Vegan Diet Research Paper

In the world today there are 16 million vegans. But what are Vegans? A Vegan is a herbivore, meaning they do not eat any animal products such as, meat, dairy, poultry, fish or honey and for some who are more extreme, do not use leather, silk, fur, wool, and any other product that contains animal byproducts. So why might someone want to be Vegan? There are a number of reasons for someone to pursue veganism. For some it is ethical, and others environmental or health reasons, but there has been a recurring question on whether Vegans are getting enough iron and protein. Organic Authority said, “that per calorie kale has more iron than beef.” In regards to protein, a 100 calorie portion of steak, contains 5.4 grams of protein, whereas a 100 calorie portion of broccoli, contains 11.2 grams of protein (Hite 2013). Clearly eating a Vegan diet does not mean that there will be a deficiency of protein, iron or any vitamins besides B12, which has to be supplemented. Environmentally, agriculture is very damaging as well. As stated by Cowspiracy “64% of greenhouse emissions, are a result of livestock, their byproducts, and transportation of the

It is therefore important that when following a personal choice diet such as veganism that they get a nutritionally balanced diet from other foods that they are allowed to eat.

Vegan life is healthier for the nutritional benefits are better when compared to non-vegan eating. The majority of people in the

"Going vegan is empowering. In addition to feeling better physically and emotionally, it helps instill confidence," Said Gene Baur founder and CEO of Farm Sanctuary. "There are many things in this world that are outside of our control, but each of us has a lot of power over what we eat. Being mindful and intentional about the way we eat can lead to improvements in other parts of our lives as well."

Many people have misconceptions about vegans, specifically that they are weak and unhealthy while it is quite the opposite. Registered dietician, Ashley Koff, points out that “eating meat and animal products...has been associated with inflammation” (Hartke par 17). And inflammation is just one of many health problems linked to diets consisting of meat. Cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, and cancer have also been shown in higher rates among omnivores. Gary Fraser, PhD, MPH, who was a part of the Adventist Health Study observed that there was “12 percent reduction in risk of all-cause mortality in all vegetarians combined versus non-vegetarians” (Palmer par 21). Why would you want to pollute your body with the carcasses of animals and other by-products that we have stolen from them? The myth that cow’s milk makes your bones strong is just one of many falsehoods that agribusinesses and large industries have been telling us. Of course, they want us to buy their milk, cheese, and yogurt. But if you look into the effects dairy has on the body, you will learn the real consequences of consuming dairy and animal protein. In a study observing the bones in omnivore and vegan women, health researchers found that there was a “lower amount of bone formation in the omnivore women” which could lead to a lower bone density and ultimately end in osteoporosis (Wood par 16). Many of the strongest animals on the planet are herbivores. Many of the animals people consume are herbivores. We say that we eat meat to get the protein and to get the nutrients, but look at where these animals get theirs. Plants. If we want to be healthy and get our nutrients in their most pure form, we need to stop filtering them through animals. We’re not just killing the animals and our planet; we’re killing

Eating the right Vegan Foods is important. Just being vegan does not mean you will suddenly be healthier. It is not a magic word you can say where a woodland fairy will appear, tap her magic wand, and poof, healthy. Vegans can still eat potato chips, non-dairy ice cream and any number of unhealthy foods. Going vegan is a lifestyle change, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. Far from the typical diet plans of starvation, then using your lack of energy from low calorie intake to attempt exercise, a vegan weight loss plan allows you to eat plentiful and great tasting foods. A common misconception of vegans is that they eat tasteless foods comprised of leaves and twigs. This is far from the truth. There are many

No known plant can give you vitamin B12, which is vital to blood and brain function and is involves in every cell function in the body. The other nutrients that are also only found in animal proteins that vegans lack in their diets are essential amino acids, Creatine, Carnosine, and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA). Eating meat is something that we have been doing for thousands of years and our bodies are made to eat meats and other animal

Rejecting the commodity status of animals and abstaining from animal products may still unconsciously be terrible for vegans. While many animal loving, herbivorous, vegans believe that they are doing what is best for the environment and their bodies, research argues the opposite. From cutting out meat, selecting processed foods, and making pricely decisions, vegans can still be creating terrible decisions resulting in obesity and poor health.

Craig, W. J. (2009). Health effects of vegan diet. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 89(5), 1627S-1633S. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2009.26736N

Vegetarians are found to have more cancer,allergies and health disorders. Studies show that vegetarians are lacking in creatine which is bad for your muscles and brain functions. Meat is important for muscles mass and bone health.”I am 100% certain that a plant-based diet that includes at least a little of animals (the occasional whole egg or fatty fish, for example) will be much healthier in the long-term than a diet that eliminates animal foods completely.” A vegan diet is not healthy for your body,you will be losing a lot of your vitamins. A vegan diet is not good for both kids and adults it can be harmful and you could get very

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.

Studies have shown that veganism can be a healthy diet if the person is receiving all the essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals as well as having a balance between what they are eating. Vegans also commonly have have lower blood pressure and cholesterol, which heavily reduces the risk of them getting a heart disease. They also have a lower risk of being obese, getting some cancers and diabetes, in particular type

Some would not be able to live without eating any animal products in their diets, such as, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, and honey. For vegans, however, this is a normal way of life. Vegans are frequently misunderstood as either people who have eating disorders, or an unnatural passion for animal rights. It is time for people to realize that veganism, a challenging yet rewarding lifestyle, goes way beyond being skinny or caring for animals. In reality, veganism can be extremely advantageous to anyone who adapts it as a way of life and has many different benefits that come along with it.

related to them. Vegan diets are proven to have health benefits for a lot of

A vegan diet is a diet that only consists of plant based foods and no animal products or byproducts. Vegans may believe they're doing the planet and their bodies good by not eating animal products, but they might be lacking some important vitamins and minerals. Based on a study done by the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, “[v]egan diets tend to be low in iron, zinc, vitamin B12, and omega-3 fatty acids” (Barton). Vegan diets tend to be very low in these vitamins and minerals because most of these are found in red meat and animal byproducts like eggs. According to Kara Rogers in the book The Science of Nutrition, “[m]eat is also a good source of niacin, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, and the mineral nutrients iron, zinc, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium” (pg.81). Without consuming meat, people are missing out out a lot of essential nutrients and vitamins. Veganism can also be very good for the body if the participant does it right. Dr. Jenkins states in Is Veganism Bad for Your Heart, ‘the role of “good” cholesterol is to carry “bad cholesterol away from the arterial wall to the liver. For vegans whose diet is low in artery-clogging fats, he says, “the good cholesterol doesn't have to be high”’ (Jenkins). This shows, if done right, vegan diets can be very healthy for one’s cardiovascular system, as long as they get enough vitamins. All in all if someone is thinking of becoming vegan, they should make sure they are getting all