Why I Eat It
Why eliminate animals from our plate?
1. Health – A vegan diet reduces the risk of heart disease by 40%, cancer by 19%, and diabetes by 60%
How many die each year in the USA from diseases primarily caused by eating non-vegan diets?
Heart Disease - 647,000 (1 in 4 of ALL deaths!)
Type 2 Diabetes - 80,000
Colon Cancer - 53,000
Kidney Disease - 47,000 (high blood pressure and diabetes are caused by eating unhealthy food, leading to kidney disease)
2. Environment – Land use, water depletion, climate change, respiratory inorganics, marine water eutrophication, and freshwater eutrophication are affected by up to 84 percent less by a plant-based diet when compared to one that included animal products.
3. Animal Cruelty – Why does a sweet, sentient animal have to die because of its flavor? Animals deserve life, not mistreatment followed by death. How many love their own house animal but eat murdered animals?
4. Added sugar and oil are both toxic for the body. Eat unlimited fruit, nature’s candy, for a sweet treat.
In September of 2015, I became a nutrition teacher for the non-profit, the Coalition for Healthy School Food. I taught fifteen classes of second, third, fourth and fifth graders about eating better in four different schools in Harlem, the South Bronx and Crown Heights. The Coalition does heroic work because our young people are fed addictive unhealthy foods by their schools, government and neighborhood stores. Young children suffer from a diet heavy in candy, soda and processed food.
The first step in my training was taking an online Cornell University class called "Plant Based Nutrition." During the course, I found out about the health hazards, environmental destruction and ethical violations that result from eating meat, dairy and eggs. By October of 2015, I was eating plants exclusively.
My energy level and medical test results have both greatly improved.
Factory farming emits as many pollutants as Big Oil.
“As the numbers of farm animals reared for meat, egg, and dairy production increase, so do emissions from their production. By 2050, global farm animal production is expected to double from present levels. The environmental impacts of animal agriculture require that governments, international organizations, producers, and consumers focus more attention on the role played by meat, egg, and dairy production. Mitigating and preventing the environmental harms caused by this sector require immediate and substantial changes in regulation, production practices, and consumption patterns.”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2367646/
I am delighted that we are moving in the direction of saving animals' lives, healing our planet & providing healthy foods for our cells that are drowning in sugar, fat & salt on the Standard American Diet (SAD)!
A hat tip to Chefs Matthew Kenney (6 vegan palaces of deliciousness) & Ravi DiRossi (9 vegan hotspots) who are vegan leaders in their NYC restaurants.
6% of Black people are trailblazing as the fastest growing demographic of vegans in the USA. 3% of Americans overall are vegan.
I've been without meat, dairy or eggs for 6 healthy, delectable and planet healing years.
I've never eaten better or felt better. Try eating only plants for 2 weeks. Check out the NutritionFacts.org and the Daily Dozen app for guidance.
Good Links:
How to Eliminate 90 Percent of Heart Disease Risk
What do Eggs do to our Arteries
Doctors Group Petitions FDA To Require Breast Cancer Warning Label on Cheese
Carcinogens in the Smell of Frying Bacon
The Effects of Hormones in Dairy Milk on Cancer
Do Vitamin D Supplements Reduce the Risk of Dying from Cancer?
Dr. Milton Mills works in the most underpaid and the most overpaid zip codes in Washington DC, practicing in two hospitals in Washington DC. In this video, Dr. Mills speaks about the topic, "Are humans designed to eat meat?"
Does honey collecting harm our bee friends?
Indeed! Check this out.
Migraines end with a plant based diet.
Yes, we have Two Brains
A plant based diet including fermented foods produces good Gut Bacteria determines mood and health, & probiotics, 70% of antibiotics are used in animal agriculture.
Vitamin D extends our life span. Take a supplement (around 2000 IU each day) or be in the sun 15 minutes each day.
vs.
Real Plant Soy eating (edamame, tofu, etc.) halves the rate of breast cancer, 30% less endometrial cancer, improves menopausal symptoms, and protects bone health by preventing bone loss, reducing fractures, and increasing bone mass
Ulcers cured by cabbage juice
NIH study from 1949
San Quentin Prison Study from 1956
Colon Cancer connected to eating Animal Products
Acid Reflux cured by apple cider vinegar + water (For this one, no studies have been conducted. The evidence is anecdotal, including my story.)
Climate Change , our diets' impact on the environment
9,000,000 global hunger deaths per year
The dangers of acid reflux drugs
Cultural impacts of plant based diets
Alcohol is a Group One Carcinogen
Socio-Emotional Benefits of Plant Based Foods
Do religious people live longer?
Dairy causes breast cancer and is liquid meat.
Is there an emotional benefit to eating comfort foods?
Jenne Claiborne's Sweet Potato Soul food cooking & recipe web channel
Is being vegan classist?
What are the emotional benefits of spending time with people we love?
Capitalism and the plant based diet
Fastest growing demographic of vegans are African Americans.
Fried foods are carcinogenic (Note: this article is about prostate cancer, but fried foods cause other cancers too.)
Dairy protein can be used to turn cancer on or off
