino acids that are critical to repair are often missing in vegan and vegetarian diets. In addition, longevity compounds such as carnosine and taurine are deficient in the majority of plant-based diets. A deficiency in carnosine will cause harmful glycation to occur more easily in the body. And guess what food sources contain the highest amount of carnosine? Yep, none other than meat.
Glycation is known to play a role in hypertension, cancer, arterial decay, cataracts, aging, Alzheimer’s, weakened muscles, and much more. It is very dangerous for parents to raise a child on a vegan diet. Even before birth, it is risky if the mother doesn’t receive certain critical elements to proper development. This can be seen with studies that have documented serious deficiencies in children raised on these diets.
The Hong Kong Study
Recently, a study about Hong Kong has turned the vegan and vegetarian health merits upside down. Detailed studies show that people from Hong Kong are among the highest consumers of all types of meat and beef in the world. They undoubtedly qualify as a meat eating culture. Yet, studies show that they have the highest life expectancy in the world! Not only that, but their infant mortality rate is among the lowest!
Obviously, some of these outcomes are a result of factors other than meat eating. But it serves as an example of the inaccuracy of certain studies that have financial interests involved. India on the other hand, which consumes one of the lowest amounts of meat statistically, is way down on the list of life expectancy. In addition, they have a major problem with cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, the number 2 ranked country in the world for longevity, Japan, consumes a very high animal-based diet.
These massive studies are the strongest and most telling on the health outcomes of meat eating cultures. In the meantime, the United States is eating less meat than it has in decades and the life expectancy continues to decline. And when we do, it’s seldomly high-quality beef or chicken. Obviously, there are many other factors that affect that, but it’s a common theme in many countries. Let us reconsider these new trends that go against an established and balanced way of eating for thousands of years.
The millions of gallons of pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides needed to raise crops (yes, even organic) wreak massive havoc on the environment and our health. Not to mention the amount of wildlife that is harmed in the process of creating new fields and water needed. Studies have documented this and it’s worse than many believe. The human body, as well as the environment, are all about balance.