Sacred Cow
by Diana Rodgers, Robb Wolf
From the Back Cover
We’re told that if we care about our health—or our planet—eliminating red meat from our diets is crucial. That beef is bad for us and cattle farming is horrible for the environment. But science says otherwise.
Beef is framed as the most environmentally destructive and least healthy of meats. We’re often told that the only solution is to reduce or quit red meat entirely. But despite what anti-meat groups, vegan celebrities, and some health experts say, plant-based agriculture is far from a perfect solution. In Sacred Cow, registered dietitian Diana Rodgers and former research biochemist and New York Times bestselling author Robb Wolf explore the quandaries we face in raising and eating animals—focusing on the largest (and most maligned) of farmed animals, the cow.
Taking a critical look at the assumptions and misinformation about meat, Sacred Cow points out the flaws in our current food system and in the proposed “solutions.” Inside, Rodgers and Wolf reveal contrarian but science-based findings, such as:
- Meat and animal fat are essential for our bodies.
- A sustainable food system cannot exist without animals.
- A vegan diet may destroy more life than sustainable cattle farming.
- Regenerative cattle ranching is one of our best tools at mitigating climate change.
You’ll also find practical guidance on how to support sustainable farms and a 30-day challenge to help you transition to a healthful and conscientious diet. With scientific rigor, deep compassion, and wit, Rodgers and Wolf argue unequivocally that meat (done right) should have a place on the table.
My Summary
Images in this post are from:
https://www.sacredcow.info/helpful-resources
- “Sacred cow: an idea, custom, or institution held, especially unreasonably, to be above criticism.”
- “Through our research, what we’ve discovered is that, contrary to the popular narrative, red meat is one of the most nutrient-dense foods available; indeed, the extent of access to nutrient-dense animal products such as meat is one of the greatest distinguishers between the poor and wealthy in developed or developing countries. Perhaps more controversially, when raised properly, cattle and other grazers may be one of our most promising tools toward mitigating climate change.”
Who This Book Is For
- “We want to be clear: this book is not “anti-vegan.” Oftentimes, strong feelings come into play when deciding what to eat, and there’s a large body of psychological research establishing that it’s almost impossible to sway people who have made emotional decisions. However, we feel that with a complete understanding of the nutritional and environmental argument for better meat a more nuanced ethical discussion can begin to take place.”
- “In our increasingly polarized world, where it’s all or nothing, this book is here to introduce some much-needed nuance.”
- “Perhaps most glaring: although grass-fed meat may be superior from a sustainability perspective, current research indicates that it is only marginally different from conventionally raised meat when it comes to health and nutrients.”
- “These important topics generate more than a few questions:
- Should we eat meat at all?
- Is there a “best” diet for humans? Or is there a spectrum of optimal human nutrition?
- Can meat be part of a sustainable food system?
- Can a sustainable food system exist without meat and animal contributions, both nutritionally and environmentally?
- How important are ethics in the story of human nutrition and sustainability?”
- “There are sound cases to be made that a food system that includes grazing animals can be the best choice for our environment and our bodies, and that eating large grazing animals like cows can actually represent the path of “least harm” from an ethical standpoint.”
- “It’s time to look back toward nature to learn how to fix our future.”
Meat Has Been Cast as a Scapegoat
- “It’s commonplace today to blame meat for everything from cancer to global warming. We hope you can appreciate that addressing all these claims is a bit like a game of whack-a-mole. That said, in the last several years that we’ve both been talking about the benefits of better meat, we’ve been able to boil down the arguments against meat into three main subjects: nutrition, environment, and ethics.”
15 Questions That This Book Answers
- Do vegetarians live longer than meat eaters?
- Will eating meat increase my chances of getting cancer?
- Aren’t we eating way too much meat?
- How much protein should I eat?
- Is grass-fed beef healthier than typical beef?
- Isn’t it possible for me to get all my nutrients from plants?
- Are lab-meat and hydroponics a good way to grow food?
- Don’t cattle emit “too much” methane?
- How do cattle sequester carbon?
- Doesn’t it take twelve pounds of grain per pound of beef?
- Don’t cattle take up “too much” land?
- Don’t cattle drink “too much” water?
- Why eat animals if we can survive on only plants?
- Do we have the land to produce the demand for grass-finished beef?
- Just tall me what to eat for human and planetary health?
I won’t be answering all of those questions in this summary, but have summarized some of the answers below.
Methane Claims Against Cattle are Overblown
- “All livestock accounts for only 3.9% of the US greenhose gas emissions, which is far lower than the 18-51% range that many plant-based advocates report, and is less than the 4.7% created by agricultural crops.”
Well-Managed Cattle Sequester Carbon
- “Well-Managed cattle on grass moved frequently to new pasture are a net carbon sink.”
Beef Isn’t a Water Hog
- “Rainfall accounts for 94% of all water. Blue water is the water that has been sourced from surface or groundwater resources and accounts for 3% of all water. The remaining 3% is grey water (ie. waste water).
- Beef requies only 280 square gallons of blue water per pound, which is less than the amount required to produce a pound of avocados, walnuts, or sugar. “
Not All Land Can Be Cropped
- “Removing cattle doesn’t mean that we’ll free up more land for crop production. More than 60% of agricultural land globally is pasture and rangeland that is too rocky, steep, and/or arid to support cultivated agriculture – yet this land can support cattle and protein upcycling.”
Livestock Turn Food We Can’t Eat Into Protein
- “Alternative protein companies argue that it’s more efficient to feed humans crops that are currently used for livestock feed, but 86% of global livestock feed consists of things humans cannot digest with nearly half coming from grass.”
Red Meat Won’t Kill You!
- “There is no strong evidence showing red meat or saturated fat consumption causes heart disease or diabetes. Humans have eaten red meat and other nutrient dense animal products for thousands of years. It’s time to stop blaming animals for our poor health and start looking at the real culprit: nutrient-poor, hyper-palatable, ultra-processed foods.”
Direct vs Lifecycle Emissions
- “When comparing greenhouse gas emissions, it is important to compare like with like. Too often livestock’s life cycle emissions are compared with transport’s direct emissions. This is not an accurate comparison.”
Eliminating Meat Would Do More Harm Than Good
- “If the entire US eliminated all animal products, greenhouse gas emissions would only be reduced by 2.6%, but would result in more overall calories consumed, increased carbohydrates, and would lead to more nutrient deficiencies, including calcium, vitamin B12, vitamin A, EPA, DHA and arachidonic acid.”
We’re Not Eating Too Much Meat
- “Americans are only getting 16% of their calories from protein. As the most satiating macronutrient and the building block of our bodies, intakes at 1.6g/kg of body weight and above help people regulate overall caloric intake and help build and preserver muscle mass.”
There is No Life Without Death
- “All living things eat and are eaten. A food system without animals could cause more harm than good. Well-raised beef is a healthy, sustainable and ethical food.
It’s Not The Cow, It’s The How
My Overall Review
In a space (Fitness, Nutrition, Paleo) where there are charlatans everywhere (like the documentary The Game Changers), Robb is one of the experts that I have grown to trust. He’s a genuinely good guy who isn’t afraid to tell it like it is in a no-nonsense way.
Other Resources
Robb’s website
The Sacred Cow website
Buy the Book -Sacred Cow
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