The Effects Of Being Vegetarian On Our Brain Essay

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

“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.

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.

Although a plant can grow in the wild on its own, when it is tended to and given extra nutrients it can be even more fruitful. Wouldn't you want your plants to grow bigger and stronger for a better crop and one day use the seeds from those successful plants to make an even better crop? This method may take more time and energy but the outcome will be well worth it. It's true that some plants won't grow as big as the others but they are still just as important to the harvest as the other fruits and vegetables. Some recipes call for large tomatoes while others may just need a small tomato to get the job done. If someone were to take away these nutrients these plants may still grow but not to the same greatness.

The articles both review the effects of a vegetarian diet on children and the outcome on children based on the different levels of vegetarianism: vegan or strict vegetarian (no animal products), lacto-ovo-vegetarian (includes milk and egg products; no meat), Lacto-vegetarian (milk and dairy products; no meat), pesco-vegetarian (consume fish and seafood; no pork, beef, or poultry), and semi-vegetarian (include meat products in very small amounts). Jacobs and Dwyer addresses vegetarianism/veganism from a nutritional stand point, basing their article on the risks and benefits of the diet dealing with children. Bringing to light the issue of malnutrition due to lack of certain

Inversely, if there are foods to improve the brain's function it suggests that there are foods that will negatively affect the brain. Foods, that when parents feed them to their children will make their brain sluggish, incoherent, slow to reasoning or learning.

In the article ¨Should People Become Vegetarian” by ProCon.org, it states that two in three vegetarians are vitamin B12 deficient, compared to one in twenty people who eat meat. This proves that people do not need to be vegetarian.

Consuming meats functions and organizes the nervous system. As a human, eating meat is a milestone in human evolution. Tracing the earliest diet of ancestors, compared brains of herbivores and brains of omnivores, scientists found that omnivores purchase larger size brain. There are various reasons for developing the brain. Some argue that finding and cooking foods promoted their complex organization of the brain. In other words, during the process of hunting and cooking, our male ancestors needed to come up strategy, corporate with others, share prey with their family or present their strength to females, which absolutely attribute to developing the brain. Despite iron, another important element should not be ignored. Vitamin B-12 plays a

“Eating food rich in vitamins and minerals keeps the brain younger”. The headline was prompted by a US stud of a new diet called MIND, which appeared to slow down ageing of the brain.

As with any of the internal organs, the brain has certain nutritional requirements for optimal health. To keep the brain functioning a diet that is well balanced and varying in nutrients is necessary. The brain is made up of two-thirds fats and requires a steady supply of high-quality fatty acids to keep cell membranes intact and insulate nerves. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish, flax and walnut oils, are the best fats for brain health. Diets high in these fats may help prevent degenerative brain conditions such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases and decrease the risk for depression, according to The Franklin Institute for Science. Phosphatidyl serine, a lipid molecule the body makes by combining fatty acids with phosphate, is an important component of cell membranes and is found in particularly high concentrations in the brain. Phosphatidyl serine keeps cell membranes flexible and helps speed the transmission of nerve impulses. Antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, protect delicate brain structures from free-radical damage, particularly to the fats that insulate nerve cells and comprise a large portion of the brain, according to Dr. Shari Lieberman, co-author of the book "User's Guide to Brain-Boosting Supplements: Learn about the Vitamins and Other Nutrients That Can Boost Your Memory and End Mental

By observing the participants' diets, the scientists were able to determine that a diet high in saturated fat, animal proteins and processed foods caused a reduction in the hippocampal section of the brain. Participants who consumed mostly fresh fruits and vegetables showed bigger hippocampal volumes after the four year study. The significance of this study indicates the importance of implementing dietary changes as an approach to stimulate cognitive health and improved learning capabilities (Jacka, Cherbuin, Anstey, Schdev & Butterworth, 2015). These findings are very interesting and involve not only health matters, but has elements of social inequity as well. The current prevalent notion is that veganism is for the rich only, and eating a healthy diet, full of nutritious, fresh ingredients would be out of reach for the population at large. Is it really? Wasn't the case long ago, that only the rich could afford meat products? The peasants of years past were relegated to eating

The brain is amazingly soft, composed primarily of fat and water. It is grayish and pudding-like - composed of 100 billion brain cells - called neurons that drive our thinking, learning, feeling and states of being. Neurons need good fats, protein, complex carbohydrates, micronutrients - vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients - and water. Most of these nutrients are essential nutrients that the body cannot synthesize on its own -- or not to an adequate amount -- and must be provided by the diet. These nutrients are used to drive the learning and protective functions of neurons.

Environmental exposures is only one of the extrinsic factor that affects our brain. Another factor that can affect our brain is nutrition. Although food has traditionally been perceived as a means to provides energy and also aid in repairing and restoring the body, its capability to prevent or protect against diseases is becoming well known. Research over the past 5 years has contributed evidence as to how specific systems and mechanisms that maintain mental function are possibly influenced by dietary factors. For example, a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids is known for supporting cognitive processes in humans. Furthermore, diets that are high in saturated fat are also becoming more known for causing an increase in the risk of neurological dysfunction in humans and animals. Through the years, diet, along with other aspects of daily living such as exercise played an important role in constructing an individual’s cognitive capacity. (Gómez-Pinilla) This could explain the fact that any negative impact on cognitive abilities is not entirely due to biology, but

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

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?