Vegetarianism
A vegetarian is defined as someone who does not participate in the consumption of poultry, red meat, seafood, or the flesh of another animal. Unlike vegans, vegetarians still will have dairy products though. There is much debate over this type of diet amongst people, as it is not the norm. Proponents of a meat-based diet sometimes claim that vegetarian diets are not healthy and lack the necessary nutrients a person needs to survive, which is in fact a myth. Additionally, since a meat-based diet is not the norm it is very difficult for people to imagine omitting meat entirely from their diets, mainly for convenience purposes. People who eat meat also think it tastes good so they are not willing to give up a food that is a part of their everyday life. Meat is so deeply engrained in our society that many people find it absurd to give it up. Everywhere we go, every billboard we pass, it is a constant reminder of how much meat is a part of our everyday lives. However, despite its convenience and taste, meat actually has a large number of downsides. I believe that vegetarianism is a lot more advantageous because of its environmental benefits, health benefits, and lack of the inhumane treatment of animals.
Meat consumption has reached an all-time high this century. “The world's output of meat increased fivefold in the second half of the 20th century. We now have 22 billion farm animals, including 15 billion chickens and 1.3 billion cattle. And the industry is girding its loins for a 50 per cent increase in the next two decades” (Tudge, 2004). What many people do not realize is that this is in fact something to be very alarmed about. Everyone always hears that too much meat consumption is bad for one’s health, however that...
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This article details the benefits of a primarily vegetarian diet in primary prevention of heart disease.
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
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?
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.
A vegetarian is someone who chooses not to consume meat, fish or poultry. There are many forms of vegetarianism. A lacto-ovo vegetarian is someone who does not eat meat but does consume dairy products and eggs(Becoming a Vegetarian 2014). A lacto-vegetarian consumes dairy but no eggs, and an ovo-vegetarian
On a daily basis, a majority of people across the world consumes meat products in their diet, yet a small percent of people have chosen the unique lifestyle of being a vegetarian. Although everyone has to make their decision on whether to follow a meat based or vegetarian based diet, there have been continuous debates on the benefits that come from being a vegetarian versus eating meat. According to nutritionists, it was concluded that eating a more vegetarian based diet has greater positive values to the health of the body than consuming meat. The benefits of a vegetarian diet over the meat diet are determined by the nutrients that an individual may gain from being a vegetarian. There are numerous organizations and societies that continually educate people about the best ways of living a healthy lifestyle. The main objective of this paper is to assess the importance of the vegetarian diet compared to the meat based diet.
Vegetarians don’t cut out animal products all together therefore their diet, although not containing meat or flesh of any kind is still more diverse and a better, healthier choice than that of a vegan while still holding on so some of their ethical concerns. Vegans do miss out on many nutrients that are ob...
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
There are also environmental and economic reasons for becoming vegetarian. Some people are not aware of these reasons, but a lot of environmental destruction is linked to meat production, especially cattle farming. Huge areas of f...
The Vegetarian diet is growing to be worldwide and in multiple countries. This is partially due to religious reasons but also for ethical reasons. Since vegetarians avoid eating the protein and essential nutrients in these foods, it makes it harder for them to receive all of the nutrients. Other researchers have thought that eating a vegetarian diet consistently can lead to multiple health benefits from eating more vegetables, fruits, and legumes. There is a current belief by omnivores that vegetarians only restrict their eating because they think animals should have the same rights as humans and although this is one of the reasons, it is not the main
Is it wise for individuals to engage in a vegetarian lifestyle? Furthermore, is eating meat ethical? Should individuals protest meat as a solution to this issue? As long as animals are harmed in the process of getting dinner to the table, controversy over the ethicality of eating meat will prosper. With this said, including meat in one’s diet is both logical and ethical. Although vegetarians believe that their lifestyle benefits their health, the environment, and the economy, while ensuring the safety of animals; benefits of an omnivorous diet far outweigh those of a vegetarian diet. An omnivorous diet not only nourishes our bodies, but also aligns us with our natural way of life.
For several years the issue of eating meat has been a great concern to all types of people all over the world. In many different societies controversy has began to arise over the morality of eating meat from animals. A lot of the reasons for not eating meat have to deal with religious affiliations, personal health, animal rights, and concern about the environment. Vegetarians have a greater way of expressing meats negative effects on the human body whereas meat eaters have close to no evidence of meat eating being a positive effect on the human body. Being a vegetarian is more beneficial for human beings because of health reasons, environmental issues, and animal rights.
Every person has the ability to make their own choice of whether to eat meat or not. However, eating meat is directly tied to negative health effects, pollution leading to a depletion of ozone, and the depletion of hundreds of thousands of acres of land “wasted” on animal production when they could be used to solve the hunger crisis or lower emission levels. What humans eat is no longer a matter of choice; it has become a matter of life and death. Literally, the future of the whole planet rests on the decision of whether or not to eat meat. If humans chose to eat less meat the world that wouldn’t have to suffer the consequences (outlined above.) Vegetarianism is one possibility, as is Veganism; however the world would be
People have used the argument that eating meat plays an important role in the overall health of a human and it is the way the cycle of life is meant to be, but this is not the case. Eating meat is unnecessary. Becoming a vegetarian could save countless animals from unnecessary suffering, improve human health, and help preserve numerous natural resources.
Having a healthy dietary method can reduce the chances of receiving many health diseases. These health diseases include obesity, heart disease, and cancer. By consuming certain foods and nutrients in one’s diet the risk factors for these health diseases can be reduced. A healthy dietary method that is beneficial to reducing and/or improving these health diseases is the vegetarian diet. The vegetarian diet follows a dietary pattern that is characterized by the consumption of plant-like foods and the avoidance of flesh foods (meat, poultry, and fish). The foods in this diet provide the body with many essential nutrients. This is why many health benefits have been associated with the vegetarian diet. This dietary method has been linked to reducing the causes of obesity, heart disease, and cancer.