The Six Reasons I Became a Vegetarian
By: Jim Buchanan
It didn't happen overnight, in fact it was about a three year journey. First I gave up red meat but continued with poultry and fish. Next, I gave up poultry but continued with fish. Finally, I gave up all forms of meat and now, four years later, my diet is plant based whole foods and some cheese occasionally.
Here are the 6 reasons why I made this journey, and why I know I will never go back.
I started to question my diet due to my overall health issues and the long history of heart disease in my family. Reading The Omnivore's Dilemma and The China Study definitely got me going down the path for health reasons.
Once I started to eliminate meat from my diet, I was able to stop taking prescription medications for high cholesterol and heart burn. Today, I don't need any medications of any kind.
I was able to lose 20 pounds and easily keep that weight from returning. The picture above is proof!
I have the energy level of someone less than half my age.
My spiritual growth over the past four years has led me to a belief that all sentient beings are part of the same Spirit of God that I am. Animals don't deserve to die anymore than I do!
There is a lot of science out now that validates the fact that the single most significant thing we can do to help the environment is to become vegetarian. A couple of supporting facts:
The 17 Billion animals that are raised for food around the world contribute more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere than all cars and trucks combined!
Raising livestock for food consumes 10-50 times more water than the equivalent amount of plant-based food.
Livestock contributes harmful waste, hormones and antibiotics to the watershed.
Livestock takes valuable forest land which would not be needed in a plant-based world.