The Impact of the Consumption of Animal Products

My decision, 7 years ago, to rethink my consumption of animal products and become vegetarian was one of the first steps in the right direction. At the beginning of my training to become a yoga teacher, we were strongly advised to give up smoking, alcohol and meat.

This came at the right time, because for at least 5 years I had already been reducing my consumption of meat (quality versus quantity). I just needed a little nudge to stop for good. I was very grateful for that.

However, this decision produced a lot of bad energy around me and even tears. All of a sudden I was no longer the same and the fear of change became evident. What are you going to become? Are you going to get sick? We will no longer be able to share all the good meals and good times together...

Suddenly I was no longer part of that meat-eating group. And the fears that I would lack the necessary nutrients for my good health are, despite the abundance of information on this subject in the media, still present in the minds of those around me.

My reasons were mainly ethical (the living conditions of animals) and for love and respect. I absolutely did not see myself capable of taking their lives with my own hands. But later, a third reason also appeared: health. The fourth is related to the effects due to industrialisation and intensive animal husbandry.

Misinformation about dairy products

I have been lucky not to have been sensitive to my excessive consumption of dairy products. Unfortunately, for decades there has been misleading publicity about it. In fact, dairy products are responsible for many of the diseases of our time. From the most benign to the most serious. But since, in France alone, the dairy industry represents a turnover of about 30 billion euros, with more than 250,000 jobs, we can easily understand what's at stake economically!

Dairy products are not essential for our health - on the contrary. They contain pesticides and heavy metals. But also growth hormones and trans-fatty acids, which are partly responsible for breast cancer, coronary heart disease, and pro-inflammatory effects. In fact, there is a correlation between dairy consumption and the development of certain cancers, such as prostate, pancreas, colon, stomach, etc. It can also cause ulcers, allergies, chronic fatigue and diabetes. 

Moreover, cow’s milk is indigestible, because it is intended to meet the needs of the calf and our digestive system isn’t adapted to it. And between you and me, separating a calf from its mother just after birth to obtain milk is not very ethical either. Neither for the cow nor for the calf.

75% of human beings are even lactose intolerant! It also generates bad cholesterol and scientific studies have shown that instead of strengthening bones with its calcium, dairy products leak calcium from the bones.

Vegetarianism wasn't enough for me

For these reasons I have recently changed to a completely plant based diet. Because not just meat, but the consumption of all dairy products has a huge impact on the planet and its inhabitants. And above all, as we have seen, on our health.

We tend to want to minimise the problem, because it implies a very big and difficult change in our eating habits. For me too for a long time. I am very aware of how difficult it is to give up what we have enjoyed for decades or even a lifetime, and that is one of the reasons why I wanted to write this article.

It is really not an easy path, because I love cheese and cream. But it is a necessary step and I have to be consistent, because we all bear a part of the responsibility! On the other hand, I will continue to eat honey and make exceptions for eggs from hens that have a good life and a respectful end of life.

Change = survival

There have been quite a few articles on this subject for quite some time now. But it is absolutely necessary to repeat and remind people of the need for change. It took me a while to make the transition myself.

I'm just one more voice resonating in the great auditorium of planet Earth. But I think that the more we talk about it and above all set an example around us, the more it will snowball and move things ahead.

It is very important to communicate our convictions and knowledge. Without wanting to preach or point fingers of course, because each individual is at a different level of development and accepting new habits is difficult. But with awareness, love and patience we can do it.

For example, I have been noticing for a very long time the resistance of some of my family members, friends and work colleagues. However, I am now noticing a progressive awareness. I know that changing one's lifestyle or habits is a great personal challenge. It's like quitting smoking. Even if you've become aware of the dangers involved, how many people really manage to take action?

I think we have a lot of addictions, or to use the more generic term from the WHO, " dependencies ". Which refers to both physical and psychological aspects, and that by taking small steps we can change them.

The Growing Impact

For years I have been going from one shock to the next. Every publication, report or documentary about consuming animal products and its impact on the environment, makes me angry, sad and powerless all at once. For decades now, warnings have been given in the various fields, but unfortunately things are not moving fast enough.

The world's population keeps growing. Sources of healthy food (without pesticides or herbicides) and drinking water are becoming increasingly scarce. The impoverishment of our soils and the pollution of the air and seas is not decreasing, on the contrary.

In 10 years, if we don’t change something, the virgin forest in the Amazon will no longer exist. It will have made way for cattle breeding and the cultivation of soybeans (GMOs!) for animal feed.

This will lead to the disappearance of indigenous peoples, as well as rare and vital animal and plant species, who could have been very beneficial for the well-being of the human race.

Finding no support from the authorities and with a blatant denial from the government in the face of deforestation and fires in the Amazon, armed mafia groups are getting rid of all those (more than 1100 people in 20 years!) who are simply asking to stop this massacre of their heritage. But it is more than that, it is the heritage of all of us on Earth.