The MEAT File - a Documentary on Meat, Health and Climate
“The Meat File” presents in an oppressively and transparent way, the far-reaching consequences of the individual links in the processing chain - from meat production to consumption.
Volker Elis Pilgrim wrote, "The meat we eat is a carcass, at least two to five days old."
The first part of the video deals with "Meat and health". In 1950, in Germany, people consumed approximately 26 kg of meat per person. In 2010, the amount raised up to 65 kg and the rates are still increasing. Prof. dr. Annemarie Gross explains that more and more people suffer from heart and cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, joint diseases, tumors and overweight.
This increase in diseases is directly linked to meat consumption. (4:24): Prof. dr. Hans-Günter Kugler presents many scientific papers on this topic, such as the research study conducted by William B. Grant on Rheumatoid Arthritis and the research study regarding the relation between meat consumption and stroke in women by dr. Renata Micha, RD, et al. Furthermore, studies that demonstrate an association between gout and meat consumption are mentioned.
Prof. dr. Claus Leitzmann confirms these statements and emphasizes that cholesterol occurs only in animal foods, while saturated fatty acids and purines are also found primarily there. In her medical practice, dr. Annemarie Gross often sees a connection between high meat consumption and joint diseases.
The quantity of animal products has a direct impact on colorectal cancer and even stomach cancer. "100 g of meat per day, increase the risk of stomach cancer by a factor of five." Alzheimer's and dementia also correlate with meat consumption. The statement "meat is a piece of vitality" is at least reckless, if not absurd, emphasizes dr. Kugler.
9:59: - “Meat and hunger": Dr. Henning Steinfeld explains that about one third of the cereal harvest is used only for animal feeding, while more and more virgin forest areas are deforested. “In order to produce 1 calorie in the form of meat, up to 30 calories of vegetable food have to be used as feed.” Without this inefficient detour, up to ten times more people could be fed with the same amount of greens and cereals. Furthermore, the high consumption of meat leads to an increase in staple food prices.
13:23 – “Meat and Climate”: In 2012, livestock breeding contributed to the global warming with about 7,1 gigatons of CO2 equivalent, which means 18 % of the total greenhouse gas emissions. Methane (the product of animal digestion) and nitrogen oxides (from fertilizers) are the main problems. 70 % of the deforested areas in South America are directly related to meat consumption. To produce one kilogram of meat, 20’000-liter water and 50 square meters of forest are necessary.
The agriculture policies facilitating meat subsidies harm not only the African people but also other developing countries, by depriving them of the possibility to produce meat by themselves! Dr. Edmund Haferbeck states that EU alone spends more than half of the budget on this type of subsidies. On top of that, the value-added tax for meat in Germany is of only 7 % instead of 19%. The FAO has been demanding the opposite since 2009.
19:44 - Albert Einstein, the great physicist, wrote: "Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chance for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian nutrition." The next step (vegan nutrition) was not yet known at that time.
20:11 - "Meat and husbandry": In an impressive way, the video shows the practices of animal husbandry and slaughter.
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