The Benefits Of Vegetarian and Vegan Diets

1533 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Benefits of vegetarian diet

The Benefits Of Vegetarian and Vegan Diets
Lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, type two diabetes, diverticulosis, renal disease, and cancers are some of the few health conditions that people in the world face today. But what if individuals would change to a different diet to prevent disease and illnesses? Vegetarian, lacto-ovo-vegetarian, ovo-vegetarian, and vegan are some of the many types of diets people can choose from today that can lower the risks for diseases and illnesses such as the ones listed above. These diets not only have benefits to individuals, but they also benefit things that modern day society is concerned with. When an individual chooses to adopt a type of vegetarian or vegan diet it is usually because of the positive impact it has on the individual's health, the positive impact it has on the environment, and the positive impact that it has on the animals.

In the United States there are many health issues, but through adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet, individual's health can be significantly improved. It is often thought that vegetarians and vegans are lacking in nutrients that humans bodies need, but this manner of thinking is due to the lack of knowledge that individuals have about these type of diets. There have been links made between red meat and processed meat to things like cancer,coronary artery disease, and both types of diabetes, this is why cutting back on these can lead to health benefits. These health risks can be prevented by keeping a healthy weight and diet, but many people think that you have to include red meats, and other animal products in your diet. But studies have shown that vegetarians and vegans tend to be slimmer, appear to be in better health, have greate...

... middle of paper ...

...UT-PETA-FAQ/howdoeseatingmeatharmtheenvironment?”
PETA.nd. web. 25 Feb, 2014.
Kovacs, Betty. "Vegetarian and Vegan Diet: Health and Disease Prevention - What are the benefits of the various kinds of vegetarian and vegan diets? - MedicineNet."MedicineNet. N.p., 27
Sept. 2013. Web. 22 Feb. 2014. .
“Vegetarian Diet: How to get the best nutrition”. www.mayoclinic.org/vegetarian-diet/art-20046446?pg=2. Mayo Clinic,n.d.web. 25 Feb,
2014.
"Vegetarian Foods: Powerful for Health." PCRM.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2014.
.
“Vegetarianism”.www.eiu.edu/dining/files/vegetarianismII.pdf. web. 25 Feb, 2014.
“www.PETA.ORG/ISSUES/ANIMALS-USED-FOR-FOOD/Meat and the Environment”. Meat and the Environment.PETA. n.d. web. 25 Feb, 2014.

Show More
Related

  • Mad Cowboy

    2443 Words  | 5 Pages

    I will first show the lack of validity and soundness to Howard’s claim that A) a vegan lifestyle is a healthier choice and B) his claim that one must switch to that lifestyle to enjoy these said benefits. To the claim made in A, Howard uses his own health problems he endured on his meat diet, and uses it as a constant variable comparing it to his now relative healthy lifestyle as a vegan. On first glance anyone who eats a calorie-laden, unbalanced diet and ends up weighing 300 pounds, as Lyman himself admitted, will have health problems regardless of his orientation to meat or vegetables. With this said his comparing analogy is inertly flawed and must be disregarded from the argument he presents. On march 8 before the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, Mary K Young, MS.,R.D,NCBA Director of Nutrition Research and Information, presented the benefits of eating meat. Using Data from the 1995 USDA Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSI) she confirms that red meat enhances one overall diet quality. Young goes on to point out that red meat is the number one source for protein, B12, and zinc, number 2 source for B6 and third greatest source for iron, niacin and potassium. She also pointed out that red meat alone has the greatest concentrates of iron and zinc together. Also included cited in Young’s report was the research recently published in the Journal of the American...

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Shattering The Meat Myth By Kathy Freston

    758 Words  | 2 Pages

    The food industry is in a state of necessary revolution, for obesity rates seem to be rising exponentially, counties striving to develop have hit lack-of-food road blocks, and massive animal farms produce threats such as unethical treatment of animals and food-borne pathogen spikes. With these dilemmas revolving around the food world, it is natural for one to ponder, “Are human’s inherently omnivorous, eating both animal and plant based products, or were we suppose to be receiving nutrients solely from a vegetarian diet?” Kathy Freston, author of The Lean: A Revolutionary (and Simple!) 30-Day Plan for Healthy, Lasting Weight Loss, discusses her viewpoint surrounding the dilemma by writing “Shattering the Meat Myth: Humans are Natural Vegetarians.” Freston’s answer to the questions presented above

    Read More

  • Eat to Live by Joel Fuhrman

    582 Words  | 2 Pages

    As healthy lifestyles have come to take over the minds of the general public, people have begun to pay increased attention to the food they eat, which in turn has sparked a renewal in vegetarianism. Vegetarianism is a term used to describe the practice of living on a diet consisting of nuts, grains, fruits, and vegetables, with or without the use of eggs and dairy products. People usually associate vegetarianism with the hippy movement in the 1960’s; however, it was Frances Moore Lappé's iconic book, Diet for a Small Planet, released in 1971 that launched the vegetarian movement. Since 1971 vegetarian cookbooks, restaurants, and food brands have become popular and have enticed the likings of about 7 million Americans. Unfortunately, despite the growing popularity of vegetarianism most people living on a carnivorous diet laugh at the idea of giving up meat. Although omnivores are reluctant to give up their current diets, giving the vegetarian diet a chance even for just a month or two can bring about a number of positive consequences. By adopting a vegetarian diet a person is not only...

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On American Food

    1524 Words  | 4 Pages

    Vanessa Ha and Russell de Souza published a study they did over the health benefits of vegetarianism in the Journal of the American Heart Association. They found that switching to a vegetarian diet can cause healthy weight loss, lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, lower blood pressure. They also found that vegetarians eat lower amounts of total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol. If the United States’ population could start to lose weight, there would be a multitude of benefits. People would have more energy, they would sleep better, and the nation would get back on track. Weight loss can also help to reverse Type 2 Diabetes. Many people would be able to get off their medication and be able to function without being dependent on their medicine. They would also save time because they would not have to go to doctor’s appointments so often. If the American people were all vegetarians, the obesity problem in the United States could practically be eradicated, as Ha and Souza proved that the vegetarian diet could cause weight loss. People could live normal, healthy

    Read More

  • Vegetarianism Vs Vegetarianism

    1448 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Vegetarian Diets: The Benefits Of A Vegetarian Diet

    1198 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Healthier being a meat-eater or a vegetarian

    726 Words  | 2 Pages

    The number 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.

    Read More

  • Relative Moral Superiority and Proselytizing Vegetarianism

    912 Words  | 2 Pages

    The benefits to maintaining a vegetarian diet are myriad and increasingly well-defined by modern science; these benefits include decreased risk of heart disease and certain cancers. Many vegetarians claim to feel better and more perceptive, and two of the top three sprinters in the world are vegan. Vegetarians often claim moral superiority over non-vegetarians through varieties of a “hurt no living thing” credo. Nevertheless, only 2.8% of American adults are vegetarian. The advantages to vegetarianism are well-known, and the disadvantages seem negligible, yet in most countries only a tiny portion of the populace are vegetarian or vegan; Why would anyone ignore the option to live longer and feel superior, both physically and ethically?

    Read More

  • Being a Vegetarian is Better For the Planet

    896 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Veganism

    1056 Words  | 3 Pages

    According to Bonnie Beezhold et.al found that vegans and vegetarians, “…report better mood than non-vegetarians, suggesting that even less animal food intake is associated with better mood” (293). Also, Beezhold et.al, “…have found that the risk of major chronic diseases such as obesity, heart disease, and type-2 diabetes may be reduced by adopting a completely plant-based diet vs. an omnivore diet” (Beezhold et.al 289). Overall, the medical community has agreed that veganism is a healthy option to avoid disease, but their concerns are that vegans will be deficient in certain vitamins and minerals that the regular omnivores are not deficient in. If a vegan is deficit in a certain mineral or vitamin that person can take supplements to combat it. People can say that if I take supplements will that make me healthy even though I consume meat? No, because you are consuming meat and that can clog arteries and increase cholesterol. I think that veganism is probably one of the healthiest options available for everyone. I also think that it is the healthiest because you do not see people become fat off of eating vegetables and fruits. I also agree with Beezhold et.al findings which show that vegans have less stress and anxiety because of the food they ate. Beezhold et.al think this may be because omnivores consume meat and the food the animals were fed where “…higher in certain

    Read More

  • Vegetarian Diet Argumentative Essay

    1935 Words  | 4 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • It is Better to be a Vegetarian

    1128 Words  | 3 Pages

    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 ...

    Read More

  • The Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet

    899 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Vegetarian Pros And Cons Essay

    1015 Words  | 3 Pages

    Food, an extremely important factor in the health of all living organisms. It gives our bodies nutrients and energy which allow us to continue on the journey of life. However, with the increase in population more and more food is needed to feed the human race, or is it? The weekday vegetarian diet is a relatively new idea that would help reduce land and resources needed for agriculture, reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as increasing the overall health of those participating. The research appears to be sound yet some are still skeptical with the idea. Throughout this reading, we’ll go through the environmental impacts, how to implement this practice, and the pros and cons.

    Read More

  • Should People Become Vegetarian?

    1082 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

More about The Benefits Of Vegetarian and Vegan Diets

Open Document