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Ask HN: Ethics of a carnivore diet?

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Re: Ask HN: Ethics of a carnivore diet?

#11

Post by meatythrowaway »

MrVandemar wrote: post #8

I don't know about ethics, as such, but you, as a consumer, can make decisions that are better than others. For example: it's better for your health to eat pasture-raised, free-range animals (and stay well away from feedlot raised). The nutrition profile of the meat is much better. Try buying from a butcher instead of a supermarket, and you'll be supporting a small business and probably get better product. Buy good q…

Thanks, good ideas! I'm definitely interested in how I could invest in some carbon sink to offset the emissions. The idea is an extreme elimination diet for everything else so eating less isn't really a good option since that means my calories would go below maintenance. I'll look into some options on purchasing carbon capture services since I know some of those exist and that can directly offset the impact, do you know any reputable providers who actually do what they say?

Re: Ask HN: Ethics of a carnivore diet?

#12

Post by meatythrowaway »

DoreenMichele wrote: post #10

What exactly is your diagnosis? What autoimmune issues do you have?

That's something pretty personal that I'd prefer to keep between me and my doctor. There's a good chance this won't work and I will be back on a mostly plant-based diet but we are at the point where it is worth trying.

Re: Ask HN: Ethics of a carnivore diet?

#13

Post by meatythrowaway »

annobirdy wrote: post #7

Look this isn't the answer you want but no amount of meat is ethical. A living being has to die and there's no way to justify that that doesn't lean into some kind of cop out supremacist argument. Nutritionally, it's been shown again and again that plant based diets are healthier than meat eating diets. And not just that, but there is actual science to back this up. Compare the science for plant based diets ( https:/…

I'm not contesting that plant based diets are very healthy, it's what I mostly eat now. This is something I'm discussing with a doctor because we are out of other options, think an extreme elimination diet. I am mostly interested in how I can offset the climate impact with less unethical meat sources, carbon capture, other lifestyle changes etc.

FWIW most people don't agree with you on the ethics of killing animals for food. I prefer to minimize suffering where necessary but do not see a problem if that is what a sentient being needs to live. As I said in my post though I hope lab grown meat soon makes killing any animals for food unnecessary.

Re: Ask HN: Ethics of a carnivore diet?

#14

Post by meatythrowaway »

dTal wrote: post #6

Something to keep in mind is that from a purely utilitarian standpoint, eating vegetarian 9 times out of 10 is 90% as good for the planet as doing so 10/10 times. There's no utility bonus for being a gold star vegetarian. So don't feel as if you have to choose between being a "real" vegetarian, and being a full-on carnivore - best effort is better than nothing!

I agree, but this would be an all-meat diet to test effects on my autoimmune issues. If it doesn't work I would be back to mostly plant-based but my doctor and I agree we are out of other ideas.

Re: Ask HN: Ethics of a carnivore diet?

#15

Post by [deleted] »

meatythrowaway wrote: post #12
DoreenMichele wrote: post #10

What exactly is your diagnosis? What autoimmune issues do you have?

That's something pretty personal that I'd prefer to keep between me and my doctor. There's a good chance this won't work and I will be back on a mostly plant-based diet but we are at the point where it is worth trying.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Ethics of a carnivore diet?

#16

Post by scantis »

meatythrowaway wrote: post #4
MathMonkeyMan wrote: post #3

I eat meat, but I doubt I would kill an animal to do so. The carbon footprint of eating meat is a thing, but I don't know... doesn't have the ring of importance. If you think you can treat an autoimmune disorder by eating a lot of meat, then why not try it? Just bear in mind that it is in other ways harmful to your health compared to vegetarianism [citation needed].

I'm just hoping lab grown meat gets big enough soon enough. And I'm definitely aware of the risks. I'll have to be really careful about watching my blood markers and nutrient intake but my doctor agrees and is overseeing and is ordering the appropriate tests. Thankfully I don't have a family history at all of most of the cancers increased meat intake is known to cause.

You sound exactly like a good friend of mine. He is hypochondriac with an orthorexia nervosa. He also suffers from weltschmerz due to environmental concerns. We full heartedly disagree on certain topics, but it is okay and he said I helped him alot.

In my opinion you can not eat yourself healthy and you have way to little impact to be of any concern to this planet.

You can definitely eat yourself sick, so be careful.

Re: Ask HN: Ethics of a carnivore diet?

#17

Post by underdogadmin »

I did this for a month and it was great as far as feeling better. I’m someone who’s had annoying, uncomfortable psoriasis and to be honest it was already going away for about 1.5 months prior to starting carnivore. This was the only diet that I was able to stick to after 5 days of an adjustment period. Bulletproof coffee, athletic greens, vitamin d and turmeric supplements along with the meat meals usually cooked with duck fat and decent quality salt. Try and find coffee that’s not too acidic if you’re a into caffeine. My heartburn/acid reflux went away and skin itching regressed as well. I also didn’t crash throughout the day and my sleep was great. I didn’t think twice about emissions when it came to trying to get my body to a better place. Maybe you can do something passively if you really want to. If you have stubborn autoimmune issues you may need to keep it going for 3 months to get an accurate read on if you’re improving. Good luck with whatever you end up going with!

Re: Ask HN: Ethics of a carnivore diet?

#19

Post by MrVandemar »

meatythrowaway wrote: post #11
MrVandemar wrote: post #8

I don't know about ethics, as such, but you, as a consumer, can make decisions that are better than others. For example: it's better for your health to eat pasture-raised, free-range animals (and stay well away from feedlot raised). The nutrition profile of the meat is much better. Try buying from a butcher instead of a supermarket, and you'll be supporting a small business and probably get better product. Buy good q…

Thanks, good ideas! I'm definitely interested in how I could invest in some carbon sink to offset the emissions. The idea is an extreme elimination diet for everything else so eating less isn't really a good option since that means my calories would go below maintenance. I'll look into some options on purchasing carbon capture services since I know some of those exist and that can directly offset the impact, do you k…

I haven't looked into it I'm afraid. However, if any of what you're looking at is tree planting, remember:

* "Planting a tree" implies a mature tree in 20 years time. Actually, it means someone dug a hole and put a seedling in it, that may well die in 3 months time if not cared for or planted in a place where it will survive.

* Some carbon capture are basically tree plantations, which after n years, will cease to be carbon storage and suddenly become newspulp and then landfill.

* Tree plantations are not habitat or an ecosystem - they are monocultures where very little else lives or grows.

Do your research is all I can offer here.

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