Introduction
The Encyclopedic Reference Of Molecular Pharmacology defines vegetarianism and veganism as a person who does not eat meat (“Vegetarian” 962). Additionally, there are different types of vegetarianism. There are ovolacto vegetarians who avoid meat and fish but eat eggs and milk, there are lacto-vegetarians only consume milk but no eggs, there are pescaterians, who do not eat and type of meat besides fish, and lastly, there are vegans or strict vegetarians who eat no animal-based products at all, some even excluding honey from their diets. (“Vegeterian” n.p.)
Looking beyond the definition of vegetarianism, one is curious to know what health benefits, downfalls, and alternatives there are to consuming meat. The question is, do we still need meat in our diets to live, or have we ever essentially needed it? Many credible sources report that vegetarianism is a great assessment to your overall health, but with further research, we find that this specific diet has its downfalls as well. Before adopting a vegetarian diet, it is important that we embrace four fundamental questions surrounding it.
1. How vegetarianism positively affects our health: What health benefits rise from cutting out an omnivorous diet? There is no doubt that eating more vegetables is a positive decision for your overall health and nutrition.
2. How vegetarianism negatively affects our health: What are the downfalls to cutting meat from your diet? Many studies have been done trying to condone whether or not changing an omnivorous diet to a plant based is a safe and beneficial substitute. Every diet you choose comes with pros and cons, but what are the cons, and are they serious enough to potentially gain any sort of benefit from a vegetarian diet.
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...e to hyperhomocysteinemia, which is defined as high levels of homocystein in the blood due to the deficiency of vitamin B12 (Krajcovicova-Kudlackova 658).
Frank Phillips wrote an article titled “Vegetarian Nutrition” that explains the lack of vitamins a majority of vegetarians receive. Besides B12, there is a lack of calcium, vitamin D, and iodine as well. It is specified in this article, that without a close watch on a vegetarian diet, you are prone to a bigger risk of getting cardiovascular disease, and higher homocystein levels in your blood as stated earlier. Nonetheless, Phillips declares that with a well-balanced vegetarian diet, you can have an equally nutritional diet compared to that of an omnivores (Phillips 136). Also, it is shown through these studies that these problems can be improved or avoided by taking vitamin supplements regularly (Herrmann 1381).
Though vegetarianism was never a taboo subject as are some other controversial topics, The question of whether or not human beings should live off meat still is highly discussed amongst all types of people. Spiritual leaders, activists, scientists, and doctors have spoken up on behalf of their group’s opinion. Amongst the arguments of what is right when it comes to the food chain, resonating on many a mind is where the concept of vegetarian came from. Was it started as a religious virtue or a moral decision? Perhaps it was a forced lifestyle or a diet trend gone wrong (or right depending). Health wise, which is better for us? Educating ourselves by answering these questions helps us answer the, perhaps, most important question of all. Which lifestyle will we, as individuals, choose?
Every day across America millions of people wake up to start their morning. Throughout the day the vast majority of these people will consume meat, but 3% will replace the pig, cow, and chicken products for vegetable or fruit made meals (Harris). These vegetarians all have many different reasons to make this choice. This decision is a huge change in one’s life and is not without questions. Some people may wonder why would anyone abstain from the amazing food that contains meat. This essay will briefly explain the history of vegetarianism, the reasons for vegetarianism, and answer questions about vegetarianism. Vegetarian diets are all around better than diets containing meat because of three main reasons; the abuse of animals, the environmental damage, and the health benefits for humans.
Diets high in plant protein, such as the vegetarian diet, are linked with many health benefits. Studies suggest vegetarians tend to have a lower body weight, lower cholesterol, lower risk of diabetes, lower blood pressure levels. (21) (18) They also have a lower risk of stroke, cancer and death from heart disease than non-vegetarians (15) (16).
A vegetarian diet usually has high fiber and is low in fat and calories. This is why a vegetarian diet is a great option for someone who wants to lose weight. However, a diet too low in fat and calories can be a problem for children and teenagers who are still growing (Becoming a Vegetarian 2014). It is important that someone does not start a new diet without asking a healthcare professional first. Another benefit of a vegetarian diet is that it might be helpful in reducing the risk of heart disease. In a study on 76,000 people, vegetarians were 25% less likely to die of heart disease then someone who eats meat (Harvard Health).Becoming a vegetarian has a lot of health
Appropriately planned vegetarian diets can be essential to any one, in any stage of their life. Vegetarian diets are associated with lower risks of cancer, death from ischemic heart disease or any cardiovascular disease. Also lower body mass index (BMI), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, low blood pressure and lower rates of hypertension than those of which are non-vegetarians.
In today’s society, humans are becoming more health conscious in what they consume. They strive to make sacrifices for their health betterment. Vegetarianism is a unique lifestyle choice that has various health benefits and makes our body feel good. In order to have the knowledge of a vegetarian versus meat diet, it’s good to look into the reasons to change eating habits. People do not decide their eating habits until they are at an age where they can do what they want. Adolescents under nineteen years old are starting to want a change in their lives by avoiding the consumption of meat. Teenagers everywhere are considering and deeply thinking about- is it really healthier to become vegetarian? According to the United States of Agriculture and
Society has recently become increasingly obsessed with health and nutrition, as more and more individuals realize that they can dramatically change their quality of life by adjusting their diet and lifestyle. One way that people have tried to pursue a healthier lifestyle, is by removing meat and other animal products from their diets, whether they become a strict vegetarian who eats no animal byproducts, or a lacto-ovo vegetarian who still eats eggs and dairy. As with any other lifestyle, research is always being done to see if the benefits outweigh the disadvantages, and so far, the results of vegetarian diets have been encouraging. Vegetarian diets have proven to decrease the risk of heart disease, cancer, obesity, and many other health problems. With a little planning and dedication, a vegetarian diet will be healthier and more beneficial than a traditional diet
The amount of people becoming vegetarians these days is growing. There are a few different types of vegetarians for example; the lacto-ovo vegetarian doesn’t eat any animal products except milk and eggs. Another type of vegetarian is the vegan, they exclude all animal products.
Albert Einstein once said, "Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances of survival for life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet." As people move into a more health conscious society, vegetarianism is becoming a popular choice. While some people cannot imagine a day without meat, others are convinced that a vegetarian lifestyle is the better option. There are numerous benefits of being a vegetarian. Some of the reasons are as follows: vegetarianism has multiple health paybacks, is far better for the environment, and is morally sound. Most people believe that vegetarianism is unhealthy, goes against our natural diet, and unnecessary, however, a vegetarian diet offers many health benefits and is more ethical than an omnivorous existence.
Society has recently become increasingly obsessed with health and nutrition, as more and more individuals realize that they can dramatically change their quality of life by adjusting their diet and lifestyle. One such way that people have tried to pursue a healthier lifestyle, is by removing meat and other animal products from their diets, whether they become a strict vegetarian who eats no animal byproducts, or a lacto-ovo vegetarian who still eats eggs and dairy. As with any other lifestyle, research is always being done to see if the benefits outweigh the disadvantages, and so far, the results of vegetarian diets have been encouraging. Vegetarian diets have proven to decrease the risk of heart disease, cancer, obesity, and many other health problems. With a little planning and dedication, a vegetarian diet will be healthier and more beneficial than a traditional diet that includes meat and animal products.
Vegetarianism is the dietary way of avoiding animal products. Many individuals are replacing animal products in their daily meals with different kinds of vegetables. They believe that eating non-animal products is an ideal way of cleansing out the toxins in their bodies. Moreover, most people consider vegetables as the best foods that can help them lose weight without causing any side effects. Although many people believe the animal products are the best foods for providing the basic vitamins in life, the UTA community should be interested in vegetables because eating vegetables help people maintain a healthy body, growing vegetables would also help our world reduce pollution, and more animals will not be killed for food.
Vegetarians tend to be healthier than those who consume meat. This is due to the prevalent unnatural chemicals used in the processing of meats, and eating these are unsuitable for the body. Meats already contain harmful amounts of cholesterol, and over-consumption of red meat can lead to early heart disease. Animals that are raised on farms for their meat are not treated well, and this mistreatment can lead to harm in the meat they are producing. Although one life choice cannot change one’s environmental
The first benefit to being a vegetarian is health reasons. Recent research studies have shown that vegetarians have better health than people who eat meat. The risk of a disease is less likely when being a vegetarian. For example, vegetarians have a lower rate of gallstones, kidney stones, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and colon disease. Studies have also shown that not only does a vegetarian diet have a greater chance of preventing these diseases but becoming a vegetarian can sometimes even cure these diseases. In a study conducted by Dr. Ornish from the University of California, he found that a vegetarian diet is also good for unclogging arteries of patients with very serious heart disease. The American Medical Association announced, in 1961, that heart disease, which is the cause of over half of deaths in the United States, could be eliminated by a vegetarian diet. The AMA has also reported that a high saturated fat diet is a key component to high levels of the diagnosis of coronary heart disease. The reason for vegetarians less risk for heart disease ...
The foods in this diet provide the body with many essential nutrients. This is why many health benefits are associated with the vegetarian diet. This dietary method has been linked to reducing the causes of obesity, heart disease, and cancer. With the vegetarian diet, the chances of becoming obese are lowered. Obesity is one of the most common chronic diseases.
In conclusion, vegetarianism benefits many part of our life. A healthier body, a better environment, and more fair treatment of animals are all requites of becoming vegetarians. It is hard to change eating habits, but it is not impossible. There are many kinds of food that vegetarians can choose today. The taste of the non-meat food is not all bad and some of them maybe much better than imagination. It is not wise to deny being a vegetarian before trying to be. With more and more people adopting the vegetarian diet, the world will be a better place in the future: animals will be treated better; global warming will be alleviated; fewer people will be starving, and ultimately, people will be healthier and be living longer. Therefore, people should start action before it is too late.