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Is Veganism a Fad?

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Geezertronic

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Quorn Mince (as it's the only Quorn product I have tried) tends to make me fart a lot whereas the 5% fat mince doesn't
 
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jonty14

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I don't really care and in the grand scheme of things it makes no difference to my life as I will continue to enjoy eating meat.

However, this is a discussion forum and someone has asked a question regarding it so I've put my thoughts and opinions forward because that's what you do on a discussion forum. From this a certain percentage will agree with me and a certain percentage will have differing thoughts (and, of course, an incredibly small percentage will respond along the lines of 'that's silly' or 'who cares' without really offering any further discussion) because that's just the way discussions/debates work, not just on a railway forum but in life in general.

What I will say to you is that I find it quite ironic that you've come onto this thread, responded to a number of posts and then asked me 'who cares?'. Well in answer to your question (again, just to reiterate, that's what generally happens when a question is asked) you clearly care!
Well said.
 

DarloRich

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I don't really care and in the grand scheme of things it makes no difference to my life as I will continue to enjoy eating meat.

However, this is a discussion forum and someone has asked a question regarding it so I've put my thoughts and opinions forward because that's what you do on a discussion forum. From this a certain percentage will agree with me and a certain percentage will have differing thoughts (and, of course, an incredibly small percentage will respond along the lines of 'that's silly' or 'who cares' without really offering any further discussion) because that's just the way discussions/debates work, not just on a railway forum but in life in general.

What I will say to you is that I find it quite ironic that you've come onto this thread, responded to a number of posts and then asked me 'who cares?'. Well in answer to your question (again, just to reiterate, that's what generally happens when a question is asked) you clearly care!

it is a personal choice - that is the be all and end all. It is nothing to do with you or me or anyone yet it seems you and others have got your nickers in a twist over something inconsequential. it is almost as if you see it as threat in some way!
 

The_Train

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it is a personal choice - that is the be all and end all. It is nothing to do with you or me or anyone yet it seems you and others have got your nickers in a twist over something inconsequential. it is almost as if you see it as threat in some way!

Are you really that blinkered to your own responses in this thread, that you believe it is me who has my 'nickers in a twist'?

As I've said before, the question was asked and I responded with my thoughts. If that in someway upsets you then maybe discussion forums are not a healthy place for you to visit
 

DarloRich

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Are you really that blinkered to your own responses in this thread, that you believe it is me who has my 'nickers in a twist'?

As I've said before, the question was asked and I responded with my thoughts. If that in someway upsets you then maybe discussion forums are not a healthy place for you to visit

sigh. You and others seem to be very upset that people have chosen not to eat meat and meat derived products and then complain when people point out how silly it is that you are worried about a personal choice taken by people you don't know! So what if people are making this choice based on fashion, fad or social media likes. It is their choice!
 

The_Train

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sigh. You and others seem to be very upset that people have chosen not to eat meat and meat derived products and then complain when people point out how silly it is that you are worried about a personal choice taken by people you don't know! So what if people are making this choice based on fashion, fad or social media likes. It is their choice!

Show me where I've become upset about veganism then? It's about time you backed up some of your comments with proof of what you're saying - it gets very tiring seeing your belittling and pointless responses such as 'that's silly' instead of you actually offering counter arguments
 

al78

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No I don't think it is a fad, it may even be necessary in the future if current projections are to be believed. Some people are vegan for ethical reasons, some maybe for environmental reasons. The only issue I see is the extremist militant type who try to demonise anyone who does eat meat (like a minority of cyclists who demonise anyone who drives). Extremists are a liability whichever side of the fence you sit on, since they damage the cause they claim to stand for.
 

DarloRich

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Show me where I've become upset about veganism then? It's about time you backed up some of your comments with proof of what you're saying - it gets very tiring seeing your belittling and pointless responses such as 'that's silly' instead of you actually offering counter arguments

I've had a look through the thread and I can't see that in any of @The_Train's posts.

OK - I withdraw the suggestion that the quoted poster has his knickers in a twist. I still maintain that the decision for someone to become vegan is theirs alone to make and if it based on trying to be trendy then so what? It is not for us to second guess that decision.

Right, I am off for a ham and mustard sandwich
 

AM9

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Is this based on fact, or just guesswork?

There was information in an article istr in the Sunday Times a couple of weeks ago but the papers have been recycled now.

Can vegans not make compromises over environmental issues just like everybody else does?

They can of course but if they are going to spout about how good they are for the environment, they need to get their facts right and practice what they preach. The fact that the loudest ones haven't made a convincing case in these increasingly eco-sensitive times maybe accounts for their claims being mostly ignored, -except by those already fans.6
 

AM9

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Is this based on fact, or just guesswork?

There was information in an article istr in the Sunday Times a couple of weeks ago but the papers have been recycled now.

Can vegans not make compromises over environmental issues just like everybody else does?

They can of course but if they are going to spout about how good they are for the environment, they need to get their facts right and practice what they preach. The fact that the loudest ones haven't made a convincing case in these increasingly eco-sensitive times maybe accounts for their claims being mostly ignored, -except by those already fans.
 

The Ham

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Methane is an issue, but it's solvable. The bigger issue is clearing of land for grazing (or for growing soya to feed the cattle).

Again less of a problem for British reared cows as everything has to be traceable to ensure standards, as such farmers are more inclined to grow their own or use their own grassland to provide food for their animals where possible.

The water requirement is also quite hefty.

Again less of a problem in the UK where we have fairly healthy levels of rain fall.
 

najaB

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Out of interest, what are the proposed solutions?
The simple method is adding oils to the cow's diet - it reduces methane production by around half 25%. They've also identified a gene that can be added to bacteria in the feed stock that reduces the amount of methane, but the anti-GMO crowd are up in arms about that one.
 
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hooverboy

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Out of interest, what are the proposed solutions?
serveimage


lets just hope you don't get caught by one of these flying overhead!:D
edit-you're safe!! methane just a little denser than air.
just don't light a ciggie at the back end!
 
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StaffsWCML

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Methane is an issue, but it's solvable. The bigger issue is clearing of land for grazing (or for growing soya to feed the cattle).

I would think a lot more land needs to be produced for mass industrial scale vegetable/seed farming, so that the harvesting equipment can efficiently be used.

The clearance of fields for modern farming methods has already been an issue in the reduction of habitats. Back in the day when population was lower and we were self sufficient on the majority of food, we ate a balanced omnivore diet we didn't have these issues.
 

hooverboy

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No it isn't the Si unit of mass is the (kilo)gram.

A pound as a unit of mass is obsolete and has no meaning in the modern world.
it's still classed as 8000 grains of barley(the original lb)

PS weight is measued in newtons, mass in Kg
1lb is about 4N(454g)
1Kg=9.81N
1Kg=2.2lb

being rail buffs you should know imperial measures!!..chains per mile furlongs per chain etc,
 
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najaB

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No it isn't the Si unit of mass is the (kilo)gram.

A pound as a unit of mass is obsolete and has no meaning in the modern world.
A pound is no more or less a pound than it always has been just because it's not in common use.
 

Roast Veg

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Since metting my other half I've been cooking meat substitutes including soy and mycoprotein the same way I always cooked my meat - with good use of complimentary spices. She's never had it so good, and I'm getting just as much tasty protein as I ever did (with a side order of reducing my red meat intake and staving off heart disease for a little longer). I still buy and eat meat myself but I subsist just fine amongst my friends of varying dietary requirements. Read a Sci-Fi novel and you'll see that this has been coming for a very long time!
 

AY1975

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For some it is their ethical issue, either because they can't accept that human beings are by default omnivores or they just can't envisage themselves eating anything that lived as an animal, (as opposed to a plant). Some claim that vegan diets make the least impact on global carbon levels, (as they munch away at their quinoa shipped in from Peru and Bolivia). Few consider that exclusive exposure to a vegan diet can cause various malnutrition conditions, especially processed oven-ready vegan dishes in supermarkets. So token veganism such as going to Waitrose (or any other chain supermarket) to buy boldly labelled vegan prepared food almost certainly is a fad and in a year or two will probably fade away.
The minority who take the trouble to study their diets and cook from raw ingredients may well move more towards a typical indigenous vegan diet, but they are probably already into genuine vegetarian diets anyway IMO.

As a vegetarian of 28 years who eats vegan wherever possible and has sympathy for vegans, I would say that although human beings have eaten meat for thousands of years, there are plenty of people who have been vegetarian or vegan for a long time and are perfectly healthy, and biologically we are more like herbivorous than carnivorous animals. If we were meant to be carnivores, we would have claws to catch our prey! Eating meat is just a habit, not a necessity, and vegetarians have existed throughout history. From a health point of view, a vegetarian or vegan diet has many advantages compared to a meat-based diet: less saturated fat, less risk of cancer and heart disease, for example.

That said, as with any type of diet you need to make sure that you eat a good varied and balanced diet to ensure that you get all the nutrients that you need. In theory, there shouldn't be any nutrients that the human body needs that are only found in meat and fish. In practice, though, I guess everybody's body is different, and maybe some people's bodies find it harder to adjust to a plant-based diet or absorb nutrients such as protein and iron from plant-based sources.
 

DynamicSpirit

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That said, as with any type of diet you need to make sure that you eat a good varied and balanced diet to ensure that you get all the nutrients that you need. In theory, there shouldn't be any nutrients that the human body needs that are only found in meat and fish. In practice, though, I guess everybody's body is different, and maybe some people's bodies find it harder to adjust to a plant-based diet or absorb nutrients such as protein and iron from plant-based sources.

If I recall correctly, vitamin B12 is the one that is very hard to get without eating animal products. Healthline lists 7 nutrients that you apparently can't get without eating meat, milk or dairy products, although only B12 is essential to eat as the others can be manufactured by the body. The page does however claim that vegetarians and vegans typically have lower amounts of some of these in their bodies.

Healthline said:
Nutritionally balanced vegetarian and vegan diets are very healthy.

However, a few nutrients are impossible or difficult to get from commonly consumed plant foods.

If you plan to completely eliminate animal-sourced foods, plan your diet, take dietary supplements, and make sure that you’re getting everything your body needs.
 

najaB

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If we were meant to be carnivores, we would have claws to catch our prey!
If you want to go down that route, why are out eyes not on the sides of our heads like pretty much all herbivores?
 
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