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MYTH #12: Eating animal flesh causes violent, aggressive behaviour in humans. Some authorities on vegetarian diets, such as Dr Ralph Ballantine,'” claim that the fear and terror (if any; see Myth #15) an animal experiences at death is somehow "transferred" into its flesh and organs and "becomes" a part of the person who eats it. These thinkers would do well to note that no scientific studies exist to support such a theory, and also remember the fact that a tendency towards irrational anger is a symptom of low vitamin B12 levels—which, as we have seen, are common in vegans and vegetarians. In his travels, Dr Price always noted the extreme happiness and ingratiating natures of the peoples he encountered, all of whom were meat-eaters. "milk" and soy protein powders, and popular vegetarian meat and 9 MYTH #12: Eating animal flesh causes violent, milk substitutes are entirely fragmented foods, made by treating aggressive behaviour in humans. soybeans with high heat and various alkaline washes to extract the Some authorities on vegetarian diets, such as Dr Ralph beans' fat content or to neutralise their potent enzyme inhibitors.'* — Ballantine,'” claim that the fear and terror (if any; see Myth #15) These practices completely denature the beans' protein content, an animal experiences at death is somehow "transferred" into its rendering it very hard to digest. MSG, a neurotoxin, is routinely flesh and organs and "becomes" a part of the person who eats it. added to TVP to make it taste like the various foods it imitates.'® These thinkers would do well to note that no scientific studies On a purely nutritional level, soybeans, like all legumes, are _ exist to support such a theory, and also remember the fact that a deficient in cysteine and methionine, vital sulphur-containing tendency towards irrational anger is a symptom of low vitamin amino acids, as well as tryptophan, another essential amino acid. B12 levels—which, as we have seen, are common in vegans and Furthermore, soybeans contain no vitamins A or D, required by vegetarians. the body to assimilate and utilise the beans' proteins.''® It is In his travels, Dr Price always noted the extreme happiness and probably for this reason that Asian cultures that do consume _ingratiating natures of the peoples he encountered, all of whom soybeans usually combine them with fish or fish broths (abundant —_ were meat-eaters. in fat-soluble vitamins) or other fatty foods. Parents who feed their children soy-based formula should be | MYTH #13: Animal products contain numerous aware of its extremely high phytoestrogen content. Some scien- _ harmful toxins. tists have estimated a child being fed soy formula is ingesting the A recent vegetarian newsletter claimed the following: hormonal equivalent of five birth con- Most people don't realize that trol pills a day."” Such a high intake meat products are loaded with could have disastrous results. Also, poisons and toxins! Meat, fish soy formula contains no cholesterol, and eggs all decompose and which is vital for brain and nervous Clearly, modern soy products putrefy extremely rapidly. As system development. ° ° soon as an animal is killed, self- "Though research is still ongoing, and isolated isoflavone destruct enzymes are released, some recent studies have indicated supplements are not healthy causing the formation of that soy's phytoestrogens could be . denatured substances called causative factors in some forms of foods for vegetarians, vegans ptyloamines, which cause breast cancer” penile pith derecs or anyone else, yet these are cancer." and infantile leukaemia.'” Soy's phy- toestrogens, or isoflavones, have been the very ones that are If meat, fish and eggs do indeed definitely shown to depress thyroid most consumed. generate cancerous "ptyloamines", it function” and to cause infertility in is very strange that people have not every animal species studied so far.'” been dying in droves from cancer for Clearly, modern soy products and the past million years. Such isolated isoflavone supplements are sensationalistic and nonsensical not healthy foods for vegetarians, vegans or anyone else, yet these are the very ones that are most _ historical facts. consumed. This article then went on to mention "mad cow disease" (BSE), claims cannot be supported by Clearly, modern soy products and isolated isoflavone supplements are not healthy foods for vegetarians, vegans or anyone else, yet these are the very ones that are most consumed. historical facts. This article then went on to mention "mad cow disease" (BSE), parasites, salmonella, hormones, nitrates and pesticides as toxins in animal products. Hormones, nitrates and pesticides are present in commercially raised animal products (as well as commercially raised fruits, grains and vegetables) and are definitely things to be concerned about. However, one can avoid these chemicals by taking care to consume range-fed, organic meats, eggs and dairy products which do not contain harmful man-made toxins. Parasites are easily avoided by taking normal precautions in food preparations. Pickling or fermenting meats, as is custom in traditional societies, protects against parasites. In his travels, Dr Price always found healthy, disease-free, parasite-free peoples eating raw meat and dairy products as part of their diets. Similarly, Dr Francis Pottenger, in his experiments with cats, demonstrated that the healthiest, happiest cats were the ones on the all-raw-food diet. The cats eating cooked meats and pasteurised milk sickened and died and had numerous parasites.'* Salmonella can be transmitted by plant products as well as animal. It is often claimed by vegetarians that meat is harmful to our bodies because ammonia is released from the breakdown of its proteins. Although it is true that ammonia production does result from meat digestion, our bodies quickly convert this substance into harmless urea. The alleged toxicity of meat is greatly exaggerated by vegetarians. MYTH #11: The human body is not designed for meat consumption. Some vegetarian groups claim that since humans poss grinding teeth, like herbivorous animals, and longer intestines than carnivorous animals, this proves the human body is better suited for vegetarianism.'’” This argument fails to note several human physiological features which clearly indicate a design for animal product consumption. First and foremost is our stomach's production of hydrochloric acid, something not found in herbivores. Hydrochloric acid acti- vates protein-splitting enzymes. Further, the human pancreas manufactures a full range of digestive enzymes to handle a wide variety of foods, both animal and vegetable. Dr Walter Voegtlin's in-depth comparison of the human diges- tive system with that of the dog (a carnivore) and the sheep (a her- bivore) clearly shows that we are closer in anatomy to the carniv- orous dog than the herbivorous sheep.'* While humans may have longer intestines than animal carnivores, they are not as long as herbivores; nor do we possess multiple stomachs like many herbi- vores; nor do we chew cud. Our physiology definitely indicates a mixed feeder or an omnivore—much the same as our relatives the mountain gorilla and chimpanzee, who have all been observed eating small animals and in some cases other primates.'* SS 38 ¢ NEXUS JUNE - JULY 2002 www.nexusmagazine.com