Never fearing to delve into a story and come up with a completely different (yet factually accurate) spin, I turn ‘Veggies are more intelligent’ into ‘Vegans are stupid’. And treat my readers to some Friday Boobies.
‘Vegetarians are more intelligent’ says the headline.
Wonderful to see a vegan woman who cares so much about
what she puts in her body. Credit: Publicity still via pestola.gr
A provocative claim:
[R]esearch show[s] vegetarians are more intelligent than their meat-eating friends.
A study of thousands of men and women revealed that those who stick to a vegetarian diet have IQs that are around five points higher than those who regularly eat meat.
Granted, we’ve the usual caveats on what IQ measures. Stipulated. And this seems almost like saying “Being vegetarian makes you more intelligent.” Except it doesn’t.
People who eat chicken and fish (but supposedly no red meat) are just as intelligent. And they sure aren’t vegetarians.
And the vegetarians? Turns out they were already more intelligent in their childhood, at age 10, before they switched to a vegetarian diet.
those who were brainiest as children were more likely to have become vegetarian as adults, shunning both meat and fish.
The typical adult veggie had a childhood IQ of around 105 - around five points higher than those who continued to eat meat as they grew up.
There was no difference in IQ between strict vegetarians and those who classed themselves as veggie but still ate fish or chicken.
While vegetarians tended to be people from higher social classes, there appeared to be some evidence that there was a negative correlation between wealth and being a vegetarian. i.e., being a vegetarian is consistent with being poorer than you would otherwise be, though not more stupid.
In other words, this study seems to say that intelligent people are more likely to care about what they eat, within reason. And possibly being vegetarian makes you poorer, but not dumber.
But the meat of the matter? Vegans are stupid.
However, vegans - vegetarians who also avoid dairy products - scored significantly lower, averaging an IQ score of 95 at the age of 10.
So, avoid dating vegans if you’re thinking of having kids.
-wolfe
A little off topic, but if you’re a man, you might want to avoid a woman who eats a lot of fish, too. It’s pretty much late in the game for me as far as having kids, but if it were to happen, I’d be worried: I eat a lot of fish. My mercury level must be through the roof. I read somewhere that in some parts of the Arctic they advise the Eskimo women not to breastfeed; their milk is like a cocktail of environmental toxins from their diet.
Also a little off topic, but I am wondering if anyone else (US) has been noticing the spate of commercials for fast food that have been using this tactic: Boys, Men, Eat More Meat! Fried! With Cheese! It’s macho! Eating healthy is for chicks, and you’re a Man! And if you have noticed it, what do you think?
Ally, yes, the ocean currents have been mapped and based on times/numbers/locations of ships being scuttled that were carrying nuclear waste and unable to find harbour, heavy chemicals have infiltrated every ocean current on earth. I myself don’t eat seafood as I had an anaphylactic reaction about seven years ago to a seemingly benign piece of grilled fish. Though, I do have a referral to an allergist to see if I’m still allergic…I miss calamari and Tasmanian scallops dammit!
My favourite food is salt and pepper crocodile. They cut the meat up into calamari shaped rings and it tastes like a combination of fish and chicken. Just delish.
Hmmm…I don’t know about the crocodile; although we do have alligator here I have not tried it. I have to admit I am one of those chicken/fish people, and I did go through a serious vegetarian (not vegan) spell. My first real boyfriend was from the glorious state of Texas, home of the Fearless Leader, and they seemed to eat anything, squirrel, possum, armadillo…he went out one day and shot a small critter, but did not kill it, came back, ate dinner, and then went out and finished the job. I was really pissed, we had a fight, and he called me a hypocrite. I said he was right, and thenceforth gave up any flesh for over 2 years. He wasn’t happy about it and always tried to ridicule me in public about it, but it didn’t work because I didn’t preach to people and I wasn’t rude about it at someone’s table, I just ate around the meat.
Now I try to spend the extra dollar for the cage-free eggs and the extra several $$ for the humane society monitored chicken, dollars that are hard to come by. I am a softie about animals, I admit it. I think being the only creature on the face of the planet with free will and higher consciousness confers upon us greater responsibilities towards other living creatures. Howeever, I am not perfect and like I said, I don’t proselytize. People have to make their own choices.
I’ve got a houseful of pets, but I also love a good, rare steak. I’m certainly not militant one way or another regarding eating meat, and I do have a peripheral connection to farming.
My question is this: is it better to treat an animal as if it were free and let it run around and be happy, then one day just up and kill it? I don’t know, but it seems almost more cruel that way.
I do feel that if one is going to consume meat, one has an obligation to be educated and clear-eyed about what goes into each meal.
And I still like my steak.
I don’t eat that much red meat or chicken, not for any philosophical reason, but simply because I just don’t crave it that much. I’ll eat steak about 4 times a year, usually when I realise I’ve become iron deficient. Then it’s just steak and nothing else. I don’t want anything else on the plate except steak and I want it now goddamnit. The iron deficient urge tells me that is natural for humans to eat red meat.
I don’t eggs, but again, I’ve never liked them, but if I need to get them to make a glue for breadcrumbs then yes, I buy free range, organic eggs. I think battery farms are the worst form of cruelty on offer. Please see the movie Baraka if you want further information on what happens to baby chicks before they are shoved in the cage. You will cry.
on non-usual meats.
If I go to a restaurant with unusual animals on the menu, then I like to sample them. I’ll give you the run down.
Kangaroo. Should only be for pets.
Koala. No, we aren’t allowed to eat those.
Emu. Haven’t yet tried it.
Pandas. How dare you think that.
Camel. See Kangaroo.
Snails. Gross, I won’t go that far.
Frogs. Again, I don’t want to be sick.
Z- I don’t believe it’s more cruel that way-I don’t believe animals view time/space the same way we do. I just don’t think an animal should live it’s life (i.e. chickens) from egg to carcass, in a constant state of fear and stress. Yes, it is kinder to let them be free to express their animal natures up until the moment of slaughter, which should be swift and as merciful as possible. Okay, here I am proselytizing, but you asked…
As for steak, I don’t miss beef. Bacon, howeever…
@Female-Hey, you didn’t mention ostrich. I tried that once when I was working at a restaurant. Really rich, almmost like red meat, if I’m remembering correctly.
…howeever…almmost…let’s have another glass of wine! Stupid woman wine!!
Oh no, it’s far to early for wine here and right now I really should be out doing last minute Xmas shopping. Plus, gotta wrap the fifty-million presents..over there..in the corner…ahhh!!! Damn. Damn. Damn.
Naturally I received a beautiful present last night from the one person I FORGOT TO BUY FOR!! Yes, I opened it already, me bad.
I forgot about my worst dining experience. On my birthday a few years ago, I suggested to work colleagues we go out to a Korean BBQ restaurant for lunch. Little did I know they served Offal and that you have to cook it yourself at your table. There was a wok style grill in the middle of each table.
So being brave but foolish I chose Ox tongue, heart, entrails etc etc. Then promptly bought my lunch back up once back at work. Not nice.
Well, it’s Miller (or Rabbit Foot, or Monkey Tail, or Horse’s Ass) time here, honey, and still Friday! I worked at a Japanese restaurant for a time, much avant- garde fare there. Mmm. spoiled beans, baked octopus heads…this was the stuff they cooked for themselves and the help.
@Z-I do think the beef industry is one of the most humane, if what I have seen and read is correct. I just don’t miss beef..I dunno why, but steak just never was the it food for me…
by the way-I also love much Japanese food, once I talked myself into it. Sushi is now my birthday meal-I’m addicted. Miso shiru is good comfort food. But man, those spoiled beans…
I have a fetish for babuganoosh (or however it’s spelt) dip. It isn’t exactly cheap so now I have had to resort to making it myself and yes, I try to avoid cooking whenever possible, so I don’t know how this happened but I managed to invent a beautiful warm salad last week which now I can’t stop eating.
Female’s not to be missed out on warm salad.
Rocket, baby rocket, basil, roasted pumpkin, marinated fetta, pinenuts, roasted orange and yellow capsicum and if you feel like it, sultanas, and chorizo Italian sausages. Yumdiddlyscrumpious and it has all the food groups.
I have to wonder … is this because smarter people are more likely to try vegetarianism as an adult, or because what we eat has something to do with IQ?
I didn’t realize that Vegans could interbreed with humans. I’m definitely using protection the next time I vacation on the planet Vegus.
@Ally: I don’t know if animals view time/space the way we do, but my dogs wake up at 6:10 every morning without fail.
@all I continue to be amazed at what posts draw the most in comments. Cool though. Let me try and answer all (though should I?)
@Diesel- Oh Diesel, it’s not just the interbreeding, it’s that Vegan fungus. You’ve not… started… itching anywhere, have you?
@Saynotocrack: According to the study, the former. i.e., smarter people are more likely to either try vegetarianism, or claim they do, or at least care more about what they eat. Or say they do. Sounds plausible to me.
@AllyC: yep, fish/mercury thing is not nice. Extensive release of radioactive contaminants and heavy metals into the ecosystem from (e.g.) coal plants is also pretty grim, though the mercury/childbearing women situation seems worse.
@AllyC: Ads for men to eat meat… hmmm… might try and blog on this. I think you’re right though. No, I don’t think it’s good, but men seem to be more in denial over health, and women seem to be more hypochondriacs (to assign extremes to both camps).
@Female: never had croc. Gator now and then, but not croc. I like your later salad recipe, it looks good, but what is a “rocket” in food context?
@AllyC “almmost…let’s have another glass of wine! Stupid woman wine!!” Ha!
@Female
Well you don’t have to order the offal! (and besides what do you think haggis is?) I love kim chee… and most Asian food. Ambivalent about Vietnamese and Indian though perhaps that’s because I’ve never been to a good enough restaurant/cook.
Snails are quite tasty (if properly prepared).
@Z
Mmmm… steak. Yeah, I’m kinda cliche amongst my friends for loving beef and potatoes. Probably shortening my life, but so be it. Better to die happy than hungry.
@AllyC and Z:
There’s a LOT that can be argued on this. I’m going to add a third point (which I’m bolding because I think it’s perhaps the most important thing I’m saying):
Consider the fact that the post-War intensive chicken farming approach made it possible for the first time ever for poor people to afford chicken — and not just once a month or for a Sunday meal.
It’s very easy for the middle class (and wealthy) to prattle on organics, and range farming of chickens, but if the alternative is a largely meat-less (and protein-deprived) cohort of poor people, then that, I think, is really immoral.
I think chickens are damn stupid birds, and I’m not overly troubled by the way they’re raised as a result, though I’d certainly agree on minimizing stress and injury.
(Am I concerned about how densely packed tomatoes are? No. Do I think chickens or tomatoes are smarter… hmmm…)
I’m slightly troubled by the way cattle are killed (and transported), but not that troubled by the way they’re mostly raised (I worked on some farms when I was a teen).
AllyC’s and Z’s ‘time/space’ discussion is rather intriguing. While I agree with Z’s point on consistent temporal activity of animals, I’m not sure this invalidates Ally’s point which appears slightly more philosophical.
-wolfe
@wolfe. Time/space? I wasn’t trying to invalidate a point. I was trying to make a joke. Perhaps we’d be better served if I stuck to my roots and riffed on the time/space continuum. Or not.
I’m going to state the obvious - Abschickens should be roaming free. I used to eat chicken about four times a week but for the several years I’ll only do that now about once a week if that. Organic chickens are an option…but they have yellow skins, erk.
Considering the stress battery-farm hens must be under, plus, I know they give them some kind of drug to pop out more eggs than they usually would, I would think all smart people would avoid their eggs.
It is a shame organic food is so much more expensive, but I can understand why. My cousin has a cattle farm (he has about 200 head, but it’s just a hobby farm) and what he would have to achieve and pay in government tests and inspections for the beef to be certified organic is simply ridiculous.
Sorry, forgot.
For all your rocket needs (unless your name is Zogmama)
http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/rocket-lettuce.html
@wolfe - true I didn’t have to buy the offal. Lesson learned. I’ve never had haggis and I never shall. Fav. asian food is Thai, which I’ll have three or more times per week. There are so many Thai restaurants and take-away stores over here that the price is now comparable to McDonalds
Australians live on Thai food.
I also like Malaysian and Vietnamese. Can’t eat chinese without getting sick, too sickly for me, even when they say no MSG is present. I never used to like Indian until I discovered several good Indian restaurants, you are right in thinking you just haven’t tasted decent Indian yet. Stay away from Indian take-aways, just go to an Indian restaurant with a good reputation and prepare to be extremely pleasantly surprised.
http://www.vegetables.co.nz/resources/7505saladgreensbooklet%20.pdf
According to this nutritional guide, rocket or roquette or arugula is an aphrodisiac which was baned from monasteries. All monks & sexual anorexics be warned, eat it at your own peril.
Uncle.
Oh, and sometimes I DO eat salad with my steak - when I’m not too busy running down free-range chickens and strangling them with my bare hands, that is.
They make vitamins that have B vitamins, Iron, and even amino acids now. Beef is obsolete(I still eat it but I’m not training for anything ATM).
Now if GNC would make some vitamins with Fish Oil(Omega3) I would never have to take more than one pill a day.
For any of you with heavy body types(endomorphs) I highly reccomend Sesathin made by Avant Labs. It’s not a fat burner, but fat oxydizer. It works like Fish Oil but 20 fold. No stimulants, no dehydration, etc.
I know almost nothing about supplements, etc. Sounds as though you’re quite knowledgeable SotS, you should consider blogging on the topic.
I just try and eat a reasonably balanced diet in moderation of stuff I like. Trying to eat more fresh fruit and vegetables these days, though that’s pricey in northern climes in the winter.
And beef may be obsolete, but I love the taste.
-wolfe
I can never get enough fiber from fruits and vegetables, I eat Fiber1 cereal every morning.
Tastes like dogfood, but has 14 grams of fiber in 1/4 cup.
the world’s best vitamin/mineral supplement IMO is Spiralina. You can get it in pills, capsules or powder. It takes pretty bad and the powder when added to water turns into a green slimy drink so I would avoid that and go for the capsules.
If you cannot take fish oil because you have a seafood allergy, Flaxseed oil (one tablespoon each morning) can be used as an Omega 3 supplement. Again, this tastes pretty bad but it saves further depletion of fish stocks and does the same job.
I take Flax Oil pills. I used to mix the seed with yogurt but it was too distasteful still.
Certain juices in North America (Oasis brand is one IIRC) have flaxseed oil mixed in. I find them quite good-tasting, and crudely comparable pricewise to regular juice. Downside, a fair bit of sugar if you take it via juice (no sugar added, but most juice has a lot of natural sugar).
It’s quite interesting for me to read the two of you on this, since you’re both talking about something, which, unusually for me, you know a lot more about than I do.
-wolfe
I choose to take that as a compliment.
listen and learn gwasshopper.
Hey people, if you drink (happy holidays!) don’t forget your milk thistle! Numbah one livah protectant! You have to buy the standardized dose stuff though.
Dang, that was just so much to swallow! And I usually love swallowing!