Environmental activist Lierre Keith, 20-year vegan and author of The Vegetarian Myth discusses the many ways in which people have been led astray by ideas about vegetarianism as Lierre discovered through her own experience and research.

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SHOW INTRODUCTION Sixteen years ago I was compelled to get on the radio with a weekly program after hearing a broadcast from a prominent vegan doctor. Nowhere did I hear anyone talking about the other side of nutrient health. From the beginning my broadcasts included interviews with respected researchers about the development of human diet and its relationship to health. I got many angry calls from committed vegetarians, one even made a complaint to PETA. A stream of vegans visited my office each week, some with difficult physical symptoms. I always had a box of tissues close by. Dietary needs are individual although there is compelling evidence in the fossil record to suggest that including some form of animal protein and fat is essential for proper functioning of the liver, brain, gut, heart, and repair of tissues and bones. For me as well, it takes a sort of 4 a.m. type of courage to be part of the food chain. I’ve had to make my own peace with this. Now finally someone has had the ferocity and commitment to unpack the whole story from agriculture’s dirty role in destroying the planet to the truth about how much has died to bring your vegetarian food to your plate. Please, put down your ideology for this hour and just listen.