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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Should We Eat Meat? summary
Evolution and Consequences of Modern Carnivory
20 mins
Brief summary
Should We Eat Meat? by Vaclav Smil is an informative and thought-provoking book that explores the environmental, ethical, and health impacts of meat consumption. It offers both scientific evidence and personal opinions to help readers navigate the complex issues surrounding meat consumption.
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Should We Eat Meat?
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High-quality meat proteins are essential for human development and health.
As a kid you probably learned about the food pyramid and the importance of carbohydrates and proteins for healthy growth and sustained energy. But did you know that some proteins are better than others? They’re called high-quality proteins and you get many of them by eating animal products.
In fact, humans evolved to eat other animals. For instance, a human’s digestive tract is clearly different from that of a herbivore because it has enzymes which developed specifically to digest meat.
But how does meat fit into our diets?
You can think about eating as the process of supplying yourself with the things necessary to sustain your metabolism and maintain, as well as grow, your body. To do that you need both macronutrients like carbohydrates, fats and protein, and micronutrients like vitamins. It just so happens that meat is an excellent source of both macro- and micronutrients, and proteins in particular.
For example, the high-quality protein in meat is essential for young children and serves a crucial function in brain growth. In addition, the energy per gram of fat in meat is more than double that of carbohydrates, clocking in at a whopping 39 kilojoules per gram as opposed to 17.3 for carbohydrates. Meat is also a superb source of iron, which is important because iron deficiency is a major global issue, affecting up to 1.6 billion worldwide. It can lead to impaired brain development and even maternal death.
But despite all the beneficial aspects of including meat in your diet there are some drawbacks. Meat production has a negative impact on the environment. That’s because the per-capita supply of meat available in many nations is higher than the average grown adult weight of 65 kilograms to 80 kilograms. This is an issue because the agricultural processes tied to meat production use a lot of energy and incur a variety of other costs. We’ll find out more about these in later blinks.
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What is Should We Eat Meat? about?
Should We Eat Meat? (2013) helps you navigate the ethical dilemmas behind your hamburger with a broad and objective assessment of meat production and consumption. Should you stick to grass-fed beef or take up veganism to save the planet? These blinks will give you all the facts you need to make your own informed decision.
Should We Eat Meat? Review
Should We Eat Meat? by Vaclav Smil (2013) is a thought-provoking book that delves into the complex topic of our relationship with meat consumption. Here are three reasons why you should give this book a read:
- Thoroughly researched and informative, it presents a comprehensive analysis of the environmental, economic, and ethical implications of meat production and consumption.
- Smil offers alternative solutions and perspectives to the meat dilemma, encouraging readers to think critically about our dietary choices and their impact on the planet.
- By presenting the topic in an unbiased manner, the book stimulates intellectual curiosity and challenges preconceived notions, making it anything but boring.
Who should read Should We Eat Meat??
- Meat eaters and vegetarians alike
- People looking for objective information about meat consumption and production
- Anyone concerned about the Earth’s future
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Should We Eat Meat? FAQs
What is the main message of Should We Eat Meat??
The main message of Should We Eat Meat? is to critically examine the environmental and ethical consequences of meat consumption.
How long does it take to read Should We Eat Meat??
The estimated reading time for Should We Eat Meat? is a few hours. The Blinkist summary can be completed in 15 minutes.
Is Should We Eat Meat? a good book? Is it worth reading?
Should We Eat Meat? is a thought-provoking read that challenges our perspectives on meat consumption. It provides essential insights into a complex issue.
Who is the author of Should We Eat Meat??
Vaclav Smil is the author of Should We Eat Meat?.
What to read after Should We Eat Meat??
If you're wondering what to read next after Should We Eat Meat?, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Way We Eat Now by Bee Wilson
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- Energy by Vaclav Smil
- What Does It All Mean? by Thomas Nagel
- The 3-Minute Rule by Brant Pinvidic
- The Art of Conflict-Free Negotiations by Halbert Ward
- The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma
- Don't Overthink It by Anne Bogel
- In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan
- Words on the Move by John McWhorter