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Plants Are People Too!
Health | June 07, 2015
Okay, well maybe not exactly ‘people,’ but most of us are well aware that plants are living creatures. Now it may sound like I’m poking fun at some of my vegan friends (okay some of them might be frenemies!), but I really do want to make a point regarding our concepts of life and sentience (big word, I know!) in terms of what we eat and how we judge others for what they may or may not eat. This is kind of a follow-up to my other recent piece entitled Nutrition as Religion.
So just how alive are plants including all those delicious fruits and vegetables we love so much? Very much alive according to recent research coming out of the University of Missouri and elsewhere. Not only alive, but very much aware of things we usually associate with animals only. It turns out plants have a complex array of responses that very much resembles our own emotional responses.
A great place to begin is this recent article in The New Yorker. While the article emphasizes that early attempts in the 1960’s and 1970’s at gauging plant intelligence ended being more on the side of ridiculousness, there is emerging research that suggests that plants have a neurobiology very similar to animals. In fact, in 2006 a group of researchers suggested that “there may exist some brainlike information-processing system to integrate the data and coördinate a plant’s behavioral response.”
Fast forward to this fascinating study out of the University of Missouri and we’re beginning to see a growing trend in research that suggests that plants think and feel just like people. This particular study suggests that plants respond and become defensive when being eaten, in this case, by cute little caterpillars. This goes back to that big word I mentioned earlier: sentience. Plants are aware of when they are being harmed and react accordingly.
So where am I going with all of this? If plants are aware of themselves in the same manner as animals like us, then it stands to reason that the logic that many food zealots use against those of us who eat meat falls apart. When they say that ‘meat is murder!’ they might also want to add, ‘don’t be vicious to vegetables!’ Plants are just as alive as any other creature so why single out a defenseless cucumber, you monsters! I’m kidding, of course, but hopefully my point is understood.
I believe when it comes to eating moderation is key and we should do our very best to eat any and all living things that have been treated with dignity and respect. I always admire the way Native Americans treated the animals after a big hunt. For example, the Lakota Sioux thanked the buffalo for providing the tribe with sustenance. They also considered the buffalo a kindred spirit. Most importantly, the entire animal was used in some fashion so that waste was kept to a minimum.
I hope can you appreciate my gentle sarcasm. I know this is an ongoing discussion that is not going to get solved by one blog post. Please feel free to share your thoughts about it :).
Private Member |
Well written. Good point you make to your frenemies. I always enjoy the hypocrisy coming from their wing. Somehow rationality is replaced with irrationality. But I never did understand their cause because if they really did believe what they say, then why do vegetarians compete with animals over their food source. Besides, “my food eats your food” is pefectly justified to me. Nobody bemoans the Lioness when she gets some food, only if it is a Lion. 😉
Private Member |
Wow, just got back from scanning your previous post about this.
I agree that it is not fair to judge anyone based on their dietary choices. Everyone is at a different stage (mentally, physically and spiritually) and what each person requires according to this stage will differ. Some people can get very sick eating a vegan diet, despite their best efforts consulting with vegan dietitians and trying their hardest, their bodies just need the sustenance of meat. Other people do really well on a completely vegan diet and meat can make them feel sick and horrible.
Similarly, some people need more carbs than others, some people feel best with big meals, others with smaller frequent meals, some people prefer long distance running, other people prefer sprinting etc. etc. My point being every BODY is different and unique. There is no one way of eating that is right for everyone.
I think we can all agree however that we want to care for the earth and it’s inhabitants. We should aim to respect other animals (including each other) despite their needs, beliefs, choices or situations differing from ours. I love your example of the Native Americans. We have been given the life of other animals and plants to sustain us. We can treat this as a blessing and be grateful, or self righteously take it without thanks. I believe the former is one thing we should all personally aim for.
Private Member |
uk
Interesting article but now I’m gonna feel guilty when cutting vegetables:)
Private Member |
Good point Zuzka! This is a great article! That thought has been stuck with me for quite some time (but since I also eat meat, I’m not too worried about plants, I mean I have to live on something 🙂 ). But I’ve never really liked the buquet of roses that withers away on the dining table…
I usually also try to eat everything (that’s edible and not poisonous), form apple / pear cores to the leaves of cauliflower, turnip cabbage and such up to animal bones which I turn into delicious bone broth on a regular basis.
Private Member |
I love your reference to Native Tribes. I use the same principles to the degree that I can. I’m not sure that vegans understand how much harm they are doing to animals by eating vegetables bought from any given grocery store. Farmers need a lot of land to grow all these greens and small critters are no friend to the farmer. Most trap and kill all kinds of animals that threaten crops and livelihood. My point is that even if you live off the grid, are self sustained, and live responsibly toward nature, human beings will always compete with other species for existence on this planet. Just look up what your area was like before it was settled (in the U.S.) and most likely you’ll find a much different biodiversity than there is now. I agree with Brittany, that we should aim to respect other animals as well as each other, being grateful for all our sources of sustenance.
Private Member |
canada
I agree…. with respect. Most people haven’t “Met their Meet” and are oblivious to what goes on for that animal to end up in between two buns and on your plate. The noises alone from the slaugterhouse would haunt anyone for a lifetime.
Would you promote vegans buying vegetables from local farmer’s markets? I live on my husband’s family’s vegetable farm now, having come from the city/burbs – no harm done here, no guns or traps. I imagine the larger operations would be more like how you describe. In which case… Good point.
Private Member |
Melissa, yes, I agree about “meeting your meat”! And I would certainly promote buying from farmer’s markets and local farms. This is what I do as much as I can. Though, I have known small Organic farmers to have the same practices I described. It surprised me when I heard it and that shifted my thinking toward how “responsible” I thought I was being by avoiding meat.
Private Member |
medicine hat, alberta, canada
Hi I was wondering how does you husband’s family deal with ground hogs,,,,the cute little hampster looking fellows,,,please don’t kill them no matter how many holes they burrow under your veggies and trails. I love them and there must be a better way to shoo them off your land , however that’s not very nice either,,they were there first.
Private Member |
canada
The article is interesting but I think the position you took on it was a little unnecessary. Any educated vegan will tell you 50 other reasons that they choose their lifestyle.
I challenge you to try it! Try doing #MEATLESSMONDAY for the summer – leaving meat off your plate just 1 day per week will benefit: water sources (which globally and even close to home has become a huge issue/pollution), world hunger (just 1 day per week can make an impact – the amount of food that is grown to fed to animals aka. food! Does that even make sense? Think about it…We could be feeding this food to actual people!), global warming (the livestock industry contributes more to global warming than anything – vehicles, anything, you name it).
1,2,3, GO!!!
Private Member |
I concur! 🙂
Private Member |
So what you’re saying is those darn animals are using all our water, eating all our food and polluting our atmosphere with their existence? Should we kill them?
The thing is there is no lack of water, no lack of food…only governments who don’t look after their people. There’s plenty of food in the world, the problem is not enough food, rather many people aren’t getting the food due to matters of money and politics.
The position you took Zuzka is spot on, I have been thinking about this myself a lot recently. Plants have nervous systems thus the ability to feel sensations such as pain and pleasure. I always say, just because we can’t hear them scream doesn’t mean we can deny that hacking up plants isn’t in some way similar to slaughtering animals. Great post thanks! 🙂
Private Member |
canada
Noooo lol they can come live with me 😉
While the benefits may be idealistic and unrealistic because of governments as you say, the evidence still remains. There’s no denying the benefits of eating less meat – unless you’re in the mood to be argumentative, but I’m not, it’s a beautiful day. The China Study is an excellent read – if you’re interested in learning more about the benefits – brilliant research that could really help people!!! There’s a documentary on Netflix featuring the research too – good ol Netflix. Nobody here is trying to convince anyone else here to quit meat – just suggesting that eating LESS is proven to be beneficial.
Until plants have eyes… nom nomz! 🙂
Private Member |
These thoughts are irrelevant and serve as yet another distraction from the inhumane treatment of animals. I can definitely respect plants have their own awareness and sensitivity. But, firstly, plants are not treated as horrendously as a significant amount of livestock in the world. Secondly, most of the fruits and veggies that we eat are a mechanism used by plants that encourage animals to eat them so that the seeds can be spread out more successfully. There are several other points to this, but comparing our consumption of plant based foods to animals is just irresponsible.
Private Member |
Interesting research. Thank you for sharing. It just goes to show how very connected we all are, and how important it is to be thankful and mindful of what we eat 🙂
Private Member |
santa cruz, ca
I love you, Zuzka. That is all. I have been vegan and vegetarian. Then I became aware of many things, such as you. And I won’t elaborate because I know how angry people get. Food can really become peoples’ religion. But I have to say, I love you, Zuzka. Thank you for posting your thoughts. 🙂
And yes, on this planet Earth we have life and death. Things die so other things can live. Human morals and ethics may be useful to humans, but they don’t necessarily apply to nature and the complex workings of our universe. There is nothing wrong with reducing suffering on our planet. But the avoidance of eating one specific kindgdom isn’t the only way (or even a very effective way) of doing so. By not eating members of the animal kingdom…people are still eating the sentient beings of the plant kingdom….and bacteria……and fungi……yeah……Just because animals are more similar to us (and humans are in the animal kingdom…) doesn’t mean they are any “better” or “more sentient” than non-animals. This is another example of us applying our tendency to favor anything that is “like” us.
Private Member |
Francesca, I love your second paragraph, you phrased it so well and beautifully.
Private Member |
santa cruz, ca
Heh, thank you, Sophia. 🙂 It’s a tough subject to talk about. I feel that no one person is ever left un-offended. It’s almost impossible. But I do try to express myself in such a way that should hopefully not upset people.
Private Member |
A good article and as a vegan myself, I always cringe when I hear anyone preaching about what people should or should not eat. Yelling and insulting people isn’t going to inspire them to eat their way after all.
It is definitely a choice every individual needs to make on their own and not based on what others tell them to.
I do hope however that people don’t think all vegans are raving lunatics yelling murder at everyone else, there are many different reasons as to why someone might elect to say no to animal products.
Someone did suggest doing a meatless monday and I think it would be a great idea to include some more veg only recipes, as we hopefully can all agree that we need to be eating more greens 🙂 And treating said greens with respect of course – I will never look at a vase of flowers in the same way again – now it’s just a vase of severed heads O.O
Private Member |
canada
Hahaha that’s funny! And yes! I’d love to see more veg options too! I really liked the celery/grapefruit salad Zuzka posted on YouTube – unique combo and fast to make.
Private Member |
I was never particularly fond of celery but after I started juicing, it has grown on me. So I will definitely hunt down this salad recipe and give it a go – thanks for the suggestion 🙂
Private Member |
fenton, missouri, united states
I love your posts Z! I have a few vegan friends and I love that they never try to push their food habits with me or tell me that I need to try meatless Mondays or “go a week without meat and see how you feel!” If being vegan or vegetarian works for you then GREAT! If eating meat works for you then GREAT!