For vegetarians worldwide, being a vegetarian can mean quite a number of things.
For example, I consider myself a vegetarian. Yet, although I try to be a vegan 90% of the time (no cheese, milk, eggs or any dairy products), I am truly a 'pescatarian' since I include fish in my diet. Confusing? Yes, it can be.
Just as there are many meanings to what you eat as a vegetarian, there are also different interpretations as to reasons why we choose not to eat animals. Some common reasons are for ethical reasons supporting animal rights and anti-animal cruelty, for health benefits and for the environment.
But what about killing plants? Isn't it cruel to destroy our wildlife and stop the life of plants and trees? And what about fish? Don't they feel pain?
So, my question for you today is what's the difference between killing plants, fish and mammals?
Well, first off, plants do not have brains or nervous systems/ pain receptors. Therefore, plants do not 'feel' the suffering, which makes less suffering in the world if you stick to eating vegetables. True?
While plants may not feel pain, NAVS (North American Vegetarian Society) recently shared that a team of marine biologists at Edinburgh's Roslin Institute discovered that Rainbow Trout fish do have pain receptors and react to harmful substances with behavioral and psychological changes. Their study conclusion was that fish, like mammals, have to feel pain in order to survive.
In addition, according to PETA, the pain system in fish is almost the same as it is in mammals. Scientists even believe that fish brains and nervous systems appear similar to ours. Is this hard to believe? I certainly think so and was extremely surprised by this. Fish even have neurotransmitters, like mammals, to relieve suffering. This information was supported by scientists at Edinburgh University and the U.K. Roslin Institute in their 2 year study on fish pain.
This article is not intended to tell you what to eat, but rather to encourage you to think about what you're eating, how it was brought to you, and reminding you to limit food that feels pain when they are killed to provide nutrition to you. Also, do not be confused about fish. They do feel pain like mammals, even if their pain receptors show it in other ways.
After learning this information, although I most likely will not give up eating fish entirely because of the health benefits, I will try to limit my intake, understanding that fish are in pain when they are hooked and brought up to a new environment they cannot breathe in.
If you want to help make less suffering in the world, choose greens over meat (at least most of the time)!! As Mathatma Ghandi once said, "Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed." Do not overconsume! Think about what you are eating. Be mindful.
Resources
Animal Ethics
Do Fish Feel Pain? >book review (Oxford University Press)
Fish Feel Pain/ PETA
http://users.erols.com/epastore/veg/
North American Vegetarian Society
This Vegan Life
The Scavenger
If you'd like more information on vegetarianism:
Being a Vegetarian
For example, I consider myself a vegetarian. Yet, although I try to be a vegan 90% of the time (no cheese, milk, eggs or any dairy products), I am truly a 'pescatarian' since I include fish in my diet. Confusing? Yes, it can be.
Just as there are many meanings to what you eat as a vegetarian, there are also different interpretations as to reasons why we choose not to eat animals. Some common reasons are for ethical reasons supporting animal rights and anti-animal cruelty, for health benefits and for the environment.
But what about killing plants? Isn't it cruel to destroy our wildlife and stop the life of plants and trees? And what about fish? Don't they feel pain?
So, my question for you today is what's the difference between killing plants, fish and mammals?
Well, first off, plants do not have brains or nervous systems/ pain receptors. Therefore, plants do not 'feel' the suffering, which makes less suffering in the world if you stick to eating vegetables. True?
While plants may not feel pain, NAVS (North American Vegetarian Society) recently shared that a team of marine biologists at Edinburgh's Roslin Institute discovered that Rainbow Trout fish do have pain receptors and react to harmful substances with behavioral and psychological changes. Their study conclusion was that fish, like mammals, have to feel pain in order to survive.
In addition, according to PETA, the pain system in fish is almost the same as it is in mammals. Scientists even believe that fish brains and nervous systems appear similar to ours. Is this hard to believe? I certainly think so and was extremely surprised by this. Fish even have neurotransmitters, like mammals, to relieve suffering. This information was supported by scientists at Edinburgh University and the U.K. Roslin Institute in their 2 year study on fish pain.
This article is not intended to tell you what to eat, but rather to encourage you to think about what you're eating, how it was brought to you, and reminding you to limit food that feels pain when they are killed to provide nutrition to you. Also, do not be confused about fish. They do feel pain like mammals, even if their pain receptors show it in other ways.
After learning this information, although I most likely will not give up eating fish entirely because of the health benefits, I will try to limit my intake, understanding that fish are in pain when they are hooked and brought up to a new environment they cannot breathe in.
If you want to help make less suffering in the world, choose greens over meat (at least most of the time)!! As Mathatma Ghandi once said, "Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed." Do not overconsume! Think about what you are eating. Be mindful.
Resources
Animal Ethics
Do Fish Feel Pain? >book review (Oxford University Press)
Fish Feel Pain/ PETA
http://users.erols.com/epastore/veg/
North American Vegetarian Society
This Vegan Life
The Scavenger
If you'd like more information on vegetarianism:
Being a Vegetarian