The Health Benefits of Vegetarianism

878 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Effects of vegetarianism on health

“Each year, more and more studies confirm the fact that eating meat…can greatly increase…chances of developing conditions such as high cholesterol, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.” (“Nutrition and Staying Healthy” 2) Diets that include meat are linked to higher risk of diseases. Studies have shown that by being a vegetarian, a healthier life can be attained. In order to live a healthy life, people must be vegetarian.

Many people think that to get all essential nutrients, eating meat is necessary. Eliminating meat from a diet does cause a large source of nutrients to be unavailable but by eating the right foods and planning a diet, it is possible to “be as healthy as, or healthier than, most meat eaters.” (“Nutrition and Staying Healthy” 2) The most common concerns of nutrient deficiencies in vegetarians are with protein, calcium, iron, and vitamin B12. “All of the protein you need can be found in beans, nuts, grains, and soy products.” (“Nutrition and Staying Healthy” 1) To combat insufficiencies in calcium and iron a vegetarian must make sure to include “dark green, leafy vegetables” (“Nutrition and Staying Healthy” 1) in their diet. For those vegetarians who keep dairy in their diet can also obtain calcium from drinking milk lower in fat. Vitamin B12 is also essential, and to reach proper amounts of it, it is necessary to “eat cereals fortified with B12” (“Nutrition and Staying Healthy” 2) or simply take a “B12 supplement”. (“Nutrition and Staying Healthy” 2)

“Vegetarians are less likely to suffer from heart disease, cancer, obesity, …type 2 diabetes, [and] gallstones.” (Hoy 1) Because of the specific diet that requires healthier food and good habits, a vegetarian is more likely to have a lower fat intake. Veg...

... middle of paper ...

...s Cited

Hoy, Daniel. "No Meat for Me." SIRS. Herald Sun, 19 Sept 2011. Web. 5 Feb 2012. .

Krane Derr, Mary. "PROS & CONS OF A VEGETARIAN DIET." Livestrong. N.p., 31 Mar 2011. Web. 5 Feb 2012. .

“Nutrition and Staying Healthy.” Teen Health and Wellness. Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., 2012. Web. 30 Jan 2012

ProCon.org. "Vegetarian ProCon.org." vegetarian.procon.org. ProCon.org, 11 Jan. 2012. Web. 5 Feb. 2012.

“Why Be a Vegetarian or Vegan?.” Teen Health and Wellness. Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., 2012. Web. 30 Jan 2012

Show More
Related

  • Summary Of Why I Stopped Being A Vegetarian By Laura Fraser

    971 Words  | 2 Pages

    In her Salon.com essay, “Why I Stopped Being a Vegetarian,” writer Laura Fraser uses her own life experiences to explain why she became a vegetarian, what it did to her, and why she decided to go back to being an omnivore. Fraser’s main idea was that even though being a vegetarian might be slightly healthier than a “usual diet”, and that people should not go against what they are made for. Fraser explains why being a vegetarian can be healthier for people in some places, why it is hard to be a full vegetarian, and why it is a good idea to not go against humans natural ways as a human being. By establishing her personal view and facts that she has researched, and appealing to emotions and logic in some ways, Fraser succeeds in writing an informal/argumentative essay about being an omnivore.

    Read More

  • Vegetarianism: The Characteristics And Types Of Vegetarians

    801 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Vegetarianism: The Argument For Vegetarianism

    1324 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Vegetarianism

    1714 Words  | 4 Pages

    Rachel K. Johnson, a spokesperson for the American Heart Association and professor of nutrition and Medicine at the University of Vermont says, “[Your risk of heart disease reduces] because of the fatty red meats and many processed meats that are high in saturated fat, which raises LDL cholesterol which increases risk of coronary heart disease.” Being vegetarian doesn’t just help women with heart disease, but it helps with so much more. For one it helps lower your blood pressure, in a research that was done on a group of people it was found that only vegetarians were found with the lowest blood pressure (Alexandra p.1). Secondly it helps lower the risk of death. A 2013 study showed that more than 70,000 people found that vegetarians had a twelve percent lower risk of death compared with non-vegetarians (Alexandra p.2) With the absence of the saturated fat and cholesterol that clogs arteries, vegetarians are at a lower risk for chronic disease overall. Thirdly, when being a vegetarian you are also in a better mood. “ A 2012 study randomly split participants into three diets: all-meat allowed, fish-only and vegetarian no-meat. The researchers found that after two weeks, the people on the vegetarian diet reported more mood improvements than those on the other two diets.”(Alexandra p.3). Being a vegetarian also gives you a less risk of being over weight, which we all know has been one of the biggest problems here in America. Too many people are overweight and are not doing

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Animal Protein And Plant Protein

    1170 Words  | 3 Pages

    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).

    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

  • Should We Be Vegetarians?

    1159 Words  | 3 Pages

    Rachels, J. (2013). The Moral Argument for Vegetarianism. In L. Vaughn, Contemporary Moral Arguments - Readings in Ethical Issues Second Edition (pp. 617-622). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Read More

  • Healthier being a meat-eater or a vegetarian

    726 Words  | 2 Pages

    Today’s medical experts say that avoiding meat helps you avoid saturated fat. They have found out from studies that women who eat meat daily have a fifty percent greater risk of developing heart disease than vegetarian women and a sixty-eight percent greater risk in men (staff writer). People may not know about serious diseases meat can cause such as, mad cow disease and foot-and-mouth disease. In the September 1999 issue of the Emerging Infectious Diseases, approximately 76 million food-borne illnesses- resulting in 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths occur in the United States each year from improperly cooked or diseased meat (Licher). That is a lot of fun!

    Read More

  • Vegetarianism: The Benefits Of Vegetarianism, Diets To The Environment

    1083 Words  | 3 Pages

    People who are against vegetarianism believe that vegetarians don’t get enough nutrients in their diet. Vegetarians and vegans could easily become deficient in vitamin B12, iron, zinc, calcium, and the fatty acids EPA & DHA, and vitamins A & D that are fat-soluble. Vitamin B12 deficiency is the most common among vegetarians and vegans which could lead to fatigue, weakness, memory loss, anemia, neurological, and psychiatric problems. In Western vegetarians, zinc deficiency can fall below the recommended levels

    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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • The Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet

    899 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Advantages of a Vegetarian Diet 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).

    Read More

  • Vegetarian Lifestyle Essay

    938 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many people strive to be healthy. Following a vegetarian diet is healthy. Therefore, people should live a vegetarian lifestyle. The vegetarian lifestyle is quite easy to maintain if one starts by just cutting out red meats from the diet, and then progress into chicken, and finally fish. This is the easiest way to become vegetarian, as you are stopping step by step instead of all at once. A majority of vegetarian diets have several easy to prepare meals and are fairly easy to follow. Countless restaurants serve meatless dishes, and salads are almost always available. Vegetarians tend to be healthier than those who consume meat. This is due to the prevalent unnatural chemicals used in the processing of meats, which are very harmful to the human body. Meats already contain harmful amounts of cholesterol, and over-consumption of red meat can lead to early heart disease. The meat must maintain a safe temperature all throughout travel, and stay that way

    Read More

More about The Health Benefits of Vegetarianism

Open Document