The recent massive recall of beef contaminated with E. coli makes one wonder what’s next. Most stories focus on how to properly cook meat and the other precautions one should take to avoid E. coli and other diseases associated with meat. Few stories discuss making the logical switch to vegetarianism.
According to a study published in Prevention Magazine, meat eaters cost the nation more than $60 billion extra in health costs every year, compared to what it would cost if they were vegetarians. And that’s just counting the increased costs from heart disease, cancer, hypertension, diabetes, gallstones, obesity-related musculo-skeletal problems and food-borne illness. Meat is also a contributing factor in osteoporosis, hypoglycemia, asthma, irritable colon, trichinosis, peptic ulcers, hemorrhoids, constipation, salmonellosis and diverticulosis.
Eating animal products also causes environmental destruction and horrific animal suffering. In England, “mad cow” disease has spread like wildfire, boring tiny holes in the brains of cattle. But as Americans continue to eat meat in spite of all of the overwhelming reasons not to, you have to wonder if cows aren’t the only ones with holes in their heads!
