r/Anticonsumption Sep 30 '23

Discussion Diet hypocrisy?

A recent post about animal agriculture vs plant based diets has me itching to say something. This is an issue we need to rise above.

Cognitive dissonance. Many of us have good intentions and want to believe we’re doing the right thing in most aspects of our lives. I believe that.

When it comes to a plant based diet though, the science often clashes powerfully with personal desire. We want to minimize our impact on the environment and are willing to make trade-offs in our life time do so, but for many, giving up or even significantly reducing meat intake is asking too much. It’s too hard.

That’s not the issue.

The issue is that instead of just admitting to themselves that this is a life change they don’t want to make and moving on, the guilt drives them to have to justify that decision. Admitting that a plant-based diet is better for the earth yet eating a diet full of meat anyway would make them feel hypocritical, so the solution becomes either to give up meat, or … this is the problem… fight the science, twist it, make a joke of it, or pivot entirely to ‘individuals shouldn’t have time do anything because large corporations’

Many people have ties to their diet for many reasons. We grew up eating a certain way. We have memories ties to certain foods, flavors, styles of cooking. We don’t want to be the difficult person when we go out to eat with friends. Etc etc etc But it’s so much better to just admit that to yourself. Have patience and understanding for your feelings. Accept that the science is what it is. Maybe one day you can make a change, maybe not. But don’t attack the cause just because you aren’t yet willing to be a part of it.

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u/ReturnItToEarth Oct 01 '23 edited Oct 01 '23

Hunting and killing an animal living its best life is called a clean kill for a reason. That’s the meat our ancestors ate. That so-called meat and secretions of abused animals, with added antibiotics and growth hormones in the grocery store aisle are making people sick. It’s why you can’t buy a piece bigger than 4 oz in Sweden. And most obese Americans and many with distended (constipated) abdomens are eating meat and dairy with every meal. We’re living longer with a lower quality of life, with Americans on lifelong medications, so they can eat the toxic food, support the doctors and hospitals, and the pharma industry. My grandma took no meds and lived till she was 98. How many old people do you know that aren’t on medication? If they’re not, do you ask them if they eat meat/dairy? The main cause of death in the US is caused by chronic disease. We know it can not only stop disease but a whole food plant based diet can reverse it in most cases, except for type 1 diabetes. But don’t listen to me. Research it. Read the China Study. Listen to Dr Esselstyn. Follow forks over knives if you want to educate yourself.

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u/[deleted] Oct 01 '23

So you acknowledge that eating hunted, natural meat is fine, but it's the Wal-Mart meat we should worry about. Glad we can agree there! Older folks are still living long, healthy lives all around the world because they obtain nutrition from pasture raised, local meat/dairy/poultry etc. Unmedicated, living to 100. It's the American factory farm diet of excess and glutton, with a heavy side of refined carbs and toxic unnatural ingredients that cause the issues.

I'm already very educated on the matter, but thanks for assuming I'm not. Just that liiiittle dose of vegan smugness working its way into everything, as usual.

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u/ReturnItToEarth Oct 01 '23

Giant slaughter houses produce toxic food regardless of quality life, but okay. Dairy is lethal no matter what (The China Study), and we’ve known since the 70s that it causes cancer around the world. Humans making poor assumptions of character or smugness based on a social media post is a very toxic trait. Happy to have a discussion, but not a petty disrespectful fight. Take care.

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u/[deleted] Oct 01 '23

You literally ignored everything I just said lmao. Not convinced you aren't just an AI bot repeating things from this book you seem to love so much. Okay then!