I became a vegan primarily for health reasons but have been obviously persuaded by moral ideas around eating animals. However i still struggle when people begin to argue wtih me (as they do and always will do when you are vegan!) about sustainably farmed animals such as grass fed beef, and free range organic chickens etc. I have been having trouble finding a legitimate base to answer around, except that i dont find it right to ever kill animals, which i sometimes find as not realistic for the whole world! shoudl we be promotoing these practices for others? or is there something about even this industry i have yet to learn?

Hey Rebecca, these are a few things you could tell your friends. PS I paraphrased all of this from Alicia's book! She knows what she's talking about!!!
     Even grass fed beef and free range chickens still have to be slaughtered. In this process, no matter what, the animals are terrified. The people behind these companies don't care, they are just killing them off fast and effectively. Anyways, when an animal (or human) is scared they produced the hormones cortisol and adrenaline which increases their heart rates, makes the animals on edge, and defensive. When the amounts of these hormones are high in the animals when they are slaughtered, the amount of the hormones in the blood flow through the muscles and fat. That's the meat that humans are eating. People who eat meat report feeling on edge and stressed out like 100x more than vegans. SO moral of the story is, even if the animals are grass fed or cage free, they are still slaughtered which is why meat is horrible for humans.
     Another point to add is this: Think of what would happen if you took a piece of cooked meat and laid it in the sun for 3 days. Think of how disgustingly moldy, and bacteria ridden it would be. Now imagine this: The internal temperature of the average human body is between 96-98 degrees. It takes about 3 days for our bodies to digest anything completely. SO that piece of meat sitting in the sun for 3 days is the exact same thing as sitting in our digestive track for 3 days. Remember how disgusting the meat would be after that third day? All of that bacteria is now in our bodies. That's what it's like when humans eventually pass it. People wonder why they get colon cancer, stomach cancer, or intestinal cancer. The meat has an enormous effect on this.

Hope this helps, you should really read Alicia's book :)

Xoxo
Alexis

My husband (who knew 21 years ago when he married me that I was vegan) believes that cows etc., are raised for the sole purpose to be eaten by humans. I am vegan because I do not believe that. Or that we have that right.  I don't care how "humanely" they are raised and slaughtered or what others might think of my food choices because at the end of the day my choices bring me peace.

I haven't read The Kind Diet yet, it is on its way from Amazon, but I am currently reading "The China Study" by Dr. T. Colin Campbell. 
In the first 4 chapters alone you will be convinced to never eat meat again. Not because of animal cruelty, but because of health reasons.  This man, along with other collegaues of his that he talks about in the book, go into grave detail about why they believe animal protein causes many of the health problems that plague us today, such as; Heart Disease, Diabetes, Cancer, allergies, ect.
The findings are ASTOUNDING!!!
AN ABSOLUTE MUST READ!!!!!!

Next time people ask you why you don't eat organic, local, sustainably farmed animals just tell them three words. "The China Study."

I just bought The China Study on Amazon.  I can't wait until it gets here.  It looked really interesting.  Thanks for the suggestion.

Ivana

I think my best comeback is that humans are not anatomically set-up for animal protein.  If anything, we are meant to be opportunistic omnivories but that is even questionable.  If you look at the anatomy of a carnivore they have a large stomachs and short intestines.  Herbivores have small stomachs and long intestines.  WE have small stomachs and long intestines.  We do not have the canines of a carnivore, we have the grinding teeth of an herbiovore.  Our jaws are not strong enough to kill prey or tear flesh and sinew.  The enzymes in our mouths are those to digest plant products, not flesh.  Our fingernails are not strong enough to take down prey.  Tell them to look in any comparative anatomy book and they will see that we are not meant to be carnivores--hence all of the associated problems.

Another point worth mentioning is that there are no enforced government standards for free range or grass fed. Anyone can put that label on their product whether or not it's true, and I'm sure there is a wide range of interpretations of those criteria.

It's still healthier to not eat animals, tell them to check out the China Study as well as McDougall Program for Women and/or any other book by John McDougall (both of these people are not in it for animal rights).

And as far as the animals go, they might have better standards but still at the end of their very short life they are slaughered. Tell them to watch Earthlings. Obviously, these are very horrific images and I'm sure they're showing the worst of the industry but really, what is a nice way to kill an animal? I really don't know that there is a truly nice way to kill an animal besides putting them to sleep first which I don't think they can do that for health reasons to the humans that eat them. Either that, or it's just to expensive.

Rebecca & others~~~

I am not a vegetarian. So I am one of the people you are talking about.

Unlike most meat-eaters, I completely understand the reasoning for the vegan / vegetarian life style. However, it is not my personal belief. I do belief there is a natural food chain, although currently it is not used properly.

I think this is one of those times where you'll just have to agree to disagree. I can't imagine how frustrating it is that us meat-eaters question you everytime you tell someone you are vegan. My sister-in-law is a vegetarian & I see her get harrassed all the time. Those people are simply uneducated about your life style.

I'm hoping that people are becoming more aware of where their food comes from & how agricultural processes affect their immediate surroundings.

I know I am probably opening myself up to some questions & lectures about my eating habits. But just as vegans don't like to be questioned about thier lifestyle, meat-eaters do not like to lectured about ours. I do buy from local farmers & ranchers and organic products whenever they are available.

I hope I shed some light into the "meat-eating" world. Good luck with your future food oriented conversations!

I, too, really enjoyed The China Study.  Very good, scientific information. 

I usually just eat what I want and no one really cares what I'm eating.  If someone does ask, I first explain that I don't like to eat meat, I'm vegan, etc.  If they persist I say I dont' like the taste and texture of flesh and skin.  I know it is sort of mean to try to quease people out like that, but if they are trying to "change" me I feel like the game is on.

Diane,
Good for you! Those people are being rude & disrespectful!!!
(This coming from a meat-eater...)

thank you everyone for really insightful comments. I bought the China study for my mom for christmas, but i am goign to read it when she is done! I am glad ot have raised a little debate and questions, mainly because for me i like to make sure i have put alot of thought into my choices! month 5 of veganism, yay!!