I heard something to do with Nitrogen and …cow farts(?) I am really unsure of this and would like to learn more.

Answer -

4 Parts

  • Ethical reason for consuming animals
  • Methane produced by cows are a harmful greenhouse gas which is contributing to our current climate crisis
  • Health Reasons - there is convincing evidence that processed meats cause cancer
  • it takes a lot more calories of plant food to produce the calories we would consume from the meat.

Details about the answers are in the comments

  • max@feddit.nlEnglish
    2·
    1 year ago

    Sure, people need good tasting food, too. That’s no issue. As for the already dead animals not having been harmed: Wut? They don’t exactly ask a cow nicely if it could just die for a steak. It needs to be killed. Often in a not too humane manner. Before that, it’s likely that the cow has suffered during transport or when it was forced to birth calves year in, year out, so it could keep producing milk. All those things harm the animal in one way or another, so yes, eating meat does cause harm.

    • commie@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      11·
      1 year ago

      eating a steak does not cause the cow to have been killed (or any of the other things you mentioned), since an event in the future cannot cause an event in the past.

      • max@feddit.nlEnglish
        2·
        1 year ago

        since an event in the future cannot cause an event in the past Agreed. But let’s be honest here. If there was no demand for meat, animals would not be killed for meat. So your choice of whether to buy (and eat) meat or not does very much have impact

    • commie@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      11·
      1 year ago

      it’s not strictly about taste. people need community and esteem and self-actualization, too.

        • commie@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
          1·
          1 year ago

          what if, to self actualize, i need to master french cuisine? or what if to stay in community, i need to go to a barbecue or thanksgiving dinner? what if, for esteem, i need the convenience of grabbing a mindless quick meal between my duties?

          you don’t know what anyone needs. many people may need to eat meat, and nutrition has little or nothing to do with it

          • max@feddit.nlEnglish
            1·
            1 year ago

            It’s all a personal choice. There’s no one holding a gun to your head forcing you to use/consume meat. It’s fine that it’s a personal choice, but it is something one should be aware of.