Pros and Cons of a Vegitarian Diet Essay Example

because they are against eating something that was once alive. Some vegetarians also like to point out the cruel practices and environmental cost of raising animals for food. The North American Vegetarian Society stated that 1. 3 billion humans could be fed with the grain and soybeans eating by U. S. livestock (“Vegetarian Diets: The Pluses and the Pitfalls”). A survey by Vegetarian Times resulted in 3. 2% or 7. 3 million adults who did not eat meat or fish (“Vegetarian and Vegan Diet”).

A vegetarian diet said to be helpful for controlling the overall health of people and helps reduce the risk for some diseases, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes (“Vegetarian and Vegan Diet”). If the vegetarian diet is maintained and balanced, it can reduce the risk of some cancers. However, every diet has advantages and disadvantages. Are you better off avoiding meat? Vegetables, such as beans, contain protein just like meat. Vegetables and fruits both have the micronutrients and macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, fats) needed for controlling a healthy lifestyle.

Fruits and vegetables are usually cheaper than meats as well. The FDA noted that high-fat foods contribute to obesity and a vegetarian diet also lowers the chances of becoming overweight. Blood pressure is usually lower on vegan diets also. Some people with high cholesterol have been known to switch over to a vegetarian diet, which helps lower their cholesterol. Too much meat can raise cholesterol levels. The FDA pointed out that high amounts of fruits and vegetables, which are rich in beat-carotene or in vitamin C have been linked to lowering cancer risks.

The FDA also points out that diets low in fat protect

against coronary heart disease. The death rates for vegetarians are similar or lower than non-vegetarians (“Vegetarian Diets: The Pluses and the Pitfalls”). A British study of 11,000 vegetarians resulted that consumption of fruit every day was linked with a 20%-plus reduction in deaths from heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and cancers of the stomach, lungs, pancreas, large intestine, and rectum (“Vegetarian and Vegan Diet”). Vegetarian diets also have a great amount of fiber and potassium, which helps with the health advantages to the diet.

Even though vegetarianism is becoming more popular, many people are still against it. Vegetarians who do not eat meat or dairy products face the biggest nutritional risks because some nutrients are only in animal foods. Vegans risk Vitamin B12 deficiency, which can cause memory loss and forgetfulness. The deficiency also causes the formation of abnormal cells, which could eventually lead to anemia (“Vegetarian Diets: The Pluses and the Pitfalls”). B12 breaks down proteins, carbohydrates, and fats into energy. B12 helps with the synthesis of DNA during cell division.

B12 is needed greatly in women who are pregnant or breast-feeding, and also people who are growing. Ovo-vegetarians could possibly have not enough vitamin D and calcium. Not enough vitamin D can cause rickets in kids, and not enough calcium can contribute to risk of osteoporosis. Iron deficiency can also occur in these types of diets, because the many foods these vegetarians eat inhibit iron absorption, such as protein, bran, and fiber (“Vegetarian Diets: The Pluses and the Pitfalls”). Even though Vegetarianism can be healthy for an individual, it is wise to realize what vitamins and minerals are missing from the diet.

For someone on a plant-based

diet, they can control their vitamin deficiencies by taking supplements and being cautious about what they put in their bodies. With a meat-based diet, all the minerals and vitamins are there, but people have to worry about the high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and the risk of being obese. No diet is perfect; however, it is probably easier to take supplements of the vitamins a person may need, instead of having to deal with the risks of eating all meats. By appropriate food selection, a vegetarian can still have a healthy adequate diet.

Works Cited

http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/vegetarian-and-vegan-diet?page=2

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/tc/vegetarian-diets-what-is-a-vegetarian