Salami

The results of a massive new study of the health consequences of red meat consumption are making headlines right now. The study shows that those who eat an average of 4 ounces of red meat per day have an increased risk of "dying from all causes, and specifically from cancer or heart disease."

The study goes on to conclude that "The chance of men dying of cardiovascular disease would have decreased 11 per cent - and 21 per cent for women", and that there is a "much greater risk" of cancer deaths in men and women who consume red meat regularly.

The study also showed that those who eat more white meat had a decreased risk of death compared to those who eat more red meat. This lead the researchers to conclude that "people should not shun meat altogether because there are some nutritional benefits and its consumption has played an important role in the evolution of our species."

Why? It has been shown that those on a meatless diet have a 15% decreased rate of mortality compared to those who eat meat occasionally. Why then would the researchers not recommend a meatless diet? I guess maybe they just didn't want to freak everybody out, or draw the ire of the meat industry. I dunno.

But besides the health consequences, meat consumption, especially factory farm produced meat, is clearly not ethical, but the contribution of meat production to global climate change can't be overstated. If everyone stopped eating meat today, it would result in a greater reduction in greenhouse gases than if everyone stopped driving cars today. This fact was glaringly omitted from Gore's Inconvenient Truth.

I guess maybe Al didn't want to freak everybody out.