Greetings! Welcome back. Today we will give you more reasons to choose vegetarianism.
Reasons to Choose Vegetarianism – Continued
(10) Disease from Animals
Eating the flesh of animals is the most prolific source of human disease. Not only does it contribute to the degenerative diseases discussed in a previous chapter, and fill the body with putrefactive bacteria, but often the animals themselves are afflicted with the disease which may be passed on to the consumer.
The prevalence of disease among domestic animals, and the increasing frequency at which these occur among human beings, are of so great importance that it seems best to devote a section of this book to authoritative statements setting forth the existing conditions and the dangers confronting us from this source.
CANCER
It would hardly be air to the reader if we did not include the opinions of several eminent medical authors concerning the relation of the use of meat to the incidence of cancer.
“The best dietetic method of combating a cancerous hereditary tendency is to give up flesh foods entirely, to reduce the quantity of starchy foods and cereals, and to increase to a larger extent the use of salads, fresh vegetables, fruits and oils.”
“What we should do then, if we would avoid cancer, is to eat whole-wheatbread and raw fruits and vegetables, shunning all meat; first, that we may be better nourished; second, that we may more easily eliminate waste products, and thus adequately drain the house in which our cells live.”
“Whoever will correct his diet to a reasonable extent, take reasonable exercise, and keep his digestive tract absolutely clean, need have no fear of cancer.”
“Indigestion and constipation are the starting causes of the diseases of civilization.”
“If you wish to produce cancer with a fair degree of certainty, supply aconstipated subject with plenty of meat, and endeavor to deal with his constipation by means of irritating purgative drugs.”
(11) Not a “Strength” Food as Supposed to Be
A few records of tests are given here. A mass of material could be exhibited because such tests have been numerous. These few will suffice:
(a) Running Test
Race of 125 miles:
Entrants–thirty-two persons, of whom twelve were meat-eaters and twenty were vegetarians.
The race was won by a vegetarian eight hours ahead of the foremost meat-eater. He had been a vegetarian for nine years, and ate two meals daily.
Only three meat-eaters finished in forty-five hours. Ten vegetarians finished in forty-five hours.
(b) Holding the arms extended
Meat-eaters averaged …………………………………………………………………………………. 10 min.
Vegetarians average …………………………………………………………………………………… 49 min.
Longest time held by a meat-eater was…………………………………………………………… 20 min.
(c) Deep knee bending
Meat-eaters average ……………………………………………………………………………………. 383 times
Vegetarians average ……………………………………………………………………………………. 833 times
(d) Arm holding
“The first comparison (for arm holding) shows a great superiority on the side of the flesh-abstainers. Even the maximum record of the flesh-eaters was barely more than half the average for the flesh-abstainers. Only two of the fifteen flesh-eaters succeeded in holding their arms over a quarter of an hour; whereas twenty-two of the thirty-two abstainers surpassed that limit. None of the flesh-eaters reached half an hour, but fifteen of the thirty-two abstainers exceeded that limit. Of these, nine exceeded an hour, four exceeded two fours, and one exceeded three hours.”
(12) Filled with Fatigue
A further explanation of why meat-eaters tire more quickly than vegetarians should be made.
“The chemical changes which occur in muscle tissue during work afford a clear explanation of the diminished endurance of meat-eaters, either animals or men, when compared with vegetable feeders.”
“During contraction, lactic acid is produced in the muscle tissue. While the muscle is relaxing, the acid is neutralized by the alkalies present in the tissue fluids. This enables the muscle to contract again. Later, after relaxation, the lactic acid is burned up by the oxygen of the blood stream. Fatigue begins as soon as the lactic acid begins to accumulate in the muscle.
“It is evident that if the tissue fluids are only slightly alkaline, fatigue will occur sooner than if they are more strongly alkaline, fatigue will occur sooner than if they are more strongly alkaline. The tissue fluids of flesh-eaters are much less
alkaline than those of vegetable feeders, as shown by the fact that the urine of flesh-eaters is always highly acid. This is one of the reasons why mixed feeders invariably show themselves inferior to flesh-abstainers in tests of endurance.”
But that is not all. Not only does the meat hinder the disposal of the lactic acid, but it caries within it the fatigue
wastes of the animal so that the meat-eater adds the weariness of the animal to his own. All animal tissue is wearing out and being rebuilt. These wastes are acid, and will add to the fatigue of the eater. The vegetarian rests five times after than the meat-eater.
(13) A Second-Hand Food
The animal gets the first benefit of the food which came from the earth, and the eater of the animal gets the second-what is left.
Quote to Note:
“Diseased meat is not rare, but common. Every phase of disease is brought into the human system through subsisting upon the flesh of dead animals.” CD 292.4
Don’t forget to come back next week for more lessons in the School of Health! In next week’s class, we have even more reasons to choose vegetarianism. May God Bless!