10 Turkeys

The consumption of turkeys in the U.S. has escalated through the years. It’s no longer eaten primarily at Thanksgiving and Christmas, but throughout the year. The process of mass-producing turkeys for human consumption is as barbaric, if not more so, than the process of mass-producing chickens.

Turkeys are kept in cramped, dark spaces to discourage the naturally aggressive behaviors that occur when an animal is kept confined without space to roam and feed freely. They’re overfed to the point where their legs can’t support the weight of the breast tissue. And this animal which normally has a 10-years life span is generally slaughtered at about 2 years of age.

Unhealthy and overcrowded conditions mean that disease amongst commercial turkeys is widespread, resulting in approximately 2.7 million turkeys dying in their sheds every year. Foot and leg deformities, heat stress and starvation caused by the inability of immature birds to find the feed and water troughs are commonplace. Ulcerated feet and hock burns are common - caused by continual contact with litter contaminated by urine and feces.

Can you really sit at dinner on your next holiday and look at a roasted turkey the same way? Turkeys come with the same recommendations for cleanliness and cooking that chickens do. You have to be sure they’re cooked to a specific temperature to ensure that any disease-causing bacteria are completely killed. You should clean up any counter space with bleach, again to kill all bacteria.

It makes a compelling case for switching to a vegetarian diet, doesn’t it? Suddenly, the jokes about vegetarian dinners, with nut loaves and vegetables, instead of meat, seem to make more sense, not only from a health standpoint, but from a humane issue as well. Why do we persist in eating in such a way that makes us unhealthy and is inherently bad for us? For you next holiday dinner, consider the possibilities of an all-vegetarian menu. So much of the dinner is vegetable-based to begin with; it’s a small change to replace turkey with a plant-based main course as well.

Other Articles:

1 You Are What You Eat
10 Turkeys
11 Pig Farming
12 Fish, Mercury
13 Animal Suffering
14 Different Types Of Vegetarians
15 Vegetarians And Heart Disease
16 Vegetarians And Cancer
17 Bowels And Stomach Digestion
18 Weight
19 Osteoporosis
2 Humans Did Not Always Eat Meat.
20 Spirituality
21 Transition Family
22 Detoxification
23 Eliminate Red Meat
24 Eliminate Poultry
25 Eliminate Seafood
26- Got Milk? Reasons Not To Grab For The Glass
27 - Flipping The Switch To Vegetarianism
28 - Variety Adds Vitality To Your Vegetarian Meals
29 - Lazy Vegetarians Who Choose The Wrong Carbs Risk Health
3 Why Did Humans Start Eating Meat?
30 - Proper Planning Prevents Problems
31 - Vegetarian Diet For Optimal Personal And Environmental Health
32 - The Benefits Of A Vegetarian Diet To Diabetics
33- Sample Two-day Diabetic Vegetarian Menu
34- The Special Needs Of The Pregnant Vegetarian
35 - Sample Daily Menu For Pregnant Vegetarians
36 - Going Vegetarian During Your Pregnancy
37 - The Healing Effects A Vegetarian Diet Has On Your Post-baby Body
38 - Sample Vegetarian Diet Including Essential Fatty Acids To Promote Healing
39 - What To Feed Your Vegetarian Baby
4 Traditional Meat
40 - Variety Is The Spice Of Your Vegetarian Child’s Diet
41 - Putting Your Vegetarian Toddler On The Fast Track To Health
42 - Sample Menu Items For Your Growing Vegetarian Toddler
43 - Ideas For Adding Some Variety To Your Vegetarian Lifestyle
44 - Tips For A Vibrant Vegetarian Holiday Filled With Variety
45 - Veggies Take Center State At Your 4th Of July Cookout
46 - Tips For A Tasty Vegetarian Thanksgiving
47 - Remembering The Reasons For A Vegetarian Season
48 - Variety In Your New Vegetarian Diet
49 - The Environmental Costs Of Factory Farming And Ranching
5 Why Switch To Vegetarianism
50 - Nourishing Our Body, Nourishing Our Spirit
6 Peta
7 Caged Chickens And Hormones
8 Cow Slaughterhouses
9 Veal