by Lj Jaime Cordle

Created on: July 29, 2009

On becoming a vegetarian: pros and cons

First, I must confess I am a vegetarian and have been all of my life. Well, another confession when I was a kid and other kids ate hamburgers, I sometimes also ate one. When I was an adult, looking to advance in the world, and the boss's wife invited me to dinner, I ate whatever was placed before me. These exceptions always made me feel bad, both physically and emotionally.

I am seventy years old. I am very healthy. Personally, I don't know another seventy year old who is in physical condition comparable to mine.

My people were farmers and herders. We kept animals for milk, cheese, butter and eggs. My grandfather loved his animals as much as he loved his family. He was Swiss. As is said of Albert Switzer, my grandfather believed in the sanctity of all life. He didn't even kill insects. He just tried to encourage them to go elsewhere.

We never ate anything that could walk, swim or fly. We had a partnership with the animals which lived with us. We took care of them and they gave us the products which we needed to live.

In addition to milk, cheese and eggs, we ate all manner of fruits and vegetables. My female ancestors were experts in fabricating delicious food from really ugly fruits and vegetables. Has anyone heard of choke cherries? They grow wild in many places. How about crab apples? They are also naturally growing products of wild, open spaces.

When I was a kid in Western Nebraska, sunflower seeds were known as Russian Peanuts. Sunflowers also grew wild in great numbers. We harvested them, roasted them and feasted upon them.

I am not a nutritionist, but the vegetarian life must be healthy because all of my people live long and healthy lives.

None of my wives were vegetarians when I met them. I will admit that this was a bit of a problem for me. I always had doubts regarding kissing a non vegetarian girl.

But all of them became essentially vegetarian after we were together for a while. They all confessed that they felt better and much more healthy after they stopped eating meat.

Not all of my children most of whom are grown and on their own - are strict vegetarians but they lean in that direction. They, too, tell me that they feel better when they adhere to a vegetarian diet.

For me the question is not one of religion, nor philosophy, nor morals. It is a question of health. I believe that eating meat is damaging to human health. Vegetarians usually have better teeth. Their breath smells better. They have fewer digestive problems. They live longer.

Are there important negative aspects to being a vegetarian? I don't believe so. The negative aspects are social and trivial.

Are there positive aspects to being a vegetarian? Absolutely! The most important is your health. Become a vegetarian. You will love it!

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