Negative Essay On Vegetarianism

Should the eight researchers’ diets have been vegetarian or meat-based? What difference would this make?

Vegetarianism is gaining popularity these days, especially among young people. However, there are concerns that the repercussions of following a vegetarian diet might outweigh its benefits. Referring to current literature, discuss the pros and cons of vegetarianism.

Today, many Americans are not doing a great job taking care of themselves and their well-being. As a result, the rates of obesity of many Americans continues to increase. Many are suffering from diseases that not only is affecting their health but also their lifestyle. Many believe that by consuming a healthier vegetarian diet not only will it help individuals maintain a healthier body but by reducing the amount of foods that contain fertilizers can protect the planet from further damage to the environment.

“Meats, Dairies, and Eggs, Oh Why” (2014) is an argumentative essay written by Rebecca Dent that explains the benefits of eating a plant-based diet and advocates for the better treatment of the animals affected by the meat industry. Dent supports her assertions by discussing the negative health effects of an omnivorous diet, addressing reasons some might be hesitant to convert to a plant-based diet, describing the advantages of substituting meat for vegetables for both the consumers and the animals, and finally, by including expert opinions and statistical facts. Dent’s purpose for this essay is to highlight the benefits of vegetarianism in order to convince readers to convert to a plant-based diet. The intended audience for this argument is those who currently eat an omnivorous diet so that they would assess and change their eating habits.

Vegetarianism is a custom practiced in six out of the seven continents and has become more popular over the years. Vegetarianism can be defined as the exclusion of animal products such as meat and fish from one’s diet. Dairy products and eggs are often times excluded as well. Although there are many reasons one may decide to become a Vegetarian or follow such a code of ethics, the most common include: moral, religious or health reasons.

A large part of a person’s lifetime is spent on their consumption of food, which is often done while neglecting the impact their diet has on their health. Is there a reason for us to be conscious of our diet? Are potential health benefits really worth the effort? Vegetarian have shown many health benefits in comparison to meat eaters such as decreased chances of developing type 2 diabetes, less risk of heart disease and prostate cancer, lower blood cholesterol levels and blood pressure to name a few (Mangels et al., 2014). Plants provide antioxidants that are only present in small amounts in meat products, these phytochemicals help protect cells from damage and thus have reduced odds of developing some cancers (Leitzmann, 2014). One of the

Our goal for this project was to show the arguments that both sides use to support their reasoning behind why eating meat or no meat is better or why each person on both sides prefer one or the other. For each side we all chose an argument one might use to explain why their choice in diet is better and more preferable than the other. Each member of each group chose a side to argue for and then discussed different aspects of the argument; those being the economic, the health, the ethic and the environmental side. The vegetarian side would argue on what vegetarians contribute to these for aspects of the debate and also defend why their position is better compared

Dr. Michael Greger provides an eye-opening statistic regarding the link between health and nutrition when he states that, “The #1 killer in the US – heart disease – was found to be almost nonexistent in populations with diets centered around whole plant foods” (“Greger”). Even though the idea that a plant-based diet is the best option for many reasons, many groups still passionately contest it. However, recent research in nutritional and environmental science has established that a more plant-based, or vegetarian, lifestyle is the way society needs to go. Webster’s New World Dictionary defines vegetarian as, “one who eats no meat” (715). Society is showing a trend towards more people adopting plant-based eating. This trend can be seen playing out in the popular media via celebrities who openly discuss their vegetarian lifestyle choices and also in popular television shows whose characters talk about being vegetarian in the dialogue of show.

those who were vegetarian had a 12 percent greater chance of living longer compared to their

Vegan diets are often found to have higher than average levels of some nutrients such as, fiber, magnesium, vitamins C and E, and iron (Craig 1627S). They are also commonly low in calories, saturated fat, and cholesterol (Craig 1627S). Vegans are also much more likely to be at a healthy weight than meat eaters. Since 1990, more than 20 different studies have shown vegans to be leaner than people other people eating healthy diets (Davis and Melina 39). Related to this, vegans typically have a lower risk for obesity, cardiovascular disease, and high blood pressure (Craig 1627S). Studies have shown that people who eat meat have a substantially higher risk of developing prostate and colorectal cancer than vegetarians or vegans (Craig 1628S). Consumption of tofu and other soy products, common in vegan diets, during childhood and adolescence has been linked to reduced lifetime risk of breast and prostate cancers (Davis and Melina 55). All this evidence supports the idea that a well-rounded vegan diet has numerous advantages against the omnivorous alternative.

First of all, not eating meat is much healthier for the human body. Studies have proven vegetarians live longer than meat eaters. Just

In 1992, as the medical evidence supporting this lifestyle skyrocketed, the American Dietetic Association officially endorsed vegetarianism, thus solidifying a prominent argument for the credibility of the vegetarian diet. From the 1990s to present day, the amount of practitioners has markedly increased, and appears to be continually growing at a steady rate. According to a 2008 study conducted by the Harris Interactive Service Bureau on behalf of Vegetarian Times magazine, roughly 3.2 percent of U.S. adults, or 7.3 million people, follow a vegetarian-based diet. In addition, 22.8 million Americans maintain to follow a vegetarian inclined diet, while 11.9 million are “definitely interested” in becoming a vegetarian in the future (“Vegetarianism”). While no concrete evidence of a current rise yet exists, researchers speculate that, because of new environmental and health concerns, more people are, and will be, turning to vegetarianism to assist these issues (Rohrer).

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

Did you know that Benjamin Franklin was a vegetarian? He lived to be 80. As Mr. Franklin himself wrote: “My refusing to eat meat occasioned inconveniency, and I have been frequently chided for my singularity. But my light repast allows for greater progress, for great clearness of head, and quicker comprehension.” (Cite) A vegetarian diet is healthier than you might think and benefits the environment as well. The health benefits of a plant-based diet include preventing heart disease, cancer prevention, weight management, and slowing the aging process. Additionally, there are added benefits in vegetarian proteins compared to animal proteins. A vegetarian diet is

There have been numerous studies showing that a vegetarian diet is beneficial to one’s mortality and longevity. In the article “Red Meat Consumption and Mortality,” An Pan, PhD, along with others of the same stature followed the lives of 121,342 people to see the relationship between red meat and mortality. They concluded from the investigation is that a diet high in red meat is consistent with an enlarged threat of death from cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD) (Pan, et al.). They also found that if the people reduced their intake of red meat, their mortality rate would decrease (Pan, et al.). From these findings it is clear that the reduction of red meat is most