Vegetarians Vs. Fad Diets

Should the eight researchers’ diets have been vegetarian or meat-based? What difference would this make?

In his article "Vegetarianism and the Other Weight Problem", James Rachels argues that meat eating is immoral and it is a moral duty to be vegetarian. In order to discuss the problems and come up with his conclusions, Rachels considers two arguments for vegetarianism.

Before reviewing if these fad diets do provide successful weight loss, let 's define successful weight loss. This definition could be different depending on the person or entity defining it. A forty-year-old woman who is twenty pounds overweight may define successful weight loss differently than the maker of the latest fad diet for example. The woman may define the weight loss successful if she takes off twenty-five pounds, and keeps that weight off for an extended time. The fad diet creator, however, may define successful weight loss as losing that twenty pounds, period. For our research here, taking off the weight and keeping off the weight for an extended period will be the definition, as that is what most would consider healthy.

Fad Diets are a quick fix diet to shed pounds in a short period of time. These fad diets gives you false hopes and dreams. While your body is thinner you feel great. When you gain the weight back now you are disappointed. Who really loses? Under-eating slows the body’s natural metabolism, setting a person up for further failure as soon as he or she comes off of the diet.

1. What is your possible topic? Fad Diets: how dangerous can be fad diets to your health in short and long term? If fad diets are dangerous why are they so popular? If I want to lose weight which is the best way to do it? Are there any record of illnesses cause by this type of diet? Are some of these diets true and the mainstream are saying us that they are dangerous for our health?

Fad Diets are ‘miracle diets’ that pop up year to year, and even month to month, that make unrealistic promises. Just because you can read the testimonials and see reputable people talking about the diets doesn’t mean the diets aren’t harmful!

Some of these common claims say “promise of fast weight loss quantities and imitations, promotes specific food combinations, and no need to be physically active.” (WordsonWellness). You never want to all of the sudden and dramatically lose weight, it is far better to gradually lose weight. FAD diets that avoid eating multiple food groups take away the vitamins that the human body needs to survive and be healthy. FAD diets that tell you to eat at certain times are also incorrect, you should eat when you feel hungry but only eat until you are satisfied and not full. Lastly, diets that say you do not need any physical activity may be shedding weight off of your body, but you are not gaining muscle and becoming stronger, in the long term you may even feel weaker. Many people who become apart of the FAD diet community think that their health will improve, in some cases this is inaccurate. Based on what I have learned in past nutrition classes and my own personal experience they can actually be very bad for your health,not just the inside of your body, but the outside too. You may notice muscle and even hair loss. I had a friend who started losing her hair when starting a very common FAD diet. You will also notice deficiencies in your nutrition especially if you cut out carbs because they are the main source of our energy.

There is much controversy and hypocrisy when it comes to animals. I, along with thousands of others, am part of the hypocrisy. I squirm and feel a deep sadness when I hear or see animals being abused, yet I am a meat-eater. I have learned that we all have different opinions and taste and we can not force others to change their ways. There will always be people, like me, perhaps, who will continue to eat meat and use animal products because that is what to us is food and normality. There are many ways to solutionize this; Become vegan or vegetarian, do protests and show others the suffering animals are put through, and/or simply let those who do not choose veganism to be themselves.

According to the Vegetarian Times, only 3.2% of american adults are vegetarians, meaning the remaining 96.8% of the population consumes meat (Vegetarianism In America). There are a wide array of meats to choose from: ham, chicken, steak, turkey, plus many more. It’s common knowledge that meat can be deadly if not handled or cooked properly, things such as salmonella microbes can hide out on our meats and occasionally enter our digestive tract if the meat wasn’t prepared properly, which can be a serious concern for human and public health. But are people aware that not only harmful microbes can hang out on meat products? It is essential to be aware of the kind of microbes growing on our meat and how this meat should be prepared in order

Christopher McCandless, a young American who was found dead in summer of 1992 in wild land in Alaska, wrote in his diary about his moral struggle regarding killing a moose for survival. According to Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild, Chris had to abandon most of the meat since he lacked the knowledge of how to dismantle and preserve it (166-168). Not only did he have a moral dilemma to kill a moose, but also had a deep regret that a life he had taken was wasted because of his own fault. He then started recognizing what he ate as a precious gift from the nature and called it “Holy Food” (Krakauer 168). Exploring relationships between human beings and other animals arouses many difficult questions: Which animals are humans allowed to eat and

“You are what you eat”, if you eat well, you will be well. We grow up with these proverbs, but are we determine that? after I moved to America since last May it is difficult to find Halal food. when I say that I mean it is hard to make sure the meat or chicken will be healthy and your body will get a benefit from it. It is hard to know how this lamp or cow was treated. Are they killed peacefully and quickly without heart them? If you eat that meat you will get a lot of adrenaline hormone. I am thinking to take that decision to be a vegetarian and that is not very difficult especially here in America. However, it is not only healthier for me, but it is also fair for the animals because they have a right to treat them humanely.

Do you believe that things can have shades? Or are you part of that group of people that believe that things are black or white? For me life in general have shades, we cannot be extremist and this concept is more appropriate when it comes to health. Vegan is an extreme decision and we know there are a lot of reasons why people decide to take this life style. I personally respect all of them but in this opportunity I want to speak for those that believe that veganism is being healthy. Nutrition is balance we cannot be so radical in terms of health.

In the beginning of chapter 33 Persons says "When a set of interdependent phenomena shows sufficiently definite patterning and stability over time, then we can say that it has a "structure" and that it is fruitful to treat it as a "system" (421). If we were to apply the social system to our lives and create our own personal system, it would allow us to expand ourselves. We would have to continuously need to do something until it becomes a solid pattern in our lives. We then move on to allowing new patterns to become part of the system we have created for ourselves. For example, if I decided to become a vegetarian, I would have to follow certain rule/steps to officially become and say I have converted to a vegetarian. It doesn't become part of my lifestyle until it shows sufficiency.

Obesity in the United States is a major issue. Because there is such a high obesity rate, there have been so many diets established to try and reduce these constantly rising rates. A lot of these weight-loss diets that have been established are known as fad diets. A fad diet is a diet that becomes popular quickly, and may die out just as quickly. In the United States, there are some popular and healthy fad diets such as the Atkins diet, the South Beach diet, and Weight Watchers.

“Based on the three sources, what type of eating plan would you be most likely to follow or encourage others to follow?” Based on the three sources I would be most likely to follow or encourage others to would be the Vegan Diet. I chose the vegan diet because referring to source A, a vegan diet “Helps in prevention of chronic diseases” You are still able to meet all nutritional requirements. In a vegan diet you are not aloud to eat meat of anything that came from an animal. You are still able to eat all veggies which still give you your nutrition you need.