Being vegan is hard. If you notice, there are qualifiers for the health statements such as "well-planned" and "if appropriate food choices are made". Being lacto ovo vegetarian is much easier and probably has close to the same health benefits and environmental impacts. Regardless, I think everyone should try either one for a while and see what works for you. My family ate meat pretty much every meal growing up so I felt trying veganism was a good experience, but ultimately it didn't work out. I still eat meat but less frequently.
Veganism: An Engineer's Perspective
21–30 of 30 posts
Re: Veganism: An Engineer's Perspective
#22The OP quotes a study that says vegans are at least as healthy as other vegetarians. That's not a comparison to meat eaters and not much of an endorsement. He neglects the recently published study (posted here on HN) that connects vegetarianism with depression and other mental problems. I hate factory farming, too, and was a vegetarian myself for many years for that reason. But animals can be killed for food without…
How is killing a being that doesn't want to die humane? And sadly meat production at the current level without factory farming is even more devastating for the environment if even possible.
Re: Veganism: An Engineer's Perspective
#23The OP quotes a study that says vegans are at least as healthy as other vegetarians. That's not a comparison to meat eaters and not much of an endorsement. He neglects the recently published study (posted here on HN) that connects vegetarianism with depression and other mental problems. I hate factory farming, too, and was a vegetarian myself for many years for that reason. But animals can be killed for food without…
How is killing a being that doesn't want to die humane? And sadly meat production at the current level without factory farming is even more devastating for the environment if even possible.
No being wants to die. That said, much of the animal kingdom (of which we are a part) lives by doing just that. Animals can be raised in kind and happy places and can be killed painlessly.
While I agree with the goal of changing factory farming, I don't think we can fight biology. It's ok if people eat animals. We evolved to do exactly that.
Re: Veganism: An Engineer's Perspective
#24Earlier quoted context omitted.
How is killing a being that doesn't want to die humane? And sadly meat production at the current level without factory farming is even more devastating for the environment if even possible.
No being wants to die. That said, much of the animal kingdom (of which we are a part) lives by doing just that. Animals can be raised in kind and happy places and can be killed painlessly. While I agree with the goal of changing factory farming, I don't think we can fight biology. It's ok if people eat animals. We evolved to do exactly that.
I find it very ironic that we as the dominant species being capable of feats like space travel, worldwide real time communications, eradication of diseases, DNA engineering, nuclear energy and more cannot find another form of nutrition than that of a bear or a baboon.
Re: Veganism: An Engineer's Perspective
#25Earlier quoted context omitted.
No being wants to die. That said, much of the animal kingdom (of which we are a part) lives by doing just that. Animals can be raised in kind and happy places and can be killed painlessly. While I agree with the goal of changing factory farming, I don't think we can fight biology. It's ok if people eat animals. We evolved to do exactly that.
I find it very ironic that we as the dominant species being capable of feats like space travel, worldwide real time communications, eradication of diseases, DNA engineering, nuclear energy and more cannot find another form of nutrition than that of a bear or a baboon.
Eating is pretty basic. I see no reason to deny our basic biology.
Re: Veganism: An Engineer's Perspective
#26I'm diabetic and allergic to legumes. It's nearly impossible for me to get enough protein or complete protein without excessive intake of either legume derived protein or carbs. Beyond that, I like meat and feel that eating meat is part of a natural state of being. I find that factory farming has other issues and most don't eat enough head to tail profile for appropriate nutrition though. Aside: I think another large…
Have you tried spinach and other leafy greens? Loads of protein, fiber and other nutrients. Also you only need the essential amino acids and not whole proteins. All protein is equal as plants contain all the essential amino acids. Also since you have access to the internet and time to post here you probably have never had protein problems (think third world people who are starving). Also too much protein turns into glucose then into fat.
Re: Veganism: An Engineer's Perspective
#27Being vegan is hard. If you notice, there are qualifiers for the health statements such as "well-planned" and "if appropriate food choices are made". Being lacto ovo vegetarian is much easier and probably has close to the same health benefits and environmental impacts. Regardless, I think everyone should try either one for a while and see what works for you. My family ate meat pretty much every meal growing up so I f…
"well-planned" and "if appropriate food choices are made", these statements are there because some people who "try" to go vegan end up eating too little and not enough variety. It would be like trying to survive solely on a limited selection of MREs or solely on sugary cereal at the supermarket. The human body isn't stupid and if you aren't giving it the things it needs then the "diet" your eating (meat or no meat) is bad.
Re: Veganism: An Engineer's Perspective
#28I'm diabetic and allergic to legumes. It's nearly impossible for me to get enough protein or complete protein without excessive intake of either legume derived protein or carbs. Beyond that, I like meat and feel that eating meat is part of a natural state of being. I find that factory farming has other issues and most don't eat enough head to tail profile for appropriate nutrition though. Aside: I think another large…
Have you tried spinach and other leafy greens? Loads of protein, fiber and other nutrients. Also you only need the essential amino acids and not whole proteins. All protein is equal as plants contain all the essential amino acids. Also since you have access to the internet and time to post here you probably have never had protein problems (think third world people who are starving). Also too much protein turns into g…
I think you missed the part where I said I like meat.
Re: Veganism: An Engineer's Perspective
#29I'm diabetic and allergic to legumes. It's nearly impossible for me to get enough protein or complete protein without excessive intake of either legume derived protein or carbs. Beyond that, I like meat and feel that eating meat is part of a natural state of being. I find that factory farming has other issues and most don't eat enough head to tail profile for appropriate nutrition though. Aside: I think another large…
Have you tried spinach and other leafy greens? Loads of protein, fiber and other nutrients. Also you only need the essential amino acids and not whole proteins. All protein is equal as plants contain all the essential amino acids. Also since you have access to the internet and time to post here you probably have never had protein problems (think third world people who are starving). Also too much protein turns into g…
Okay, you try eating 10# of spinach a day for a week and see how you feel. Not to mention how many stores I'd have to go to and the environmental impact of all of that driving in order to get enough.
I would like for you to try for a month of eating vegan, with no pre-processed products with 100g of protein a day, and 50g of balanced fats without any legumes. No peas, beans, lentils. And on top of that, stay under even 100g of carbs and under 20g sugars a day. Note that I stay under 50g total carbs (including fiber) and under 20g net carbs and generally under 5g sugars a day.
By the end of a month, you probably won't want to do it any longer... beyond that, you may lose your job, as it's pretty rough trying to eat 10# of greens a day.
So fuck the righteous, religious zealotry of the cult of vegan.
Re: Veganism: An Engineer's Perspective
#30Earlier quoted context omitted.
Have you tried spinach and other leafy greens? Loads of protein, fiber and other nutrients. Also you only need the essential amino acids and not whole proteins. All protein is equal as plants contain all the essential amino acids. Also since you have access to the internet and time to post here you probably have never had protein problems (think third world people who are starving). Also too much protein turns into g…
Okay, you try eating 10# of spinach a day for a week and see how you feel. Not to mention how many stores I'd have to go to and the environmental impact of all of that driving in order to get enough. I would like for you to try for a month of eating vegan, with no pre-processed products with 100g of protein a day, and 50g of balanced fats without any legumes. No peas, beans, lentils. And on top of that, stay under ev…
You can vote the above down all you like... the fact is, I'd have to eat over 8 pounds of food a day to get a sufficient level of protein a day. I have enough eating the 2-3 pounds of food I typically eat as it is. It's utterly ridiculous. I stated why I eat the way I do, and included that I like meat, and that I really don't care for the religious-like approach that most vegans take.
Only to have that ignored, and for someone to make a suggestion that just doesn't work in any practical way.