Lambs are Destroying the Planet

The "Meat Eater's Guide to Climate Change & Health," an infographic-packed report published by the Environmental Working Group, says that the "WORST CHOICE" of all the meats you can eat is lamb. Its carbon footprint, it seems, is very large -- "50% higher than beef," according to the Guide. Indeed, says the Environmental Working Group, Americans' consumption of meats (including poultry and fish) is destroying the environment. I suppose the conclusion isn't surprising, given that the premise of the Guide is that meat-eating "takes a toll on our health, the environment, the climate, and animal welfare."

The BEST choice? Lentils, apparently. Tofu, beans and yogurt are also called out as relatively "green."

I appreciate that the Guide points out that pastured and grass-fed meat and dairy are better alternatives, and I agree with the Environmental Working Group that feedlots and factory farming practices are deplorable.

But the report is rife with inaccuracies, bad information and questionable recommendations. Like the part where they say that "[t]he evidence is clear that eating too much meat...is associated with serious health problems." And the part where they promote "Meatless Mondays." And the part where they conveniently forgot to include the environmental impacts of wheat agriculture. And the part where they advocate eating "lower-fat dairy products." And the part where they suggest that "everyone in the U.S." should adopt a vegetarian diet for environmental reasons.

Yeesh. I'm getting tired just looking at the list.

Makes Sense to Me

The snark makes me happy.

[Source]

Good Meat is Dead Meat (Not Meat That Was Never Alive)

PETA has announced that it's offering a $1 million reward to "the first scientist to produce and bring to market in vitro meat."

According to PETA, test tube meat would be super-awesome because it'd "mimic flesh and could be cooked and eaten" without hurting any animals. Of course, only the unwashed meat-addicted hordes would need to eat the stuff:

[H]umans don't need to eat meat at all -- vegetarians are less likely to get heart disease, diabetes, or various types of cancer or become obese than meat-eaters are -- and a terrific array of vegetarian mock meats already exist. But as many people continue to refuse to kick their meat addictions, PETA is willing to help them gain access to flesh...

(Wrong, wrong, wrong. But I digress.)

I can't wait to supplement my "terrific array" of Tofurky patties and Quorn chunks with a big, juicy slab of lab-generated, vat-grown, 100% processed "meat." I mean, who could resist a steak that looks this appetizing?

Who's with me?

I Love Puns (& Steaks)

(Source: SnorgTees)

Email of the Day

I appreciate suggestions from readers (especially those who hail from other planets). But something tells me that veganism ain't the way to go.

Not to Put Too Fine a Point on It

My favorite paragraph from Robb Wolf's book:

Plant sources of protein, even when combined to provide all the essential amino acids, are far too heavy in carbohydrate, irritate the gut, and steal vitamins and minerals from the body via anti-nutrients. Remember that whole chapter on the double-edged nature of grains and legumes? Beans and rice, nuts and seeds, are what I call "Third World proteins." They will keep you alive, but they will not allow you to thrive. Your protein needs to have the following criteria:

1. It needs a face.
2. It needs a soul.
3. You need to kill it, and bring its essence into your being.
4. Really.

Is Meat Bad For You?

This post is going to be slightly long and geeky. If you have a short attention span or just stumbled here looking for a cheap laugh, feel free to skip this one and proceed directly to the video of the farting yoga lady.

But if you'd like to know why I'm calling bullshit on the recent hype over an epidemiological study "proving" that meat-eating is bad for low-carb dieters, read on.

The Old Spice Guy's a Vegan P90Xer

I love Old Spice Guy (and former Oakland Raider wideout) Isaiah Mustafa. He's all kinds of awesome. (If you're as big a fan of the Old Spice commercials as I am, check out this "making of" video.)

Recently, on Leno (I'm with Coco, so I didn't actually catch this live) Mustafa revealed that he's staying in shape by training with Tony Horton. P90X represent!

BUT: Tony's got the Old Spice Guy on a vegan diet:

"I’m lucky to work out with Tony Horton of P90X fame. He’s got me on this diet right now that’s absolutely ridiculous. There are 5 things you can’t do: There’s no alcohol, no caffeine, no processed sugars, nothing with a face -- no animals or animal by-products. But here’s the tough one: No gluten."

The good news is that Mustafa's eating whole foods and avoiding sugar and certain grains. But why is he joining Mike Tyson in the camp o' veganism? Lierre Keith's got me convinced that eschewing all meat and animal products ain't the healthiest, most ethical or most environmentally sustainable way to go.

But then again, who am I to argue with a guy who smells like jet fighters and punching?