Anju queried: [ Is there anyone else on this list that eats or wants to eat animal [ products for health reasons but is concerned about the animal cruelty [ in the industry (keeping in mind that "free-range" and other such [ labels may be meaningless)? I would love to hear how other people have [ resolved or are dealing with the two issues, or what your thoughts are. [ [ (For right now I am sticking with fish and "free-range" (hey its [ something) eggs cause I think these involve a minimal amount of cruelty. Jo sez: I was never the ethical vegan although I do love animals and trample lightly wherever I go. I was, however, stuck in an intellectual dilemma, so while my physical health improved greatly on a raw vegan diet, I'd reached a plateau and then couldn't thrive on it. By thriving, I mean, a state of vitality and power. It just didn't make sense anymore to cling to some theoretical ideal when I could NOT approach the fitness levels I enjoyed as a junk food eating omnivore. For sure what I could do when I was 20 was largely predicated on the time and effort put into my training, but I had to honestly admit that even with my current reduced levels, I just did not feel robust. Being spiritual, thin and weak is not for me. I'll cultivate the relationship with my higher self but that is something entirely independent of what I eat (many raw vegans/fruitarians will disagree but that is their issue). And so I'll satisfying my recent hankering for pemmican. Yes, I am concerned about the treatment of animals by suppliers and I'll probably visit a local farm or two. But I won't let EarthSave foster guilt about responding to my physical needs. Cruelty to animals is one thing, but perhaps slowly damaging my body when the resources are available, is something I won't do for any organization.