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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 :).
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Great post 🙂
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if someone were to be charged with animal cruelty for stabbing his neighbor’s dog, and was testifying in court as to why he did this, if he were to say that to him, stabbing a dog and stabbing a tomato are really the same, I think it’s likely such a person would not just be sent to jail, but probably sent to an institution for the criminally insane.
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Fact: Since they have no central nervous systems, nerve endings, or brains, there is no reason to believe that plants feel pain. If you want to be responsible for the least number of deaths possible, a vegetarian diet is still preferable to a meat-based one, since the vast majority of grains and legumes raised today are used as feed for cattle. By eating vegetables directly, you save many more plants’ lives than you would if you ate animals such as cows, who must consume 16 pounds of vegetation in order to produce 1 pound of flesh.
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Completely agree! 🙂 I am a vegetarian and I always hate when people start telling me what to eat. Before I stopped eating meat, I had never believed that so many people would try to discourage me from being a vegetarian. It is my choice and no other people´s business. I am completely okay when other people eat meat and I NEVER critize them for that so I really hate when other people try critizing my way of eating. 🙂 “Live and let live”.
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plants regenerate, dead animals do not. Pluck an apple another will grow. Cut off a cows leg, it wont grow back. Big difference!
Lets also add the Americas were a rich and fertile land, providing plentiful berries, vegetables, nuts, beans, squash, roots, fruits, corn, and rice. Most tribal people survived comfortably thriving on a varied diet from the land.
watch a 30 minute video of what goes on in a factory farm, slaughterhouse, family farm or backyard hobbyist slaughter, then watch a 30 minute video of a bunch of people picking strawberries and THEN discuss….
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perth, wa, australia
I totally agree with you TJ! well said
I am a raw vegan and I have fruit and vegetables screaming in agony every day lol!
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seattle, washington
Right, but many plants you kill completely to eat. Also non existing cows have no life of anykind and the assumption a short and inhumane life isn’t worth living is hubris on Vegan’s part. Stop eating cows and we will no longer breed them to be slaughtered.
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Totally agree with you :).
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YES TJ!!!
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Good afternoon
My opinion is that, we as a society should limit amount of meat we eat because it takes so long to digest and it can be hard on the body with over comsumption. However, to say that meat eating should be prohibited, is not right. Eating meat is not the problem, it is the way the animals are slaughtered that’s the real issue. The most high God(to all of those who believe) allow us to eat meat from certain animals; even giving us instructions on how to properly slaughter them(book of leviticus in old testament). So it is not a sin to eat meat, what we are doing wrong is having the lack of respect of the animals we choose to consume.
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Indeed, plants suffer as much from industrial farming as animals. Also, this is why certain strains of veganism eat fruit and nuts, whose consumption does not kill the plant.
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Great article.We can be unkind to each other regarding our food choice.We have to respect each others preference.I eat meat but I also cook vegetarian meals once or twice a week.I love some of Zuzka’s veggie recipes especially her spinach salad one & also her soup recipes,delicious!
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I follow you and do the workouts and never have I tried to place my Vegan beliefs at any member and certainly not you. I find this article a little offensive for some comments that one or two have made regarding their dietary choices, those that were not even Vegan but instead were arguing over the sugar content of an ingredient. I know this was meant to crush the debate, but it crushed me because I have lived this lifestyle for 18 years and the choice is more than not hearing the cry of an animal that is being slaughtered, but also what is sustainable and leaves a smaller footprint on this Earth that I was here, I know that not all people can relate nor value my choice, but just want to let you know there are some of your followers that are Vegan that appreciate your site and your work, but do not want to be lumped on a group in your post to the haters and misinformed. I do love that you try to include Vegan options and Vegan friendly recipes and even when you do not, I appreciate you providing insight to the ingredients you selected and how they benefit the body.
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canada
🙂 agreed
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Thank you Jem. I did not want to comment on this post because I found it to be insensitive. Nutrition is not a religion, it is a responsibility. Slaughter is not humane no matter how you treated the animal during it’s life. Pulling a squash from the ground is hardly the same thing. I appreciate this site because of the workouts and the hard work and dedication put into it by Zuzka but I whole-heartedly disagree with her standpoint on food and I am perfectly fine with that. I barely even have any vegan friends. I just feel good personally knowing I am making a positive impact on the earth by not consuming animal products. Plus I feel 1000% better. I am not sick and in pain anymore and that is just a positive side effect of the lifestyle.
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Before any misinterpretations can be made, I would like to clarify that I agree that everyone has a right to choose what they eat and that they should not be bullied because of that choice. I love and respect Zuzka as she has helped me get through a lot, but I believe this post has been misguided in some areas.
I think it is important to understand that using the concept that plants respond to environmental stressors and stimuli is not a valid argument to justify eating meat as being a process just as “cruel” as eating plants. When an article says that “plants have many of the same responses to outside influences that animals do, even though the responses look different”, it is not referring to a conscious response. A plant knows to move towards sunlight, in the same way we know to form new blood vessels where they are needed most. The interpretation of the research posted has been extrapolated to an unrealistic and incorrect understanding of the similarities between plants and animals. I attempt to explain this in more detail in a few paragraphs.
By comparing killing an animal to killing a plant, we are actually diminishing the consideration and empathy we think we should be giving animals. Arguing that killing plants is similar to killing animals is not inducing as much empathy for plants as it is reducing empathy for animals. I know that that is not the point Zuzka is trying to make, but it does provide grounds for this type of thinking, which allows for the continuation of the horrific treatment of animals kept in factory farms. It allows people to justify standing by and supporting factory farmed meat (by consuming it) because our right to eat it is more important than an animal’s right to a life without suffering (since that animal’s suffering is comparable to that of a plant’s).
The morality of using animals for their meat, eggs, milk or fur is a controversial and hotly debated topic but what is certain is that animals, like us, have the same ability to feel stress and to suffer. I think it is best to focus on what most of us can agree on, and that is that animals have equal rights to an environment that fulfills their basic needs to a healthy and happy life.
When vegetarians and vegans make extreme accusations that meat is murder and that consuming animals is immoral, most of the time they are antagonizing rather than inspirational. Empathy for animals will not be improved by making others feel guilty or accusing them of having an inferior moral code. Antagonizing people for eating animals will only push them to justify eating them by diminishing the worth and mind of animals and this in turn encourages people to mistreat or stand by while animals are abused. Instead, we should focus on the treatment and the needs of the animal while they are alive and agree to disagree on whether killing them (humanely of course) is a case for moral concern.
It is no doubt that the fastest and most effective way to alleviate the suffering of farmed animals is for everyone to give up animal products altogether. Unfortunately that is not a realistic option for many people and we should be given options rather than an ultimatum for what we can do to prevent the cruelty inflicted on animals.
These options would include:
– Choosing to eat products that only come from animals that have been kept in conditions suitable to their wellbeing (paying more is well worth it in this case). This means eating eggs and meat from free range hens and turkeys who have the choice to walk on grass, forage and make a nest. It means eating meat form pigs who have a place to roam, socialize and roll around in mud. It means drinking the milk and eating the meat from cows who were not beaten and tortured before slaughter. It also means choosing to avoid meat and other animal products in restaurants who don’t support the humane treatment of the animals they serve. After all, by purchasing those products you are supporting the maltreatment of animals whether you would like to or not. We need to create a strong demand for humanely treated animals if we wish to see a change.
– Consuming less animal products and introducing vegetarian and vegan options into ones diet. Not being vegetarian does not mean to rely solely on nutrition from meat. With our population increasing so rapidly and our diet consisting of more meat, it becomes even more economically daunting to implement humane treatment of farmed animals.
– Making others aware of the treatment of farmed animals and of the alternative options they have to help put an end to it.
– Fighting for animal welfare through political means (the least we can do is sign a petition).
– Avoiding animal products altogether if you are capable of making that change.
Now, about the similarities between a plant’s and animal’s response to environmental stimuli:
While plants do respond to environmental signals, it is not an indicator that they feel the same pain and suffering an animal with a central nervous system, pain receptors, and a brain to process that information does. Our bodies do respond similarly to some of the same type of stimuli as plants but we are not consciously aware of them. The similarity between plants and animals only lies in the interactions of our tissues, cells, and molecules that we are not aware of. The research Zuzka found shows that some of the same types of signaling molecules and perhaps even the pathways by which they interact are similar to those of animals but that kind of “intelligence” and physiological response is similar to our own up to an extent. The “intelligence” and molecular complexity of a plant is closer in resemblance to the intelligence of our immune system, vascular system, digestive system, organ function, or to the “intelligence” of a bacterial culture. Like every multi cellular organism, plants must also use inter-cellular communication in order to thrive, but just as we are not consciously aware of what our tissues and cells are aware of, neither are plants. For example, if one is to make an incision into the stem of a tomato plant, the plant will detect and react to that incision in the same way our own bodies would react to a cut on our body in order to heal it. Now, we are not aware of the intricate cell signaling and molecular pathways that are a part of healing that wound. We are not aware of the recruitment of immune cells to prevent microorganisms from invading that tissue, we are not aware of the molecules released in our blood to cause its coagulation so that we stop bleeding from that area, and we are not aware of the cell communication that undergoes to form the proper type and amount of new cells. Just as we are not consciously aware of this process, neither are plants, and this is where the similarity ends. What we are aware of is the pain from the cut and the fact that we can see and feel that damage. The only reason we have evolved pain receptors is so that we avoid or flee from the cause of the damage. There is no need for the fitness and survival of a plant to possess pain receptors and to interpret them in this same way because there is nothing that plant can do with that information. An animal can run away, and even physically fight back. In addition to the sensation of pain, we can be psychologically stressed in the presence of danger, just as animals. Again, there would be no purpose for a plant to process stress in this way as that kind of information would be of no help to its survival.
A plant will not feel itself being eaten in the same way we consciously would. It may sense the specific vibrations of the chewing of a caterpillar, but that is better resembled by the way our bones rebuild themselves in response to vibration. Just as we are not aware (from a mental or sensory perspective) that small vibrations cause the release R-respondin 1 to promote bone formation, plants are not consciously aware that a certain frequency of vibration causes the release of mustard oils. Our individual cells possess a type of intelligence that we are not even aware of, and that is the kind of intelligence plants possess. It is not the same kind of intelligence characteristic of brains.
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lake tahoe, nv, usa
This article was more targeted towards vegans that just wouldn’t leave me alone. Im constantly being attack, so please respect my lifestyle as I respect yours. I support old school farming where animals are treated with kindness and respect. I support moderation in terms of meat consumption. And I believe that animal protein is good for humans.
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I am know and I am happy that you support the compassionate treatment of animals and I had no intent to disrespect your lifestyle. I understand that the article was targeted toward aggressive and inconsiderate vegans, I just wanted to make a point that it is not an accurate or sensitive statement to compare the experience of death and stress between plants and animals. I personally think (from my own experience) that it’s best to counteract those types of attacks from vegans by reminding them that such strong and hateful comments only push people away from compassion towards animals. On a large scale it is not productive in improving the welfare of animals. It is better to be inclusive and understanding of everyone’s needs and to make suggestions accordingly. The comparison between eating plants and animals was a lash out at vegans (which is perfectly understandable) but it came with a cost to the perception of animals. Again, my comment is not meant to belittle or offend, but to provide an alternative perspective.
I really do adore you and what you do, and I think it’s important to stand up for yourself and I hope I was able to make my point without it coming out as an attack.
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An extremely well written post, I can however understand why Zuzka is a bit defensive. I saw some of the nasty comments directed at her and what those people said was not okay – I’m sure there were more that we haven’t seen.
We don’t always need to understand or try to ‘convert’ others to our way of thinking/eating/whatever, we just need to coexist – and it is only as hard as we want it to be. None of my friends or family are vegans or vegetarians and no one tries to force their lifestyle on the other. As you said, accusing or guilt tripping has the opposite effect of what was desired by the antagonizer.
Pretty much everyone is here to get healthy and for that Zuzanna is an exceptional inspiration – I have been following her since she was a young brunette lass 🙂 I say this in the hopes that Zuzka reads this and can know that most of the herbivores here adore her – regardless of what she eats.
So to those few who are nasty – you know who you are – we scowl in your general direction O.o
T’was quite the ramble X)
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I completely agree! Just because we have different lifestyle choices does not mean we aren’t all here for the same reason. The fact is, Zuzka is a wonderful, intelligent , sweet, loving and caring person who deserves nothing but the same in return. We are all here because we are inspired by her to stay consistent in our training and become the best versions of ourselves that we can be.
Z, I am sorry you were being attacked by vicious vegans. They are promoting a peaceful way of life all the while being violent and harmful to their fellow humans. Their message is to treat animals like equals except they aren’t treating their own kind with respect. It doesn’t make sense and they should try to get their message across in a more positive way. Please ignore them and know that not all of us think that way or would ever say such horrible things to another person just to shock them or make them feel bad. To me, that is going against what veganism stands for. I think you are a wonderful, dedicated, amazing person who I would be happy to call my friend no matter what is on your dinner plate. Maybe we have different food choices but I will follow your workouts until I am old because you have changed my life and helped me become fit and happy and that is a gift that I would never trade for anything. So thank you from the bottom of my heart 🙂
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santa cruz, ca
Thank you for your wonderful explanation Smaranda. I feel that your explanation is helpful for many people in clarification of the two main sides of this discussion.
However, I feel also that Zuzka probably already had the understanding you are trying to convey to others. I think that the science is very interesting. And though I agree with almost all of your viewpoints, I also agree with Zuzka. I think that the point she was trying to make included the idea that science provides the basis and arguments for any viewpoint that anyone chooses to have. But the fact is that science and ethics/morals do not always match. Whether you choose “vegan/vegetarian” arguments or “non-vegan/vegetarian” arguments, you can use science to justify them.
But the main point I believe Z was trying to make is that science does not prove, and can never prove, what kingdom is more important, more worthy of not being eaten. Just because plants do not have a CNS and do not have pain receptors as animals, does not necessarily mean that they do not experience an entire world of sentience that is not “detectable” by science. Scientific studies inevitably have bias. And I do believe that humans favor that which is similar. We assume that the beings that sense and percieve like humans are those that do not deserve to be killed. But isn’t that also unfair to plants?
I can see that all arguments and viewpoitns here have valid justifications. But I think we cannot necessarily apply ethics/morals/values to the science.
And this is exactly the problem, which I believe Zuzka directly encounters and is speaking of here. People attack her morals/values/ethics, and they attempt to use science to justify themselves. This is why she is saying that “food becomes peoples’ religion”.
I know that ancient forms of plant medicine of cultures worldwide are based on the idea that plants have spirits and consciousness. I know that this is definitely not the mainstream thought in our modern world, and industrialized nations see plants as non-feeling, merely background or decoration, and don’t even use the plants for medicine anymore. I have read about Native North American herbalism as well as Amazonian shamanism, and about other cultural herbal “systems”, where people spent time with plants, getting to know them on a deep level, and/or using ritual to understand their use and to speak to their spirits. My point is that humans, a long time ago, used to regard plants as very, very, very, very sentient and more alive than just their abilities to photosynthesize. And yes, now science is finding biochemical mechanisms that show their ability to respond to environmental stimuli and experience stress.
Who are we to decide what “type of feeling/sensing” is more valuable, such that we can decide which deserve to die for food for us, and which do not?
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I agree, SMARANDA….I am disappointed that she chose to defend herself by putting out the idea that plants feel the same way that animals or people do. According to this way of thinking, that means mowing your lawn is the same as throwing your beloved dog under the lawnmower. So she is stating something that she obviously does not actually believe herself.
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ok good point!
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I agree that some vegans take the wrong approach, but that doesn’t mean they have the wrong message. It’s like having the medicine someone needs, but instead of making it cherry flavored you make it taste like crap and shove it down their throats.
I’m sorry that you had that forceful experience Zuzka, not because it may have hurt your feelings or made you feel guilty, but because now those jackasses have caused you to stamp your foot even more firmly in your stance on consuming animal products.
I do not believe for one second that if you had to raise an animal yourself and then slit its throat just so you could have a hamburger, that you would do so. The sad thing is that we are all so disconnected from the truth of what goes on in order for us to have that meat. Because we don’t see it, it is forgotten and put out of mind.
For me, it all comes down to one simple question – If you can live a healthy life without doing harm to others, why wouldn’t you?
Zuzka, I would encourage you and anyone else to read the book “The World Peace Diet” by Will Tuttle. That way you can become educated on the topic without all the yelling and finger pointing. That book changed my life. When I just read the title and subtitle “The World Peace Diet – Eating for Spiritual Health & Social Harmony” Really…who wouldn’t want that?
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Thank you for this diplomatic and well-explained answer, Smaranda!
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Hey!! I live in Missouri!!! Yay!!!! I think that Washington University in Missouri is a better bet than U of M. Oh well. Happy researching!!