Red Meat: Worse Than You Might Think
February 26, 2020
Cholesterol in Red Meat
July 23, 2020
While we don’t know for sure which species passed the COVID-19 coronavirus to humans, the consensus is that the virus originated at a wet market in China where animals of ever shape, size and kind are sold for human consumption.
This is not surprising since coronaviruses typically originate in animals. SARS-CoV was linked to civet cats, and MERS-CoV was linked to camels.
And it is not just coronaviruses that originate in animals. Ebola was passed to humans from bats. Swine flu originated in pigs. HIV likely jumped from monkeys to the humans who consumed their flesh.
In fact, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 75 % of emerging infectious illnesses come from animals.
And infection is not the only problem associated with eating animals.
This is not surprising since coronaviruses typically originate in animals. SARS-CoV was linked to civet cats, and MERS-CoV was linked to camels.
And it is not just coronaviruses that originate in animals. Ebola was passed to humans from bats. Swine flu originated in pigs. HIV likely jumped from monkeys to the humans who consumed their flesh.
In fact, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 75 % of emerging infectious illnesses come from animals.
And infection is not the only problem associated with eating animals.
Many lifestyle-related diseases that burden our healthcare systems are related to the animal products we eat.
For example, World Health Organization has classified the consumption of processed red meat as “carcinogenic to humans,” putting it in the same category as smoking and exposure to asbestos, radon and radiation.
There are also the health risks of climate change to consider. The heat-trapping methane from our planet’s 1.4 billion cows is warming our atmosphere at an astounding rate. The warmer weather from climate chance will increase the risk of the vector-borne illnesses like malaria, dengue fever, and West Nile virus infection.
There are so many reasons to give up red meat that it is a proverbial “no-brainer” to do so. If you have not done so already, consider jumping on the bandwagon and giving up red meat for good: your good and the good of our planet.
For example, World Health Organization has classified the consumption of processed red meat as “carcinogenic to humans,” putting it in the same category as smoking and exposure to asbestos, radon and radiation.
There are also the health risks of climate change to consider. The heat-trapping methane from our planet’s 1.4 billion cows is warming our atmosphere at an astounding rate. The warmer weather from climate chance will increase the risk of the vector-borne illnesses like malaria, dengue fever, and West Nile virus infection.
There are so many reasons to give up red meat that it is a proverbial “no-brainer” to do so. If you have not done so already, consider jumping on the bandwagon and giving up red meat for good: your good and the good of our planet.
