The Importance Of The Vegetarian Diet

“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.

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.

Many people argue that the reason the meat consumption is still so prevalent is due to the culture that we were raised on. One way to counter this is to bring up how there has been cultural shifts in today’s society. This is especially relevant the younger generations because many younger people are deviating from the traditional norm. It is somewhat counteractive to claim to not follow traditions and yet still uses tradition and culture as justification for the consumption of animal products. In terms of the fact that it is in human nature, this may be true but civilization has progressed enough that we don't need to do a lot of things which we typically had to do out of survival. There are still societies which do need meat to survive but these would mostly be developing countries. In developed countries where there is a surplus of food and is actually a whole culture centered around using food as a medium of art, cuisine, we no longer need meat to survive. In fact, there are many populations where they do not eat meat and they are just as health if not healthier than those who do. There is the idea that vegans as a whole are too aggressive

For years vegetarian and vegan diets have been gaining popularity. This rise in popularity is due largely to the belief that a vegetarian diet has numerous health benefits and the animals being raised to be slaughtered are not being treated humanely. These are both good reasons for adopting a meat-free lifestyle, but there is an even more pressing reason. The current rate of meat consumptions, especially in developed nations, is consuming natural resources at a rate that is not sustainable. The amount of resources such as land, water, and crops consumed to support meat production is staggering. In addition to the resource consumption, meat production is also contributing to critical global environmental issues such as deforestation and ozone depletion.

Imagine blood dripping off the walls, streaming into huge drains, and innocent animals being slashed open. Their screams echo throughout the halls of the slaughterhouse, but their screams are not alone. They are not alone because even the bloody granite records the past. Guess where this all happens? Not a horror movie, not in Japan. No, this happens in a slaughterhouse located in the United States. Now pick up that hamburger, and take a good look. One may see those poor souls of innocent animals flash before one’s eyes. If one looks, then one can see the unjust treatment these poor animals have to go through to just die. An individual might rethink meat in general if a slaughterhouse had see-through walls. A vegetarian lifestyle is not only beneficial because it can save animals, but it also saves people. A vegetarian lifestyle includes a more beneficial diet than one that consumes meat. For many reasons it is best to be vegetarian because it saves people from health problems, and because if the country keeps using all of these nonrenewable resources, what will people have in the end? The answer is nothing.

They say, “You are what you eat” and if making good food choices makes you a healthier and happier person, why are healthy food trends seemingly misunderstood and becoming a thing of the past? This semester I will be researching the advantages of choosing to obtain a vegetarian lifestyle and why some individuals are making arguments that are extremely against the practice. This topic is appropriate for a semester of sustained research because there are multiple viewpoints on the issue (including people who have experienced positive health benefits when they cut meat out of their diets, people who disapprove of the industry’s animal treatment, and people who strongly feel that there are extreme health risks and financial burdens that come

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

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?

“Every time we sit at a table to enjoy the fruits and grain and vegetables from our good earth, remember that they come from the work of men and women and children who have been exploited for generations.” These words of Cesar Chavez, co-founder of the United Farm Workers, perfectly describe the injustice farm workers face in producing our food and including humans when talking about cruelty free. Conversations surrounding notions of vegetarianism as inherently cruelty free seldom incorporate the advocacy of more rights for farm workers. As a conflicted meat eater, I can concede that the fight for vegetarianism is honorable and consuming fewer animal products would be beneficial for our society, however, promoting meat-free meals and products as “cruelty free” mistakenly limits the cruelty of the food production system to animals. Comparatively, our food production system also exploits factory farm workers, a point also overlooked in conversations regarding ethical eating. Ultimately, the fundamental problem with vegetarianism is the cruelty free platform, that too often ignores the inhumane working conditions of farm workers. That being so, not eating meat does not place you above everyone else on the moral scale or mean you practice cruelty free when exploited laborers in our food production system, most of whom are undocumented, do not have their liberation.

Did we bring up the awareness that factory farms generate billions of pounds of dung from meat, all of which arrives at lakes, rivers, and your drinking water? The drugs and bacteria that end up in canals are the number one source of water pollution (“Vegetarianism and”). The only foul-proof solution to not polluting the water is not eating meat at all. Vegetarianism is a path of lifestyle where people chose not to eat meat. There are many reasons why people would decide that route, but 69% of the current vegetarians chose to not eat meat because of their health (“Reason for”); that is the majority! Although meat-eaters get more protein from meat, it is encouraged to switch to vegetarianism because it will protect the rights of many animals, it will help the environment, and it will help people pursue healthy lives.

Individuals sometimes label themselves "vegetarian" while practicing a semi-vegetarian diet or flexitarian diet which is the one that is plant-based with the occasional inclusion of meat products such as fish and poultry (white meat). These diets may be followed by those who reduce animal flesh consumed as a way of transitioning to a complete vegetarian diet or for health, ethical, environmental, or other reasons.

Hindus have been doing it for thousands of years; then why is maintaining a vegetarian diet so difficult in the 21st century? The key to a healthy vegetarian diet is knowing what to eat and what not to eat, rather than simply avoiding meat. As Hobson (2009) points out, "remember, the root of vegetarian is 'veg,' not 'junk.'" The 21st century model of vegetarianism does not always involve the daily simplicity of whole grains, pulses, and nutrient-packed vegetables. Some vegetarians reach for pre-packaged, processed foods conveniently located on the shelves of Whole Foods. Another problem with the 21st century model of vegetarianism is faddish trends, such as the all-raw vegan diet. One former raw vegan, profiled by Mann (2008), had her kids on a raw vegan diet too, and they developed malnutrition. The children also started gorging on dairy products and eggs, signs that their bodies were lacking in vital nutrients (Mann, 2008). Although she still incorporates raw food into her mainly vegetarian diet, the mother has realized the importance of moderation. Therefore, a vegetarian diet can be tremendously healthy and ethically sound, as long as sound nutritional principles are followed.

Eating an animal and plant based diet does not guarantee health. Too many animal based products and one can be on the way to obesity. All foods no matter what kind should be eaten in moderation. There are certain omnivores that believe that vegetarians are inferior due to what they suppose to be a lack of nutrients (“Red Meat”). Many meats consumed even with little amounts can eventually lead to high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. With a plant based diet, the risk of developing these diseases is less likely because the major cause of them is eliminated from the body (Mann, Jim, and Jim I Mann). The reason why the risk of developing heart disease is smaller is because vegetarians focus primarily on foods high in fiber and low in fats, which in turn is less fat the consumer has. In a study of half a million people, within a span of 10 years, meat eaters were more likely to develop serious diseases or cancer than non meat eaters (Lea, E. J). Omnivores are not inferior in health to vegetarians. However, vegetarians are also not inferior in health to omnivores.

Choosing the right healthy balanced diet plays an important role for our body. Consuming a vegetarian diet is healthier than consuming a meat-eating diet. A vegetarian diet is strictly plant-based and does not include meat at all. Human beings do not need to consume animal products. This is because you can consume the same number of nutrients from meatless products.

The consumption of meat has always been the most common form of receiving the needed nutrition, of an average body, in order to acquire and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Although packed with an abundance of proteins, iron, and amino-acids, meat has recently received a negative reputation of becoming detrimental to your health; titled a leading source of heart disease, obesity, cancer, diabetes, and even impotence. In result, countless individuals have sought a solution reserving to methods such as vegetarianism to obtain such needed nutrient with little to no health risks. Similar to meat eaters, vegetarians seek an equal nutritional diet without the consumption of any meat or animal products with the belief of avoiding health diseases prevalent in meat eaters. Becoming a vegetarian does not necessarily mean an individual follows a healthier diet, but then again, neither does being a meat-eater; so what benefits are linked with each diet, is there a difference in cost, and how is one distinguishable from the other in the long run?