Other info (various sources, primarily Diet for a Small Planet, by Francis Moore Lappé, 1982, and Diet for a New America, by John Robbins, 1992) — also see Cowspiracy references and calculations:
About calcium and animal protein (from the UK Vegan Society; see also the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine): "A high-protein diet, especially derived from animal foods, causes calcium loss in the body. The higher sulphur-to-calcium ratio of meat increases calcium excretion, and a diet rich in meat can cause bone demineralisation. A report published in 1988(1) comparing the amounts of calcium excreted in the urine of 15 subjects showed that the animal-protein diet caused greater loss of bone calcium in the urine (150mg/day) than the all-vegetable-protein diet (103mg/day). These findings suggest that diets providing vegetable rather than animal protein may actually protect against bone loss and hence osteoporosis. In one study adults on a low-protein diet were in calcium balance regardless of whether calcium intake was 500mg, 800mg or 1400mg a day.(2) Interestingly, the American Dietetic Association, in its 1993 policy statement on vegetable diets, pointed out that the calcium intakes recommended in the USA were increased specifically to offset calcium losses caused by the typically high protein consumption in that country." (1) Breslau NA, Brinkley L, Hill KD, Pak, CYC. Relationship of animal-protein-rich diet to kidney-stone formation and calcium metabolism. J Clin End. 1988;66:140-146. About dairy: Beef cows face only an untimely end (ignoring the abomination of feedlots). Dairy cows face that as well, but must first endure much more: annual forced pregnancy, separation from their calves, and milking (by machine) 2-3 times a day, as Vivien Straus of Straus Family Creamery, a small organic dairy farm in California, attests (in a letter forwarded to the Veg-NYC mailing list) . . . "Once cows are no longer being milked (for reasons of age, lower production, inability to get pregnant, chronic illness or infection, etc.) we sell them to the auction house. We assume that they are bought for beef [and rendering]. "I believe 20-40% of beef comes from "retired" dairy cows. ... "We do not raise any veal. We keep the female calves and sell the males at the auction -- where someone else may raise them for beef or veal. ... "Our cows stay in the herd till they are an average age of 6 or 7. [The natural life span of a cow is 20-25 years.] "And yes, on our dairy, just like other dairies, cows are bred about once every 13 months. they usually get 2 months rest before being impregnated again." |