Do you ever hear your parents talk about their cholesterol level? Many adults in this country are obsessed with getting their cholesterol level to come down. If it’s too high, it means you’re eating too many animal products. A high cholesterol level means your arteries are full of gunk, which can be scary because it can cause a heart attack. The best way to keep your cholesterol down and to help your heart is to go vegetarian—it’s even called “The Healthy Heart Diet.”

Parents talk a lot about fiber, too. “Got to get more fiber into my diet,” they might say. Well, they aren’t going to get it in meat because it has ZERO fiber. None. Fiber is important in preventing cancer. If you don’t eat enough of it, you’re more likely to get cancer.

Have you ever heard of E. coli or salmonella? No, they’re not the names of the latest Pokemon characters. They’re tiny organisms that get into food and cause awful problems. Cramps and diarrhea are just the beginning—both of these kinds of bacteria can make you wind up in the hospital. When you hear about them in the news, it’s usually because people have become sick from eating animal products that have been infected with E. coli or salmonella. The best defense against ’em? Stay away from meat and eggs.

Meat and the Earth »