Vegetarians and Meat Eaters Essay

and iron and all the essential amino acids in just one serving.

Vegetarians are exposed to a higher risk of having nutritional deficiencies that are caused by the lack of animal protein in their diets. This is due to the fact animal diets have the capacity to supply all essential nutrients that occur in very low quantities in plant diets. Also, most vegetables are known to contain substances that reduce the absorption of calcium hence raising the risk of calcium deficiency as well as bone loss especially in vegetarians who do not take dairy products. On the other hand, meat eaters tend to have a very high level of cholesterol as compared to vegetarians. The high level cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart conditions and diseases meaning that most meat eaters are more vulnerable to heart conditions and diseases.

According to a research carried out by Cornell University, it found out that the grain that is fed to the US livestock alone, could feed over 800 million people. The research found out that it takes over 10 pounds of plant protein to produce one pound of beef. This suggests that a vegetarian diet can help eradicate hunger in the world. On the other hand, the raising of livestock is done on unsuitable lands for crop growth. In fact, over 85% of US graze lands are not suitable for the cultivation of crops for human consumption. It is assumed that vegetarians live longer due to the myth that claims that vegetarians are more health conscious since they eat a balanced diet, smoke less and exercise more than the general population. However, a study carried out by

German Cancer Research Centre in 2005 compared vegetarians and health conscious meat eaters and found out that there was no any difference in the overall mortality rates.