Is red meat REALLY bad for us?
Red meat has a bad reputation. They say eating red meat is bad for the environment, bad for your health, and bad on an ethical note too. But is it really? In this article, we will take a page from the book ‘Sacred Cow’ written by registered Dietitian Diana Rodgers, RD and Robb Wolff; we will discuss the argument for meat consumption and how red meat, may actually be much healthier, and much more environmentally friendly than we think!
It doesn’t matter where you look, study after study will tell you there is a major correlation between red meat consumption and the increased risk of heart disease. The problem with that however, is that correlation is NOT the same as causation. Most people don’t realize that correlation simply implies an association. Therefore, red meat is guilty by association, but it is not the culprit. There are actually NO studies that suggest causation. Studies suggest correlation only.
Understanding Correlation
A good analogy to understand correlation is to say that you can see by the graph below that there is a correlation between ice cream consumption and the increase of murder rates. So, does that imply that if you eat ice cream you will end up murdering someone? No! Of course not. That is absolutely ludicrous. What about the correlation between a pirate short and global warming? Can we stop global warming if we had more pirates on our oceans? … Yet another correlation that is completely insane. Just like the arguments against red meat.
My point is, correlation does not lead to causation — and all these studies we see regarding red meat all stipulate correlation only. Find me one study that discusses a direct causation. I dare you… I’ll wait.
Wait, you can’t? Why am I not surprised! They just don’t exist.
We Need a Villain!
See, red meat is vilified simply because we need someone to take the fall. And it’s easy to make a case against red meat both environmentally and ethically. We can’t actually blame what is bad for us (which in in fact, sugar and processed food) because in Canada alone, those corporations make billions of dollars a year and can lobby like no other.
There is however, plenty of anecdotal evidence that a carnivore diet is actually quite good for us. I myself have spent months on a carnivore diet experimenting — and the results I experienced were mind blowing. I felt amazing. I had boat loads of energy, and the best mental clarity. I slept like a baby at night. My sugar cravings completely disappeared. I lost so much weight too. And because I wanted to be thorough in my experiment, when I was done, I had bloodwork done to see what “damage” I had caused myself, and amazingly my bloodwork was impeccable! My cholesterol levels were perfect, my blood sugar levels were perfect, my triglycerides were perfect.
But What About the Environment?
This is a touchy subject. First off, I should note that while I am a registered nutritionist, in school, my major was environmental studies. My dissertation was on desertification and arid lands. I can tell you first hand through my research the absolute devastation that monocrop culture is causing our soils. But that is just one aspect of an extremely multi-faceted issue we face with today’s modern agricultural methods.
I want to touch on a couple of arguments against red meat and then, provide you a counter argument that is often not considered in the grand scheme of things.
Cows Fart and Burp a Ton of Methane!
The argument that cows burp and farts are clogging up our atmosphere and are a leading cause of climate change is no new argument. Take a look at this website that spreads some pretty intense misinformation regarding how long methane stays in our atmosphere. The fact is, methane actually has a half life of less than 10 years. So, anything burped out today will no longer be in our atmosphere in 10 years.
Let’s compare that to CO2 for example, which, in a plant-based world is never considered. Yet, it is expelled by your tractors to plow those fields (nevermind all the chemicals sprayed on those fields), and the trucks, trains and boats needed to transport your plants, among other things. CO2 lasts for much longer, upwards of hundreds of years. But plants drink up CO2 in order to live! Yes, they do. But when we are cutting down trees, faster than we are replenishing them (not to mention they take 50 years to grow). The corn field that is now there in place of those trees, will not sequester CO2 like those trees would have!
According to climate.gov discussing CO2 “About half of the CO₂ emitted since 1850 remains in the atmosphere”. If you’re going to act all woke on methane, first check yourself and your own carbon footprint, and that of which you eat and its carbon footprint from cradle to grave before you even start on methane.
Animal Waste Pollutes our Waters!
Well, you’re not wrong there. But that is more of a bad practice than anything. But wait! What about all the chemical pollution being dumped in our waters by the thousands upon thousands of pounds of pesticides that is being sprayed on our crops? They leach into the ground water too. Why aren’t we discussing that?
Better still, let’s discuss how much water we use in today’s agriculture. According to WorldBank.org “Currently, agriculture accounts (on average) for 70 percent of all freshwater withdrawals globally”. That is absolutely insane! Now I know what you are thinking, ‘but a lot of that is also to feed cows!’ Again, you wouldn’t be wrong — which is why I am a firm believer in regenerative farming practices in place of our current cattle lots is the way of the future. But the fact is, eating plants requires significant water loads that we simply cannot sustain.
Factory Farming is Disgusting and Eating Animals is Cruel!
Alright, this is an ethical argument. When it comes to factory farming, I’m 100% with you on that one. I don’t have a rebuttal for that one at all. I do, as previously stated, believe in regenerative farming as it is ethical for both the environment and the animals themselves.
As for eating an animal -that is also an ethical issue and of personal choice. Personally, I see nothing wrong with it. We are not the only species in the world that eats animals. If you came face to face with a bear in the woods, do you think it would stop and go “well, I’m hungry, but you have every right to live like I do.” Hells no! Bears hungry, bears got to eat. That is the way of nature, and we ARE a part of nature. We have lived for Millenia off of meat. It is because of meat that we evolved into what we are now. If not for meat, you wouldn’t be able to stand there with your woke-ass self to proclaim that meat is bad for us.
Truth of the Matter
Despite the bias, the swayed studies, and the intense propaganda, the fact of the matter is that an animal-based diet IS healthy for us. And we haven’t even began to touch on things like desertification, the death of soil microbiomes from agricultural practices, or that of plants, and how they have natural defense mechanisms to make you sick so that you do not eat them.
Again, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence from people who will tell you they have cured everything from Type 2 diabetes, to arthritis, to cancer by consuming an animal-based diet. Many have even claimed improved cognitive abilities. Just google it and you will see a ton of people sharing their personal stories. Our science community is bought and broken. Listen to what the people are saying. We can’t all be wrong!
A Diet Not for Everyone
Listen, I will be the first to tell you that this is not a diet for everyone. Some people will react negatively to animal-based products. Just like some people react to penicillin, or to peanuts. Every BODY is different. Personally, I thrive on a carnivore diet. When it comes to weight loss, overall health, and development there is a real argument for eating a carnivore diet.
Conclusion
If you can stomach it, and if it is in line with your morals and ethics, then I strongly suggest you give a carnivore diet a shot. That, paired with a good workout routine, and you can find yourself in the best shape of your life within six months to a year. It is so hard to read through all the so-called “evidence” on why red meat is bad — but best experiment will be on yourself. And if you’re not sure how to get started, please reach out to me and I can help guide you.
