The Benefits of Vegetarianism: The World’s Outcry for an End to Meat Eating
For many people, meat is a scrumptious food that offers many benefits to one’s health. It offers many nutrients such as proteins and essential fatty acids, while also being more readily available than ever before. Consequently, over 101.1 kilograms of meat is consumed per person every year in developed countries as a result (Clarke, 4). It is clear that meat is a very popular food, and that is no surprise considering our ancestry. However, on the flipside, it is important to consider the benefits of the complete opposite lifestyle: vegetarianism. Vegetarianism offers a wealth of unforeseen benefits that can not only benefit the individual, but the entire planet as well. Through these benefits, vegetarians around the world are either inadvertently or intentionally improving the quality of life for every organism. Yet the question still remains: if there are so many supposed benefits to vegetarianism, why do vegetarians make up less than five percent of the population? (Crnie, 1134). To begin, vegetarianism provides great betterment to an individual’s health and lifestyle. Meat eating in itself is an interesting paradox. Most people claim to love animals, as evidenced by the popularity of dogs, cats and other pets, as well as the outcry to protect endangered species. However, the cow in comparison is seen as little more than a medium to obtain milk and beef from the grocery store. Vegetarians are
“Against Meat” by Jonathon Safran Foer (2009, New York Times Magazine) is intended to educate current non-vegetarians on what vegetarianism is, the benefits of it in terms of health and animal rights, and also the struggles of consistently being a vegetarian. Although Foer does not specifically express what a vegetarian is we can assume he is going off the generally known definition of a person who does not consume the meat of an animal, as oppose to a vegan who does not consume any animal products at all. According to an article about vegetarian Americans, 5% or 16 million Americans classify themselves as vegetarian in 2015, compared to the 1% back in 2009, making vegetarianism a growing trend throughout the US (Raw Food World). Foer proves his opinion on vegetarianism by backing it up with facts from the USDA and his own personal experiences with his babysitter, growing up struggling with being a vegetarian that loves meat, and the decision to marry and raise his child vegetarian. Foer does, however, have a few gaps in his argument about nutrition, the costs associated with vegetarianism, and the lack of a definition of vegetarian.
When I was growing up I was taught how to hunt, fish and trap animals for food as well as being fed an omnivorous diet, but today I have found that I no longer need animals in my diet. The Vegetarian Times recently found that out of the 311 million people in the US, 7.3 million eat a vegetarian based diet and 22.8 million eat a vegetarian inclined diet. Over the past century people have begun looking into the health implications of plant based diets as a way of improving their health and increase their longevity. This research paper is intended
Thesis statement: There should be meat free alternatives and more awareness of the benefits of choosing a vegetarian lifestyle as eating less meat is better for an individual’s health and the environmental.
“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.
If we were to have to conform to the USDA’s dietary guidelines of a healthy vegetarian eating pattern, a lot of issues would arise. Beyond the social repercussions for trying to impose a diet that the majority does not follow, there is are economic situations that will arise that are far more imperative than any social complaints that may come up in the short term. In our current economy, where we are barely able to keep with other developing nations, we cannot risk damaging any industry that are essential to our gross domestic product (GDP). Along with the effects of decreases to the meat industry, the availability of foods that meet the vegetarian guidelines are skewed to favoring higher income areas. So, if you would take a step back and look beyond the social lens, you will see something potentially far more dangerous.
There are two main lifestyles that we as human beings practice that impact our eating habits. One being a Vegetarian, a person who chooses not to eat meat. The other being a Meat Eater (also known as an Omnivore), a person who chooses to eat both meat and vegetables. A controversial debate continues to go on, evaluating the pros and cons of each group, along with the reasons behind their choice. In the end it all depends on the individual’s outlook on life that makes the decision.
It’s no secret that American families cherish their pets. Fish, dogs, and cats are part of the average American household. With so many families adopting pets nowadays, why do they turn around and eat other animals? Although many people enjoy eating meat, people should eliminate it from their diet. There are many reasons for this claim, such as the treatment of the animals, the benefits vegetarianism has on health, and the effect that factory farms has on the environment.
As we can now observe, vegetarianism has become something fashionable, and the number of people who reject eating meat is constantly increasing. In Britain, for instance, over 5 million people have done it so far. It is obviously connected with the recent animal diseases, but this tendency is likely to spread on the other regions of the world. However, it is not only a fashion or fear of illnesses. I myself became a vegetarian about 2 years ago, and I can see a number of reasons why people should stop eating meat. They are mainly of ethic, economic and health type. Those who think in an ecological way should also be aware of how this meat consumption ruins our environment. I don’t have an intention
As different crazes and fads are appearing each day, we have come to expect them to simply fade away as the hype passes. However, veganism has stood the test of time in our fad society and is still increasing in popularity. Originally only thought to be a religious lifestyle, many people from different walks of life are becoming vegans. However, this poses many questions and sparks heated debates, mainly from omnivorous people who believe that veganism is against life’s natural order. Vegans, then, argue against an omnivorous lifestyle by bringing up facts about humans’ biological makeup and how humans are, contrary to popular belief, herbivorous by nature, not omnivorous. While both sides present good arguments to some, the veganism lifestyle contains more benefits and less harmful cons than an omnivorous lifestyle.
According to a recent poll 6 to 8 million American’s do not eat meat, fish, or poultry. From these studies, they have been researching about the effects of a vegetarian diet on the body. Compared to most meat based diets, vegetarians consume less saturated fat and cholesterol from not eating meat. Choosing this route will have a person what would be considered a better quality of life and overall good health. Research so far has shown that a vegetarian diet reduces the risk of heart disease. In recent years a study was done using different participants and the results showed that vegetarians were 25% less likely to die from heart related problem. “This is because vegetarians tend to consume more high-fiber, whole grains, and legumes which have a low glycemic index and the body digests slowly. This keeps blood sugar levels steady. Another food item that helps reduce the risk of heart disease is walnuts” (Sixwise). This is because the omega-3s in walnuts help reduce total cholesterol. There is some controversy over this specific topic, thus, are they really that healthy? What does it mean to be a vegetarian, and what do professionals have to say about being a vegetarian?
Consumption of meat by humans creates several problems. First and foremost, raising animals for food compromises the environment. For example, it takes a large amount of natural resources to sustain the meat industry. The use of water, land, and food to raise animals for human consumption is not an efficient use of our limited resources. In contrast, it is more efficient to feed humans directly than to use land, food, and water to feed animals to be used as food. There are shortages of fertile land, clean water, and food in several third world countries. Many of these countries’ resources are allocated to produce feed for animals in developed countries around the world. As a result, the citizens of these countries are stricken with water and food shortages, while their crops are feeding cattle from across the globe. However, this problem can be solved by adopting a vegan diet. The vegan diet will allow a more efficient use of resources that in turn can be used to feed starving men, women, and children throughout the world. Consequently, more people in the world could be fed if the land used to grow feed for animals was used to grow food for humans.
There are so many different controversies in the world, especially during this time period. Whether it be race, body image, or how to even raise a child. A big question that many may ask is, “Should a person eat meat or not eat meat?” If someone were to choose not to eat meat, they would be considered a vegetarian or a vegan. There’s a lot of similarities and differences both ways and even though there are similarities and differences between the two, a lot of people don’t truly know what their diet has in it or how what they eat affects their bodies. Today I will be sharing those differences between a vegetarian and meat eater, their diets and about which lifestyle is best for you.
Whether vegetarianism is on the rise or not, it is interesting to discover what drives a person to choose a vegetarian lifestyle. John Lawrence Hill, professor of law at St. Thomas University, School of Law, and author of The
Vegetarianism has important philosophical grounds related to murdering animals and the fact that all life on earth should be respected and protected (“Nutrition Ecology” par 1). Unlike extreme ideas about animal rights that go as far as forbid people to ride mules for their benefit, advocates of vegetarianism proceed from one simple principle - that killing is wrong and animals have the same right to live. In theory, such a position means that a person is striving to live in harmony with the outer world, a feature that in itself can promote healthier lifestyle. However, there more matter-of-fact arguments in favor of vegetarianism, and these arguments hinge on the nutritional benefits of a veggie diet.
A vegetarian diet has become a way of life for millions of people around the world in the last twenty years and continues to do so everyday. People become vegetarians for many reasons such as health, religious convictions, concerns for animals, or a way to avoid excessive use of environmental resources. Albert Einstein was a vegetarian in his last years of life and wrote in a letter talking about his new diet, “So I am living without fats, without meat, without fish, but am feeling quite well this way. It always seems to me that man was not born to be a carnivore” (IVU 1). Vegetarianism, as stated in ‘WebMD’, is a diet free of meat, fish, and fowl flesh. There are six main kinds of vegetarians. At one end are lacto-ovo vegetarians, who don't eat meat, poultry, or fish, but do eat eggs and dairy products. There are vegans who don't eat or wear any animal based products/food including honey. Pescatarians don't eat meat except fish. Fruitarians eat fruits, plant food, nuts and seeds. Lacto vegetarians who eat no meat, poultry, fish, or eggs, but do eat dairy products. The last kind is ovo vegetarians who eat no meat, poultry, fish, or dairy products, but do eat eggs (WebMD 1-2). In 2016, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimated that every American consumes about 54.3 pounds of beef, 92.1 pounds of chicken, and 50.4 pounds of pork each year. In a 2016 Harris poll, they stated that around eight million of American adults were vegetarian and about two million