Why do we eat meat?
There are deeper reasons for humans eating meat than simply for protein and nutrients. Over time, the human body has evolved to be able to handle just about anything edible. There has been much research, and it has been confirmed that humans are now omnivores, meaning that we can eat both plants and meat. Although there are no problems in digesting meat, there are many moral questions to think about (Shute, 2012).
Moral issues
There are many arguments and objections regarding whether eating another creature that was once alive is morally acceptable. 96% of American adults consume meat every day, and that number is constantly rising (Tierney, 2018).
Some say that it is our moral duty as the dominant species, and so we are superior to other animals. Many also believe that eating meat even benefits both sides, which is completely wrong. There is multiple evidence to back up this argument.
- Unnecessary animals suffering
Animals never volunteered to be turned into food. They, although they may not be as intelligent as humans, they still have emotions and have the right to be as free as possible. When we kill them, whether humanely or not, animals’ lives are end much faster and meaninglessly than what they could have been. Even animals used for other uses such as being selected chickens for eggs, still do not have enough space to move around or contact with other animals or the outside world, and they have to watch as their children get carried to be sold (Pickles, 2017).
- Planetary environments
Livestock accounts for approximately 20% of the current greenhouse gas emission. They also contribute to water degradation, biodiversity loss, acid rain, and deforestation. This means that breeding animals and holding them as livestock can seriously harm humans, too (Pickles, 2017).
- Massive resource consumption
To produce one kilogram of beef, roughly 25 kilograms of grain to feed the animal and 15,000 liters of water is needed. Even though pork and chicken require less, this is still a tremendous amount. This scale is even bigger when considering the fact that more than 30% of Earth’s land is being used for livestock farming. Food and water are scarce in many countries, this is a very inefficient way of using resources (Pickles, 2017).
- Unhealthy consequences
More than 23,000 people die every year from resistant bacteria. It has been proven that eating meat increases the chances of experiencing heart diseases, strokes, diabetes, and various cancers. While a small amount of meat seems to be mostly fine, many people eat double or even triple the recommended amount in high-income countries (Pickles, 2017).
Conclusion
Eating meat has become a part of most people’s lives, in both the mind and on plates. It seems so natural that most do not question it. It is impossible eliminate meat consumption overnight, but we can reduce the amount of meat we eat each day and incorporate more vegetables and other healthy, non-meat ingredients into every meal.
References
Pickles, M. (2017). The ethical arguments against eating meat | University of Oxford. [online] www.ox.ac.uk. Available at: https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/arts-blog/ethical-arguments-against-eating-meat [Accessed 6 May 2023].
Shute, N. (2012). For Most Of Human History, Being An Omnivore Was No Dilemma. [online] NPR.org. Available at: https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/04/20/150817741/for-most-of-human-history-being-an-omnivore-was-no-dilemma [Accessed 6 May 2023].
Tierney, T. (2018). Meat consumption is only going up. [online] Bizjournals.com. Available at: https://www.bizjournals.com/bizwomen/news/latest-news/2018/11/meat-consumption-is-only-going-up.html?page=all [Accessed 6 May 2023].
