Meat
There are many ways to look at the choice of whether or not to have meat in our diet.
How did we start eating so much meat?
It started with the industrial revolution. Pre-industrial revolution animals where raised on small farms, fed naturally and the average family ate a small quantity of meat about once a week. After the industrial revolution meat became mass produced and easy to transport, in short, it became much more readily accessible and affordable to the average person and meat consumption went way up!
Animal proteins may have all of the essential amino acids (proteins) necessary for health. However commercially grown meat is mass-produced under questionable conditions using antibiotics and steroids and is environmentally inefficient as a food source.
As meat eating has increased so have degenerative illness and disease. Excess animal protein causes the body to become overly-acidic and is also high in saturated fats. Problems like cancer, high blood pressure and heart disease are showing that our modern diet isn't all it could be. We are realising more and more that it is time to go back to a more natural diet and to put less emphasis on meat and dairy for our nutrition and more emphasis on grains, beans, vegetables and fish.
The first step is to just start adding some of these other foods to our diet and to begin learning how to prepare grains, beans and vegetables in ways that are delicious and satisfying. When we can do this it will be easier to let go of our attachment to meat.
If you do choose to eat animal proteins, it is best to balance the acidity with alkaline-producing foods and choose organic, grass-fed animals from a company that has a conscience about their farming methods.