"Dangers of Meat-Eating"
Do you know that, based on research, people who are basically meat eaters, like the Eskimos, easily grow old and live shorter? Their average life span is only 28 years. Another group is the Kirgese, a nomadic tribe in Eastern Russia. They are also fond of eating meat. In effect, they mature easily and die easily as well. Very few among them surpass the age of 40.
On the other hand, in an investigation conducted by anthropologists, they discovered that the people who are not fond of eating meat possess healthier bodies and they live longer. Just like the Hunzas in Pakistan, the Otomi tribe in Mexico, and the natives of South West Africa, who live for more that 110 years.
Do you know that World Health statistics shows that countries that have higher meat consumption have greater incidents of heart ailments and other diseases? This is contrary with non-meat-eating countries. Do you know the reason why meat eaters are more prone to illnesses and why they live shorter? One of the reasons is the gradual poisoning of their tissues caused by the toxic by-products that should have been removed from the meat of the animals we are eating.
Do you know that the biochemistry of an animal changes when it is frightened, especially while on the verge of being butchered? If people get sick because of great fear, the same is true with animals. In frightening instances, their bodies undergo profound biochemical changes. The hormone level in their blood and their adrenalin increase whenever they see other struggle while being killed. These hormones, which stay in the meat, eventually poison the human tissues. Perhaps, this is the reason why God commanded Israel to pour out the blood of the animal, which they kill, and cover it with dust. Because most of the toxic materials are mixed with the blood. This could be read in Leviticus 17:13, which says--
“And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beat or fowl that may be eaten; he shall pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust.”
Leviticus 17:13
According to scientists, the poisons in the body, including the uric acid and other toxic wastes, are in the blood and tissues. That is why, the meat of an animal carcass is laden with toxic blood and other waste by-products. Do you know why most meat eaters easily develop cancer? According to authorities, one possible reason is the fact that the meat of an animal that has been dead for several days is already rotting. Its color becomes greenish and grayish. But meat dealers try to conceal it by adding nitrates, colorings, and other preservatives to make it reddish in color again. However, these chemicals and preservatives can cause cancer. Dr. William Lijinsky, a cancer researcher said, “I don’t even feed nitrate laden foods to my cat.” From this, we can already discern that if they should not be fed to animals, the more they should not be fed to humans.
Do you also know that British and American scientists who studied intestinal bacteria among meat eaters saw a great difference between the intestinal bacteria of meat eaters and vegetarians. They found out that the bacteria in the intestines of meat eaters react on digestive juices in order to produce a chemical that causes cancer.
Another cause of cancer is the chemicals that are eaten by animals whenever they eat grasses and plants that were sprayed with pesticides. This is very rampant today because almost all fields and plantations in the world are being sprayed with chemicals like pesticides and commercial fertilizers. Do you know that these poisons are retained in the body of the animals? Therefore, when people eat the meat of these animals, which ate plants that were sprayed with chemicals, they poison is being transferred to them. In other words, man becomes the final consumer and recipient of the most poisonous substances, which, in turn, cause cancer and fatal liver ailment. Not only that. The animals also undergo many chemical treatments to make them fatter and bigger in built. In order to earn more profits, the raisers of these animals feed and inject them with hormones so that they grow bigger. They are also being given appetite stimulants, antibiotics, and chemical feed mixtures, most of which are found to cause cancer among humans.
For this reason, we have to contemplate on what St. Paul said in Romans 14:21--
“It is neither good to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.”
Romans 14:21
Indeed, the doctrines of the Gospel never become obsolete. However, the Gospel does not really prohibit us from eating meat. It is a part of the faith of a Christian that he should restrain himself in eating meat. As written in Proverbs 23:20--
“Be not among wine bibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh.”
Proverbs 23:20
Another hazard of meat eating is that, many animals, which are sick, are being slaughtered still. And this is ignored by meat producers and meat inspectors. Sometimes, they only remove the infected part and sell the remaining parts. What is worse is, there are occasions when the infected part is still mixed with mixed meats like hotdogs, meat loaves, etc.
Do you know that meat passes the digestive system very slowly, unlike other foods? It is estimated that, it takes five days before meat is discharged out of our body, while fruits and vegetables take only a day and a half. That is why, during that span of time, the disease-causing products are having a constant contact with our digestive organs.
Do you believe that we, humans, are not meant to become meat eaters? This is the findings in a research conducted by experts. It is said that, there are three classifications of vertebrates: the meat eaters, the fruit eaters, and the grass, of leaf, eaters. They said that the intestines of meat eaters are only three times longer that their bodies, while the intestines of fruit and grass eaters are almost ten to twelve times longer. This is to allow the meat eaters to discharge from their bodies more easily the wastes cause by the spoiled meat, which can poison the blood. Also, when the physical characteristics of carnivorous animals like lion, tiger, leopard, and others, were examined, they found out that they do not have molars that would grind the food, but fangs instead, which they use in devouring meat. One more thing, do you know that they do you know that their skin do not perspire, but their tongues? They also have claws which they use in capturing and ripping the bodies of other animals.
The acid in the belly of carnivorous animals is ten times higher, so that they can digest even hard bones and meat fibers.
The opposite is true among the fruit and grass eaters. They have molars, which they use in grinding vegetables and grains. They do not have claws, and their skin perspires. And if we are going to study further, we can prove that these features fit the human beings. That is why experts believe that meat is not the intended food for humans. And this is confirmed by the Bible because, when God created man He placed him in a garden, and there he was commanded to eat the fruits of the trees. Genesis 2:16 says,
“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat.”
Genesis 2:16
Undoubtedly, we can survive by eating meat although it is not the intended food for us. However, meat eating can cause us many problems and illnesses. I repeat, Christians are not forbidden from eating meat, but the Bible has a very wise advice for us: Do not eat too much of it. Understanding the nature of man may help a Christian a lot, so that he can serve God with an active and healthy body. III John 2 says--
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
III John 2
Please take note that a preacher of God is concerned with the health of the flock that he is leading. Just like God, who is taking care of the body, the soul, and the spirit of His servants. This could be read in I Thessalonians 5:23-24--
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit, and soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”
Thessalonians 5:23-24