Vegetarian VS. Meat Eater 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. Some individuals may have chosen to be Vegetarian for health purposes, or out of respect for animals. The health benefits of not eating meat may reduce the risk of a Heart Attack, Cancer, and Type 2 Diabetes. Meat contains saturated fat. Consuming excessive amounts of meat may cause clogged arteries. Clogged arteries force your heart to beat faster, in order to pump blood through the arteries, resulting in high blood pressure. Compounds broken down in meat produce fatty build up causing clogged arteries, and in some cases resulting in a heart attack. Preservatives, such as nitrate, are used to prevent bacteria in processed meat, and are known to cause cancer. Red meat is high in iron and may diminish insulin’s effectiveness of converting sugar into energy causing diabetes. Some may believe, that vegetarians are more likely to be anemic due to the lack of meat in their diet. But in fact, all eleven necessary vitamins and minerals are easily obtained by consuming either
It has long been believed that animal products are an important element in a healthy diet, but recent discussions have become more common on whether they positively or negatively affect an individual's health. Many have argued that animal products are essential to a healthy life, and make them the staple of their diet. But being Vegan vastly increases your health, decreases your negative impact on the planet, and saves countless innocent animals from a meaningless death.
Most people who eat meat are very healthy, in fact almost everyone can live a normal healthy life eating meat on a daily basis. But there are so many health risks when it comes to eating meat in almost every meal that most people don’t even know existed. Meat has all the good nutrients in it like protein as well as vitamins a, b, c, d and k but it also has so much bad things in it that can harm the human body, like saturated fats and cholesterol. But those bad things are only the start of the horror that comes with eating meat. An overload of iron which is abundant in red meat can threaten your heart, and sodium and nitrates from processed meats make matters even worse. In a Harvard test they tracked the food choices of more than 121,000 adults for over 28
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.
Taking meat out of one’s diet doesn’t mean taking out vital nutrients. Substitutes for protein found in meat without the high level of saturated fat, include: nuts, seeds, soy products, cereal, eggs and dairy. In fact, not eating meat improves a person’s health because eating a great deal of meat means being more prone to have high cholesterol and blood pressure. To set an example, advertisements say lobsters have “fewer calories, less cholesterol, and less saturated fat than chicken” (461). In the quote take note of, “than chicken.” Lobster, a great source of protein, still has high levels of cholesterol and sodium. Although accurate, the quote does not give the full truth. Not to mention, the popular eating habits of adding more fat to meat. Wallace mentions in his article the “common practice to dip lobster meat in melted butter…”(461); all healthy fats evaporate when butter is melted. Advertisements fail to mention facts about butter. To sum up, individuals will improve their health and obtain enough nutrients in their diet by avoiding meat.
The objective of this study is to examine the differences between the vegan and omnivore diet and to study the relationship of these diets to body composition, blood lipids, and the serum hormones vitamin D and parathyroid hormone. As seen previously, those eating an omnivore diet consumed significantly more dietary protein than those consuming a vegan diet (2; 3). The values we observed for dietary protein in both the vegan and the omnivore groups were similar to those seen by Hadded et al. (3) and Janelle and Barr (2). The women in our study eating an omnivore diet exceeded the RDA for protein. In contrast to other studies of vegetarians and vegans, our
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.
In discussions of comparing the vegan, vegetarian, and omnivorous diet, one controversial issue has been the quality of the diets. On the one hand, omnivores argue their diets are superior for providing proteins and fats to necessary bodily functions. On the other hand, vegetarians could assert that their diets reduce the risk of illness and increase life expectancy. Vegans have even developed philosophical justifications to renounce products omnivores and vegetarians have included in their diets. Americans tend to believe that an omnivore diet has the greatest quality. My whole life I have heard it said that was the case. In an examination of recent works, I continue to support that consensus. The vegetarian diet has been concluded to be
The first argument that is brought up about the two opposing lifestyles is the food that one is able to consume and the health benefits that come from eating said lifestyles. In terms of an omnivore, one is able to eat any and everything without restrictions; This includes meat, seafood, starchy and non-starchy vegetables, fruits, legumes, grains, and nuts. However, on average, omnivores do not consume enough healthy fruits and vegetables, tending to consume mainly meats, dairy, and grains. Meat, especially beef, is high in harmful cholesterol and fat, which is not good for the body. In addition, this also means that, on
In fact I would be healthier if I had animal proteins in my diet. As an ethical and responsible human being you should have a moderate amount of healthy animal products.” As a vegetarian Bouvier can admit to the benefits that animal products in our diet is extremely beneficial to the health in all areas of one’s body. A huge reason why many vegetarians choose their eating habit is because they have been convinced that it is going to be healthier for their body, which could not be any further away from the truth. Meat has an extensive amount of important nutrients that will strengthen any person. Flesh has saturated fats, which has been proven to not be responsible for the thing that they used to be blamed for, such as heart disease, cancer or obesity. Instead in moderate amounts they enhance the function of the immune system and the nervous system by making sure that the vitamins in the fat reach their internal receptors in the brain. Meat also contains nutrients like vitamin A, D several of the B complex vitamins, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, selenium, iron and taurine, some of these are only present in animal products and they are vital to survival.
The American Dietetic Association reports that vegetarians have “lower rates of death from ischemic heart disease; … lower blood cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, and lower rates of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and prostate and colon cancer.” Many leading well-being experts agree that a balanced vegetarian diet is the greatest thing we can easily do for our families and also ourselves.
The biggest concern for all vegetarians is vitamin B12. The studies show that “two in three vegetarians were vitamin B12 deficient compared to one in twenty meat eaters” (ProCon.org). The fact is that B12 is contained only in animal products; therefore, vegetarians can obtain adequate amount of vitamin B12 only from fortified food or supplements. Many proponents of a vegetarian diet recommend additional supplementation of vitamins and minerals, especially for children, on a daily basis. However, Lindsay S. Nixon referred to Dr. Campbell, who wrote in his book Whole: “Recent reductionist research has shown that supplementation doesn’t work. As it turns out, an apple does a lot more inside our bodies than all the known apple nutrients ingested in pill form” (111). Davis and Melina also pointed out the fact that “supplements rarely contain the complete mix of protective compounds naturally found in foods…Some evidence suggests that high-dose supplements could even increase cancer risk” (49).
(Kleiner, 2000; Cox, 2001). Significant research indicates that a vegetarian diet can result in lower body mass index, serum total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, reduced rates of death from ischemic heart disease, and decreased incidence of hypertension, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. (Craig, 2010; Hart, 2009)
There are many reasons to why people chose to switch to a vegetarian diet. Individuals following a vegetarian diet are less likely to develop cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and more. A reduced intake of foods have bad fats,
On an average, vegetarians consume a lower proportion of calories from fat (particularly saturated fatty acids), fewer overall calories, more fiber, potassium, and vitamin C, than do non-vegetarians. Vegetarians generally have a lower body mass index. These characteristics and other lifestyle factors associated with a vegetarian
People in today’s world are always looking for ways to stay healthy and be fit. It is very crucial to have a balanced diet so that their will be a lower risk for disease later in life. Therefore, people in society create diets geared towards their own interests. These interests can include what a person likes, what will be best for their body systems, or even just the persons beliefs or religion. Two common choices of food are vegetarianism or a high protein diet. Carnivores eat meat, while vegetarians substitute that protein for something better. Many tests comparing the two has proven that being vegetarian not only affects the body in a positive way, but is also good for the mind. Overall vegetarianism is a more beneficial way to stay healthy, have less risks of diseases, and help save resources here on Earth because of the harmful toxins from meat production.