素食與健康 Health & Vegetarianism

(Hereby, I would like to express my gratitude to Betty Ke and Frances Chang, who proofread my article without any reward)
還記得幾年前,當SARS橫行時,四千多人深受其害,其影響及於二十七國,並造成二百五十一人死亡。此外,愛滋病、禽流感、狂牛症等,都造成許多人們失去其財產及親愛的家人,並使你我生活在致命的威脅下。雖然這些疾病幾乎無法由現代醫學治癒,但仍有一種有效的方式來避免您受到這些威脅,並增加健康—那就是素食。

Just a few years ago, more than four thousand people suffered from SARS, and it spread to 27 countries just within a few months and caused the deaths of 251 people. Besides this disease, AIDS, bird flu, and mad cow disease have all caused many people to lose their properties and lovely families, and make you and me live under the lethal threats. Although many of these diseases are almost incurable by modern medical science, there is still an effective way to prevent you from these threats, and enhance your health—that is vegetarian diet.




首先,使人們遠離這些威脅的最佳方式就是強化免疫系統。雖然大家大都聽過「預防重於治療」,然而大部份的人在平時仍常忽略,而直到生病了才想去治療疾病。這就像西醫常常僅重視從「結果」解決問題。譬如,當一個人得了前列腺癌,西醫最直接想到的就是切掉其前列腺,或開一些抗生素。然而,在《營養免疫學》書中,楊百翰大學的陳昭妃博士指出,大部份的藥品都只是減低疾病的徵狀,並且同時降低免疫系統的功能。

First of all, the best way to prevent people from these disasters is to strengthen the immune system. Although most people have heard, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” However, most people still ignore their health, and try to heal diseases until they have suffered from the illness; this is just like when modern medical science only tends to solve problems from “the results.” For instance, when a person gets prostate cancer, a doctor may just cut his prostate; and if a person gets sick, the doctor may just proscribe some antibiotics. However, in Nutritional Immunology, Dr Chen from the Brigham Young University states that most medicines just reduce the syndrome of the sickness, and they weaken the immune system at the same time.



事實上,人們的免疫系統就是他們自已最好的醫生。90%的慢性病,如癌狀、心血管疾病、關節炎、流行性感冒等,都有關於免疫系統失調。一般人所慣用的抗生素,其實對病毒完全無效,而只對部分細菌性疾病有效,例如肺炎和尿道炎;而人體自身的抗體,郤能摧毀100%的病毒及細菌。因此,最佳的保健之道,便是藉由正向的態度、足夠的睡眠、適量的運動及均衡的營養,來強化免疫系統。

Actually, people’s immune systems are just the best doctors for themselves. 90% of the chronic diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, flu…etc, are related to immune system disorders. While antibiotics is totally ineffective against viruses and only destroys some bacteria, such as lung infection and urinary tract infection, antibodies destroy 100% of bacteria and virus. Therefore, the best way to keep ourselves health is to strengthen our immune systems by developing a positive attitude, getting enough sleep, doing moderate exercise, and taking up

balanced nutrition.



均衡的營養應來自於健康、未煮、多樣且完整的植物。烹飪可能造成95%的抗癌物質及90%的免疫強化物質流失。此外,若烹調超過55゜C(或有一說是40゜C),100%的酵素和高比例的維生素都將被摧毀。吃完整的食物也很重要,例如我們日常所吃的米都是精緻的白米,而其通常只含澱粉。糙米或許比較粗糙,但含較多的維生素、礦物質、和纖維於其表皮。因此,植物的表皮及種子通常很營養,而也唯有完整的食物較易提供均衡的營養。

The balanced nutrition should come from healthy, uncooked, various, and wholesome plants. Cooking may destroy 95% anti-cancer ingredients, and 90% immune system enhancers. Besides, if cooking is hotter than 55 degree centigrade (some papers say 40゜C), 100% enzyme and a high percentage of vitamin will be destroyed. Also, it is important to eat wholesome food. For example, the rice that we usually eat everyday is usually refined, and it contains starch only. Brown rice maybe more grainy, but it contains much vitamin, mineral, and fiber in the skin of rice. Therefore, the skin and the seeds of plants are usually nutritious, and only wholesome plants may provide balanced nutrition.



中醫與西醫就完全不同,其方式並非頭痛醫頭,而乃是從根本上解決問題-—也就是強化免疫力。在上述前列腺癌病人的例子中,中醫師可能就會勸此病患去改變飲食習慣,減低工作量及壓力,並開些中藥以滋養五藏六腑。反之,如果病患持續食用含高飽和脂肪酸的食物,他不但會繼續遭受前列腺癌之苦,並還可能得心臟病、中風及高血壓。

Unlike modern medical theory, Chinese Medicine solves problems from the root, and improves the patient’s immune system. In above case, a Chinese Medicine doctor may advise the patient to change his diet habits, reduce stress and workload, and prescribe some Chinese herbs to nourish his internal organs. If the patient keeps on eating food containing high saturated fat, he will not only suffer from prostate cancer, but will also be at high risk of stroke, heart disease, and high blood pressure.



中醫理論背後其實是深具哲學意涵的。其認為不僅食物,連宇宙、道德和情緒,都可能影響我們的健康。表一即從五方、五季、五行與五藏的關係,看出個人與宇宙的關連。例如,長夏處於夏秋之際,此季節較潮溼而食物較易發霉,所以人們在此季節較須注意其腸胃。在秋天,天氣多變,許多人容易感冒,所以應多注意呼吸系統。此外,火是紅色,故紅色食物有益於心。而樹為綠色,故綠色食物有益於肝。



五方 五季 五行 五臟

東 春 木 肝

南 夏 火 心

中 長夏 土 脾

西 秋 金 肺

北 冬 水 腎

表一:個人和宇宙間的關係



Chinese medical theory has a philosophy behind it. The mentality is that not only food, but also the universe, morality, and emotions may affect our health.

From Chart I, it shows the relationship between individuals and the Universe from the connection between five directions, four seasons, five elements, and five internal organs. For example, long summer is the months between summer and fall, and it is damper and easier for foods to become rotten, so people should be aware of their stomachs in this season. In fall, the weather changes, and many people may catch a cold, so they should be aware of their breathing systems. Besides, fire is red, so eat more red food is good for your heart, and trees are green, so eating green food is good for your liver.



Five directions Five seasons Five elements Five internal organs

The East spring wood liver

The South summer fire heart

The Middle long summer earth stomach

The West fall metal lung

The North winter water kidney

Chart I: The relationship between individuals and the Universe



  其次,由表二可知身心關係。在《晨鐘》中指出了儒家五常、佛家五戒、五情及五臟的關係。例如,當某人殺生時,便缺乏仁愛之心,而對肝臟便產生不良影響。若一個人遵守禮儀且不好色,則心功能便可能較佳。而當太高興則可能傷心,太悲傷則可能傷胃。



儒家五常 佛家五戒 五臟 五情

仁 戒殺 肝 怒

禮 戒色 心 喜

信 戒妄 脾 憂

義 戒盜 肺 傷

智 戒酒 腎 驚

表二:身心間之關係



In The Morning Bell, it mentions about the relationship between five constant virtues of Confucianism, the five disciplines of Buddhism, five emotions and five internal organs. For example, if one kills, his lack of benevolence will not be good for his liver. On the other hand, a person obeys propriety and who is not lustful; his heart may function well. Also, if a person is overjoyed, his heart may be hurt; and if he worries too much, he may hurt his stomach.



Five constant virtues of Confucianism Five discipline of Buddhism Five internal

organs Five emotions

benevolence Slay not liver anger

propriety Lust not heart happiness

trustworthiness Tell no lie stomach worry

righteousness Steal not lung sadness

wisdom Drink no wine kidney terror

Chart II: The relationship between mind and body



最後,食物和健康也是習習相關。美國健康部表示,不健康的飲食是美國第二大致命主因(造成美國一年約三十萬到四十萬人的死亡)。陳昭妃博士指出,改善免疫系統的最佳方式,便是補充其所需的營養。以下是依照中醫理論,用以強化健康:

◆ 綠色食物: 有益於肝臟,例如各種綠色蔬菜。

◆ 紅色食物: 有益於心臟, 例如胡蘿蔔、番笳、紅棗等。

◆ 黃色食物: 有益於胃腸, 例如黃豆、地瓜、糙米、燕麥等。

◆ 白色食物: 有益於肺, 例如杏仁、竹筍、瓜類等。

◆ 黑色食物: 有益於腎, 例如香菇、海帶、芝麻等。



Last but not least, the relationship between five food colors and health is also very important. According to the US Department of Health, a poor diet is the second biggest killer in the U.S. (300 thousands to 400 thousands deaths a year) Dr. Chen announced that the best way to improve an immune system is to supplement the nutrients that it needs. Following are the five food colors that Chinese medical theory use to suggest you to enhance your health:

◆ Green food: Nourish your livers, such as all kinds of green vegetables.

◆ Red food: Good for hearts, such as carrot, tomato, Chinese date…etc.

◆ Yellow food: Good for your stomachs, such as soy beans, sweet potato, brown rice, oat, corn…and so forth.

◆ White food: Good for lungs, such as almond, bamboo shoots, melons

◆ Black food: Good for kidney, such as mushroom, sea weeds, sesame…etc.



除營養免疫學及中醫理論這些東西方醫學理論外,也可從表三得知之素食的確較適合人體結構。此表清楚地表達了人體的生理構造較類似於草食動物,例如人們主要依靠平的臼齒,而肉食動物則靠尖銳的犬齒。人們的唾液是鹹性的,並含酵素以消化澱粉;反之,肉食動物唾液則是酸的,且不含酵素。



人類 草食動物 肉食動物

牙齒 ◆ 扁平,有臼齒 ◆ 扁平,有臼齒 ◆ 長形尖銳犬齒

唾液 ◆ 鹹性

◆ 含酵素以消化澱粉 ◆ 鹹性

◆ 含酵素以消化澱粉 ◆ 酸性

◆ 不含酵素

上下顎 ◆ 左右移動以咀嚼 ◆ 左右移動以咀嚼 ◆ 上下移動以嘶咬

胃 ◆ 長方形

◆ 構造複雜 ◆ 長方形

◆ 構造複雜 ◆ 構造簡單之圓袋形

◆ 分泌二十倍胃酸以消化骨質食物

小腸 ◆ 身長之十二倍長,以提供足夠時間消化食物 ◆ 身長之十到十二倍長,以提供足夠時間消化食物 ◆ 僅身長之三倍,以快速排掉腐肉毒素

排汗 ◆ 由皮膚排汗,有毛細孔 ◆ 由皮膚排汗,有毛細孔 ◆ 非由皮膚排汗,且無毛細孔

表三:身體構造比較表



In addition to the Nutritional Immunology and Chinese medical theory these western and eastern medical theories, we can also assert that vegetarian diets are more suitable for human beings from our body structures. From the chart, it is clear that many of human physical characters are more similar to plant-eaters. Such as people have flat molars while meat-eaters have sharp canine teeth. Human saliva is alkaline and contains enzyme to digest starch while meat-eaters’ is acid and contain no enzyme.



humans fruit, grass- eating animals

meat-eating animals

teeth ◆ flat molars ◆ flat molars ◆ long, sharp, pointed

◆ canine teeth

saliva ◆ alkaline

◆ contain enzyme to

digest starch ◆ alkaline

◆ contain enzyme to

digest starch ◆ acid

◆ no enzyme to digest

starch

jaws ◆ move from side to side for grinding ◆ move from side to side for grinding ◆ move up and down for tearing and biting

stomach ◆ oblong in shape

◆ complicated in structure ◆ oblong in shape

◆ complicated in stricture ◆ simple, round sack

◆ The gastric juice is 20 times acid for digesting bones.

intestines ◆ 12 times the length of trunk, enough time for extracting all nutrients ◆ 10-12 times the length of trunk, enough time for extracting all nutrients ◆ 3 times the length of trunk for fast expulsion of rotten meat

perspiration ◆ sweat through the skin

◆ have pores ◆ sweat through the skin

◆ have pores ◆ do not sweat through the skin

◆ have no pore

Chart III: Body structure comparison chart



有些人可能仍認為素食不能提供足夠的營養,而上述也僅為學術理論罷了。因此,筆者在此便以自身實際經驗作例證。筆者在從軍時,為外島的離島的步兵排長。那裡的溫度冬天常低於攝氏10 度,夏天則可能高於35度。那裏沒有自來水,也不多產蔬果。在那艱困環境中,筆者仍需與軍隊一起操練體能。但由於清口茹素,筆者不但不曾請病假,體能也略勝於一般士兵。素食也能使人看起來更年輕好看。筆者的朋友們都很難想像以前筆者是滿臉粉刺,但如果他們靠近觀之,便可證明筆者所言不假。

Besides, there is a myth that vegetarian diet can’t provide enough nutrition, and you may think that things mentioned above are just academic theories. I would like to take myself as an example. When I was in army, I was an infantry platoon leader on a small rocky island. The temperature was usually lower than 10 degrees Centigrade in winter, and hotter than 35 degrees in summer. There was no running water, and it not easy to buy fresh produce there. In that kind of tough environment, I still had to enhance my physical strength with the army. But because of my vegetarian diet, I never had to take a sick leave, and my physical vigor was better than most soldiers. Vegetarian diet may also make people look younger and better. It might be hard for people to imagine that my face was full of pimples, but if they take a close look, they may see much “evidence”, which shows that my skin was terrible before I was a vegetarian.



如果您仍能認為上述僅為筆者個人經驗,試看下列名人,皆可為明證:

Carl Lewis, “世紀奧林匹克選手,”奧林匹克徑賽金牌

Ruth Heidrich, 鐵人三項, 分齡記錄保持人

Martina Navratilova, 網球冠軍

Desmond Howard, 當選最有價值足球運動員, Heisman 獎得主Stan Price, 平舉舉重世界紀綠保持人

Bill Walton, NBA 名人榜

Phoebe Mills,奧林匹克體操金牌

Billie Jean King,網球冠軍

Bill Manetti,舉重冠軍

Bill Pearl, 四次健美比賽冠軍

Al Oerter, 四次奧林匹克擲鐵餅金牌

Keith Holmes, WBC 世界中量級冠軍Robert Parish, NBA “50位最偉大選手”之一

Jack LaLanne, 媒體明星及健康傳奇

Edwin Moses, 兩次奧林匹克跨欄金牌

資料來源: Vegetarian Times 雜誌





If you think it’s only my personal experience, please look at the following list, and you can see much strong evidence from these famous people:

Carl Lewis, “Olympian of the Century,” Olympic medalist in track

Ruth Heidrich, Ironman triathlete, age-group record holder

Martina Navratilova, tennis champion

Desmond Howard, Heisman trophy winner

Stan Price, world-record holder in bench press

Bill Walton, NBA Hall of Famer

Phoebe Mills, Olympic medal-winning gymnast

Billie Jean King, tennis champion

Bill Manetti, powerlifting champion

Bill Pearl, four-time Mr. Universe and bodybuilder

Al Oerter, discus thrower and winner of four Olympic gold medals

Keith Holmes, WBC World Middleweight Champion

Robert Parish, one of the NBA’s “50 Greatest Players”

Jack LaLanne, fitness legend and media star

Edwin Moses, two-time Olympic Gold medalist in hurdles

 Source: Vegetarian Times Magazine



上列中之奧運名人或冠軍選手,如劉易士等,都是非常精力充沛且肌肉發達的。令人驚訝的是,連一些需要強大爆發力的運動員,如籃球選手、拳擊手和健美先生也是素食者。例如Bill Walton 和 Robert Parish 都是美國職籃的著名選手,Keith Holmes 是中量級的拳級冠軍,而 Bill Pearl 則是四次的世界健美先生。

These Olympic medalists and trophy winners, such as Carl Lewis, are very energetic and muscular. Moreover, it’s really hard to believe that some of them are sportsmen who need strong explosive force, such as NBA player, boxer, and bodybuilder. For example, Bill Walton and Robert Parish are both famous NBA players, Keith Holmes is the middleweight boxing champion, and Bill Pearl is the four-time Mr. Universe and bodybuilder.



進一步地,從表四觀之,則可得知素食含較多的養份及較少的膽固醇。此表是基於每樣食物每百公克的營養值,而資料來源則是美國農業部營養資料庫,故深值信賴。許多人認為無法從植物中得到足夠的鈣、鐵及蛋白質。然而,從此表可清楚得芝麻含975 毫克的鈣,豆腐含 683毫克,而黃豆則含 277毫克。一般人相信牛奶含較多的鈣,但仍比黃豆少,只含193毫克。而魚和蛋更少於60毫克,比芝麻少了十五倍。此外,也可從表得知,大部份的蔬菜含低比例的飽和脂肪酸。不飽和脂肪酸對我們的健康很重要,並可幫助清除體內的飽和脂肪酸,也因此可預防心血管疾病。反之,動物性食物則含高比例的飽和脂肪酸。如牛奶,其飽和脂肪酸超過總脂肪的50%。因此,動物性食物,如牛奶,即使營養價值高,但也可能潛藏嚴重的健康問題。至於膽固醇,從表可知不論芝麻或黃豆,都不含任何膽固醇。反之,動物性食物皆含膽固醇,其可能造成心血管疾病。美國人食用過多動物性食物,無怪乎每十個美國人中,便有八人可能得癌症或心血管疾病。至於蛋白質,從表可知芝麻和黃豆都比魚的含量高。至於礦物質,大部份的檻果及豆類都含量很多。例如芝麻和黃豆的鎂含量都比奶、魚、蛋還多。





來源 鈣

mg 脂肪g 膽固醇

mg 蛋白質

g 鎂.

mg 鐵

mg 纖維

g

總共 飽和

芝麻種子 975.00 49.67 6.96 0.00 17.73 351.00 14.55 11.80

豆腐 683.00 8.72 1.26 0.00 15.78 58.00 10.47 2.30

黃豆 277.00 19.94 2.88 0.00 36.49 280.00 15.70 9.30

羊奶 193.40 7.00 4.60 27.00 5.98 18.36 0.10 0.00

魚類 60.00 2.94 0.42 41.00 26.69 107.00 1.07 0.00

煎蛋 55.00 15.00 4.17 459.00 13.54 11.00 1.56 0.00

表四:美國農業部食品營養表



Moreover, let’s look at the Chart IV, and you can actually see that vegetarian foods contain more nutrients and less cholesterol. The listings are based on a 100 gram serving of each, and the source of the data listed here is the USDA Nutrient Database, so it is very reliable. Many people think that they may not get enough calcium, protein, and iron from vegetables. However, from the chart, it is clear that sesame seeds contain 975 mg of calcium, tofu contains 683 mg of calcium, and soybeans contain 277 mg of calcium. People usually believe that milk contains much calcium, but it still has less calcium, 193 mg to be exact, than sesame and soybeans. Also, fish and eggs all contain less than 60 mg calcium, which is 15 times less than sesame. Besides, you can see that most vegetarian food contains low percentage of saturated fat. Unsaturated fat is important for our health and may help us to eliminate saturated fat in our bodies, which can therefore prevent us from receiving cardiovascular diseases. On the contrary, most animal foods contain high percentage of saturated fat such as milk, it contains more than 50% of saturated fat in its total fat. So, like other animal foods, even though milk is a nutritious food, it may also cause some serious health problems. As for cholesterol, you can see that whether it is sesame or soybeans, neither contains any cholesterol. On the contrary, animal foods all contain cholesterol, especially fried eggs which contain 459 mg cholesterol, and like saturated fat, may also cause cardiovascular diseases. Americans consume too much animal foods, and that’s why 8 out of every 10 Americans suffer from heart disease or cancer at some point in their lifetime. As for protein, you can see sesame and tofu both contain more protein than fish and eggs, and soybeans contain more protein than fish. As for mineral, most nuts and beans contain a lot of it. For example, sesame and soybeans both contain more Magnesium than milk, fish, or eggs.





Source Calcium mg Fat g Chol.

mg Protein

g Mag.

mg Iron

mg Fiber

g

Total Saturated

Sesame seeds 975.00 49.67 6.96 0.00 17.73 351.00 14.55 11.80

Tofu, raw, firm, 683.00 8.72 1.26 0.00 15.78 58.00 10.47 2.30

Soybeans, 277.00 19.94 2.88 0.00 36.49 280.00 15.70 9.30

Milk, sheep 193.40 7.00 4.60 27.00 5.98 18.36 0.10 0.00

Finfish, 60.00 2.94 0.42 41.00 26.69 107.00 1.07 0.00

Egg, whole, cooked, fried 55.00 15.00 4.17 459.00 13.54 11.00 1.56 0.00

Chart IV: USDA Nutritive Value Chart



動物性食品的高比例飽和脂肪酸及高膽固醇,皆可能造成心血管疾病及其他健康問題。肉類食品也含有許多化學物質,如抗生素、荷爾蒙及殺蟲劑等。動物性食品還含有很多不健康的物質,如飽和性脂肪酸、膽固醇和許多寄生蟲,並可能隱含禽流感、狂牛症等疾病。也因上述問題,肉類可能造成心臟病、高血壓、中風、粉刺、關節炎、骨質疏鬆症、肥胖和便秘。

Due to the high percentage of saturated fat and cholesterol in animal products, they cause cardiovascular diseases, and also many other health problems. Meat may contain many chemicals, such as antibiotics, hormone, pesticide. Also, there are many kinds of unhealthy substances within it, such as saturated fat, cholesterol, and many parasites and diseases, such as bird flu, mad cow diseases, may hide in it. Because of the problems listed above, a non-vegetarian lifestyle may cause heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, pimples, arthritis(sore joints), osteoporosis, obesity, and constipation.



許多動物農場都以不人道、不健康的方式對待動物。動物吃、睡和排泄都在同一擁擠之地,有些動物甚至還必須吃自己的排泄物,或被餵以含化學物和垃圾的食物。因此,大部分動物在送到屠宰場之前都已得病,而農夫們便用大量的抗生素以防止動物在屠宰前死亡。藥物濫用造成許多國際傳染疾病。許多細菌對藥物不僅產生更強的抗藥性,也變得更可怕。1918年,西班牙的禽流感造成了兩千萬人的死亡,但那時死亡率還僅為1%。然而,病毒不斷突變,死亡率到今天已達76%。因此,僅管大多數的人認為禽流感、狂牛症和其他可怕的疾病皆為偶發的天災,但事實上這些都是人禍。如果人們不改變飼養家畜習慣,這些災劫只會日益嚴重。

On an animal farm, most animals are treated in an inhumane and unsanitary way. Animals eat, sleep, and excrete in the same crowded place, and some of them even have to eat their own excrement, or are fed by food mixed with chemicals and garbage. Therefore, most of them get sick before being sent to the slaughter house. These animal farmers use a lot of antibiotics to avoid these animals’ death before they are killed. Misuse of antibiotics to feed animals causes many international infective diseases. Many bacteria not only become resistant to medicine, but also become more terrible. In 1918, bird flu caused 20 million deaths in Spain, and the death rate was only 1%. Today, the virus mutates, and the death rate has reached to 76%. Therefore, many people think that bird flu, mad cow disease, and other terrible diseases are natural disasters, but actually they are man-made disasters. If people don’t change the way of raising domestic animals, the disasters will become more and more serious.



荷爾蒙也是一大問題。農夫們利用大量的荷爾蒙使動物快速長大,以獲取更大的利益。然而,這些化學物質進入人們身體後,可能會引起很大的問題。筆者朋友抱怨說她十歲大的女兒今夏月事就已開始,因此她很擔心女兒是否會就快停止長高了。她也提到她女兒班上同學也有人面臨同樣問題。荷爾蒙不僅可能造成兒童早熟,也可造成另一嚴重問題──癌症。

Hormone is also a big problem. Animal farmers use much hormone to make animal grow dramatically fast, and make more money. However, these chemicals go into our bodies through food, and create big problems. For example, my friend complained to me that her ten-year-old daughter began her menses this summer, and she really worries that her daughter may not grow taller. She also told me that her daughter’s classmates face the same problem. It not only may limit children’s growth, but also may cause a big problem—cancer.



有些人以為蔬果含太多殺蟲劑,事實上,在食物鏈越高層的生物,可能累積的污染物質越多。殺蟲劑專家Lewis Regenstein指出,殺蟲劑累積在動物的脂肪組織比蔬果還高了十四倍,比奶蛋還高了五倍半。

Some people may think vegetables contain too much pesticide. Actually, the higher the position in the food chain, the more pollutants you may accumulate. Pesticide authority Lewis Regenstein claims, pesticide accumulates in the fatty tissues of animals is14 times greater than fruits and vegetables; and dairy products is 5 1/2 times more polluted.



當與他人發生激烈口角時,一般人可能產生頭暈、胃痛和其他不舒服的感覺,此乃因負面情緒產生的毒素所引起。同理,當動物被殺時,牠們的疼痛、忿怒和恐懼,都比口角時強得許多,因此也產生了更多的毒素。另外,從表四可知植物性食物含許多鈣質,而那便是為何草食性動物較溫和。人若缺乏鈣質,情緒就容易不穩,所以吃太多肉又吃太少蔬果者脾氣容易不好。此外,肉中的自由基也容易使細胞和組織老化,並長粉刺。

When having a strong argument with others, people may feel dizzy, stomach ache, and other bad feelings, and this is because that negative emotion creates a certain toxin. It’s the same when animals are killed; their pain, anger, and terror are much stronger than ours during an argument, and much more toxins are created. In Chart IV, we have seen that vegetarian food contain more calcium. And that’s why plant-eating animals are gentler.  If one is insufficient for calcium, his temper will be more unstable, so eating too much meat and too less vegetable is more liable to make people have bad temper. Besides, the free radical within the meat may age your cells and organ, and create pimples.



從下列素食金字塔圖示可知,人們可從蔬果、全穀類、豆類、檻果和植物油等素食中獲得足夠的營養。

In the following picture, vegetarian food pyramid shows that people may absorb enough nutrients from balanced vegetarian diet mainly based on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and plant oils.



素食金字塔 Vegetarian Food Pyrimaid ..



























即使一般的食物金字塔也建議人們多吃殼類和蔬果,多吃肉。





健康飲食金字塔



































Even normal food pyramid suggests people to eat more grains and vegetables, and less meat.



Healthy Eating Pyramid



除了健康,筆者最後在此也略談其他相關議題。1961年,美國開始從中美洲進口牛肉,而那時中美洲仍有130平方英哩的雨林。為了養牛,就必須開墾森林種牧草。才二十五年,雨林就僅存八十平方英哩。此外,由於開墾森林,造成了每年一萬種生物滅絕,而平均每一小時就一種滅絕。雨林的原住民也因生存環境遭破壞,而死於飢餓。

Finally, besides health, I would like to discuss some other important issues. In 1961, America started to export beef from Central America, and Central America had 130 square miles of rain forest. For raising bulls, it is necessary to deforest for growing grass. In just 25 years, there were only less than 80 square miles of rain forest left. Besides, every year, there are 10 thousand of species extinct, about one species per hour, because of the deforestation. Also, many rain forest natives die from hunger because their living environment was destroyed.



此外,讀者文摘也指出90 %的蛋白質,在從植物轉動物性蛋白質的過程中會被浪費掉。(以一百公斤的黃豆餵動物,只能得到十二公斤的豬肉或十公斤的牛肉。)這些養份被轉換成各種動物性的廢物(如尿酸和乳酸)和排泄物。其每天所產生兩千億的動物排泄物,超過美國人的二十倍。這些排泄物造成嚴重的河川污染,甚至造成水質優氧化。

Also, Reader Digest reports on Average, 90 % of protein may be wasted during the process of conversion from plant to animal protein. (If you use 100 kg of soy bean to feed animals, you may only get 12 kg of pork or 10 kg of beef) These nutrients were converted into all kinds of animal waste (such as uric acid and lactic acid) and excrement. Everyday, twenty billion pounds of animal excrement is produced, and it is twenty times more than the American waste. They cause serious pollution in our rivers and make them become eutrophicated.



美國食物發展政策學會也指出,每天有四萬名兒童死於飢餓,亦即每兩秒鐘就有一位兒童餓死。世界上有一半的人口(約三十億人)處於挨餓狀態。當這麼多人死於飢餓,美國人郤以85%的食物餵食家畜。在大陸,平均每人僅消耗195公斤的穀物,因73%的食物是由人們直接食用,而美國人一年郤消耗667公斤,因只有15%的食物由人們直接食用。

The Institute for Food and Development Policy (better known as food first) also states that 40 thousand children die from hunger everyday, and it means every two seconds, one child die from hunger, and half of world population (about 3 billion people) suffer in hunger. While many people die from hunger, the U.S. uses 85% of food to feed farm animals. In China, averagely every people consume 195kg of grain, and 73% is for people to eat directly. Americans consume 667 kg, and only 15% is eaten directly.



人們可從〈meet your meat〉網站 (www.meetyourmeat.com) 上得知更多事實真相。別把影片關掉只因畫面太慘忍,因為這些事實決不因閉上眼睛或摀住耳朵就消失。反之,試著想想在影片中所呈現的一切,您便會對這些無辜、無助的動物產生較強的同情心。

People may know more truth from the website:“meet your meat” (www.meetyourmeat.com), and don’t turn the video off when the image is too cruel, because the fact never disappears just because you close your eyes and cover your ears. Instead, try to visualize what, you may have seen in the video so that you may have a stronger sympathy for these innocent and helpless animals.



當筆者告訴美國朋友有關肉類可能造成癌症的原因,如農夫用荷爾蒙和抗生素餵動物,還有美國健康部允許長癌的動物身上的肉仍可販賣,仍有朋友回答說他寧可死,也不願不吃肉。然而,當與另一位家庭正遭受癌症之苦的朋友談及此事,她僅回答:「一切都太晚了。」人們造成動物的痛苦,而動物造成人們重大疾病,因此,筆者誓盡最大力量,停止此惡性循環。

When I told my friends some factors that meat may cause cancers, such as farmers feed hormone and antibiotics to animals and Department of Health allow meat from animals that have cancer, some of them replied to me that they prefer to die rather than living without eating meat. However, when talking to some of my classmates whose family is suffering from cancer, that’s really not too hard for her. When I tried to give her some advice for her family, she said: “Everything is too late.” People cause animal suffering, and animals cause people serious illness. I swear I will try my best to stop this vicious circle.



參考資料

一. 持齋真諦,李輔人著,輔仁出版社

二. 英文傳題參考手冊—基礎篇,祟德學院英語庫,光慧文化事業股份有限公司

三. 營養免疫學,陳昭妃著,丞燕健康文庫

四. 新世紀飲食,約翰.羅彬斯著,琉璃光出版社

五. 晨鐘,正一善書出版社
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