Fruitarian | Fruitarian Diet

Have you ever given some thought into the way animals, such as chickens, are raised for human consumption?  Chickens that are raised for human consumption aren’t treated very well.  In fact, if you think about it, just the thought of raising an animal for the primary purpose of being slaughtered and eaten is rather unsettling.  Still, many people seem to remain oblivious to the inhumane way in which chickens are treated.  If only more people will take into consideration such truths, then there would probably be more people on vegetarian diets.  Read on to learn more about how chickens are raised for human consumption.

Living conditions

Chickens that are raised for human consumption have rather poor living conditions.  In many farms, up to six chickens are stuffed into a single cage.  As a result, each chicken gets less than 70 square inches of space throughout their entire lifetime.  Seventy square inches is practically nothing compared to the large fields that wild chickens are used to.  Furthermore, chickens are often treated with little care or sensitivity, probably because of the fact that they are just being raised as a source of food.  Chickens are usually grabbed by the neck and thrown into their cages, cages that aren’t exactly the cleanest or most sanitary places to live in.

Hormones and antibiotics

Aside from the poor living conditions that chickens are often raised in, they are also treated with hormones and antibiotics to speed up the growth process and increase their resistance to diseases.  Chickens are often pumped full of such hormones and antibiotics to the point that they no longer have a taste.  Only chickens that are organic, natural, or free-range raised aren’t given hormones and antibiotics.  If you think about it, the recommendations for handling, cleaning, and cooking poultry are quite strict.  You usually have to clean your hands well after handling poultry, and any of the surfaces that have had chicken on them have to be cleaned very well to avoid a transfer of bacteria.  So, why would you want to have something so dirty in your mouth and in your body?  With the way chickens are treated and raised, it’s a wonder why more people aren’t on vegetarian diets.  Vegetarian diet foods are much cleaner and healthier than chickens and other forms of meat.  So before you bite into that fried chicken or baked turkey, put some thought into what you are putting into your body and how these animals are treated.

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We often hear or read stories about the unethical and inhumane treatment of animals.  The problem is, however, not many people are actually moved enough to get out of their chairs and make a difference.  Part of the reason for this complacency is because many people feel like they can’t really make a difference in the situation.  The truth is, every person’s actions count.  Whether it is something as simple as decreasing your consumption of meat or adhering to a strict vegetarian diet, it really does make a difference towards the cause of animal rights.  One of the biggest organizations that fight for animal rights and the ethical treatment of animals is the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA.

The plight of man and animal

Animals are mistreated for many different reasons.  Some are hunted down for the “sport” of hunting, while others are pursued for their skins, tusks, or other parts of their bodies, which can be sold on black markets for large amounts of money.  Oftentimes, these animal parts are turned into statues, trinkets, or used in the creation of garments and accessories.  From leather and alligator-skin shoes to fur coats and snake-skin bags, it seems as though man tries to find any excuse to turn animals into a consumer item.  Aside from hunting animals for profit, another way that man mistreats animals is by using them in scientific experiments, hence the term “guinea pig.”  Rather than respecting animals as co-inhabitants of the earth, it seems as though man is trying to exert his will on animals to prove his “superiority” over them.

The role of PETA

The main mission of PETA is to fight for the rights of animals and to expose inhumane and unethical acts against animals.  The organization believes that we should take another look into the way that we treat animals and how we often use them to do as we please.  It’s important for us to realize that we are not the only living beings on the planet that deserve care, sensitivity, and respect.  We need to take heed of the causes that PETA is fighting for, so that we can realize just how important animals are to us, to our environment, and to the world that we live in.

Photo Credit : coolzor

Although it’s rather common for people to go on a vegetarian weight loss plan or a vegetarian fitness diet, it isn’t very often that you meet pure vegetarians.  Many people nowadays grow up eating meat and other animal products as a regular part of their diet.  The problem is, a diet that is full of meat may increase your risk of getting numerous medical complications and it can make you feel rather sluggish in comparison with a vegetarian diet.  If you have thought about becoming a vegetarian, but you can’t really make up your mind, consider some of the following information about how vegetarianism can have a positive effect on your life and your health.

The positive effects of vegetarianism

A diet that is primarily comprised of meat can increase your blood pressure, cholesterol level, and your risk of getting heart problems and diabetes.  On the other hand, a vegetarian diet can help to reverse these problems and, in effect, strengthen your body against such complications.  Not only are vegetables, nuts, fruits, grains, legumes, and other vegetarian foods healthy, but they also aid in increasing your energy levels.  Meats can be heavy and fatty, causing you to feel sluggish and tired; a vegetarian diet on the other hand can help you feel well-nourished and energized.

The truth about food

If you think about it, the truth about food is that it acts as a fuel for your body.  Without food, your body will slowly begin to shut down, because you don’t have enough energy to keep your bodily functions going.  More than just feeding your body with the fuel it needs, however, you should think about feeding your body with the right type of fuel.  Eating foods that make you feel clean, energized, and healthy can greatly increase your body’s performance.  If you want to feel like your body is truly getting the nutrition and energy that it needs, then you may want to consider giving vegetarianism a try.  You don’t even have to rush it.  You can start out by increasing the portions of vegetarian foods and decreasing the portions of meat in your diet.  See if you can feel the difference; maybe it will help you shift to a healthier diet and a healthier way of life.

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In this day and age, many cultures have come to accept and embrace meat as a staple food source.  In fact, meat has become such a regular part of the human diet that many of the meals we have during celebrations and holidays consist of meat.  Thanksgiving turkeys, Christmas hams, summer barbecues, and New Year pork dishes are just some of the many meaty celebrations that are enjoyed worldwide.  But how did meat become such a regular part of our diet if humans are not naturally designed for consuming meat?

The introduction of meat to our diet

Long before pre-historic man started eating meat, his diet consisted mainly of vegetarian foods.  Plants, nuts, berries, grains, beans, fruits, and other vegetation were the main sources of food for these gatherers and foragers.  Humans first started eating meat out of necessity.  In areas where vegetation was scarce, primitive man needed to look for other food sources, so he turned to meat.  Meat provided early humans with a source of fat and, in turn, energy to survive and thrive even in the most barren landscapes.

From necessity to luxury

Man first turned to meat out of necessity, but it was understood that, in order to get meat, they needed to take the life of an animal.  For this reason, meat was often viewed as a privilege and a blessing.  In fact, many cultures view the process of killing an animal, cooking it, and consuming it as a spiritual act.  Meat quickly became associated with feasts, celebrations, and rituals.  Clans, tribes, and families would slowly shift from a purely vegetarian diet, consisting of a hunting-gathering nature, to a more carnivorous diet that was centered more on hunting.  Because clans and tribes would often hunt together, so too would the preparation and eating of the meat be a social activity.  Today, although many of us no longer have to hunt for our own meat, we still view meat as an important part of social celebrations.

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Long before man started eating meat, humans depended on vegetation as a staple diet.  Grains, nuts, fruits, and plants were part of the natural diet of man.  Today, most people are omnivorous and only become a vegetarian for weight loss purposes.  A vegetarian weight loss diet is a far cry from the way things used to be, when man was a natural vegetarian and existed in harmony with other animals and with the earth, in general.  So what happened along the way?  Why did humans suddenly start eating meat?

It’s all about necessity

As we all know, eating is a basic necessity and without eating, anyone would surely die within weeks.  The first humans to shift from an all-vegetarian diet to one that contained meat were forced to do so for survival purposes.  Some parts of the earth, especially those that have frigid or extremely hot temperatures, have far too little vegetation to sustain life on a vegetarian diet alone.  For this reason, man was forced to turn to animal meat as a source of food, energy and, essentially, life.

Making the switch

Switching from a purely vegetarian diet to an omnivorous diet must have been very difficult on man.  Unlike switching from an omnivorous diet to a vegetarian weight loss diet, eating meat for the first time can cause complications in the digestive system.  In fact, most people who are vegetarians for a long time cannot stand the taste of meat and they often become ill or throw up if they try eating meat again.  One can only imagine how it felt for man to eat meat for the very first time, especially during the pre-historic ages, when food preparation wasn’t as developed as it is today.  The truth is, man isn’t really designed to eat meat, but we adapted to it as a matter of necessity and, in most cultures today, it has become an accepted norm for people to eat meat.

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These days, you often hear people talking about going on a vegetarian fitness diet or having a vegetarian weight loss plan.  Every now and then, you might even come across a few full-fledged vegetarians.  The fact of the matter is, many of the people in today’s society are omnivorous, eating vegetables and fruits alongside animal meat.  Things weren’t always this way, however.  While the vegetarian weight loss plan and the vegetarian fitness diet have become rather popular amongst health buffs and those who want a cleaner and healthier diet, humans are actually natural vegetarians.

A look at the human design

Have you ever thought of the design of the human body and what it says about our diet?  The human design is actually more suited towards a diet based on vegetables and fruits.  Humans don’t have large fangs and teeth that are made for tearing and ripping flesh.  In fact, a quick look in the mirror will show you that most of the teeth in your mouth are flat and rounded, because they are designed to chew.  This proves that humans are actually designed to eat softer foods, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and other natural foods that you would find in a vegetarian diet.

A history steeped in hunting and gathering

Another clue into what the natural diet of man is comes from the natural diet of pre-historic man.  Naturally, man did not start out by killing animals and eating their flesh.  History shows that man actually evolved from foraging and gathering vegetables, nuts, and fruits.  It was only after man discovered how to craft tools, make weapons, and create fire that our diet slowly started to shift towards a more carnivorous leaning.  If you think about it, hunting down animals requires some thinking and planning, which makes it far less natural than gathering and foraging vegetation.

So, what does this all mean?  Well, before you chow down on that next burger, you may want to give some thought into the natural diet of man, his natural design and how that has changed throughout the course of history.  You may come to the realization that we are actually designed to eat a more healthful, more nutritious, and more natural vegetarian diet.

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A significant part of understanding your health and the condition of your body has to do with understanding the age-old adage, “you are what you eat.”  Of course, the saying isn’t to be taken completely literally, but there really is a noticeable connection between what you eat and the overall state of your body.  For this reason, it’s important for people to realize just how crucial it is to watch what they eat.

The effects of a bad diet

Having a bad diet or making bad food choices can have a negative effect on the body.  A diet that’s high on fat and cholesterol directly affects your body by clouding your blood plasma and increasing the risk of disease and illness.  Some of the complications that one can get from a bad diet include high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems, and various types of cancer.  One of the ways to veer away from such health problems is to change to a vegetarian healthy diet.

The effects of a vegetarian healthy diet

Eating a healthy, vegetarian diet can help to improve and strengthen your body and reduce the risk of health complications.  In fact, it has been proven that those who adhere to a vegetarian diet are generally more healthy than those who are omnivorous.  Plan a vegetarian diet, stick to it, and you can enjoy some of these great benefits:
-  Lower cholesterol levels
-  Reduced risk for diabetes
-  Reduced risk for cancer
-  Leaner body with less fat
-  Good blood pressure level
-  More savings on medication costs because of your improved health

Plan a vegetarian diet

Aside from the numerous advantages mentioned above, another good reason to plan a vegetarian diet is to give yourself an overall, healthy feeling.  Take some time to assess your diet and see what changes you can make to fit in more vegetables and fruits.  Doing so can help you feel more energetic, fitter and, as a result, more confident about yourself.

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