Vegetarianism

Prompt: There has been a long debate on whether or not a

vegetarian or vegan diet is healthier than a diet that includes
meat. Using the information below, write an essay in which
you argue the benefits of either a vegetarian/vegan diet or a
diet that includes the consumption of meat. Cite at least 3
quotes from these excerpts.

Definitions
Vegan: a vegetarian who omits all animal products from the
diet (i.e. mild, cheese, eggs).
Vegetarian: Avoids all meat but will eat cheese, milk, eggs,
etc.

Most vegetarians go back to meat despite the benefits of vegetarianism

Jessica Brantley
Vegetarian and vegan diets have been popular for quite some time now. Even popular celebrities like Alicia
Silverstone, Bryan Adam, Jason Mraz and Carrie Underwood have claimed to adopt a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle
at some point in their lifetime. But according to a recent study by the Human Research Council (HRC), it seems that
it is easier to quit a vegetarian/vegan diet than it is to start one. Of the 11,399 adults age 17 and older surveyed for
the study, 84 percent stated that they went back to eating meat at some point in their lives.
So why would someone even consider a meatless diet, if it is so difficult to maintain? According to the HRC study,
current vegans and vegetarians stay motivated to keep their diet due to health, animal protection, disgust of animal
products, environment and/or taste.

Another study, published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), lists several health benefits
of following a meatless diet, including the prevention and treatment of certain diseases, like cardiovascular disease,
hypertension, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, renal disease and dementia.
This decreased risk of disease is because vegan and vegetarian diets tend to be lower in saturated fat, cholesterol and
animal protein and higher in complex carbohydrates, dietary fiber, magnesium, folic acid, vitamins C and E,
carotenoids and other phytochemicals.
A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows the benefits of a plant-based diet on the
environment. According to the study, production of meat leads to shortages of cropland, fresh water and energy
sources force most of the 4 billion people to follow a vegetarian or vegan diet. Furthermore, producing one kilogram
of animal protein requires about 100 times more water than producing 1 kilogram of grain protein.
Clearly there are several benefits to adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet, but there are many disadvantages as well. In
the HRC study, the majority of the participants abandoned the plant-based diet due to insufficient interaction with
other vegetarians or vegans and because it made them stick out from the crowd. The NCBI also listed health
concerns of following a vegan or vegetarian diet, such as deficiencies in protein, iron, zinc, calcium, vitamins B12
and A, fatty acids and iodine. These health concerns, however, are due more to poor meal-planning and not eating a
well-balanced diet. It is entirely possible to follow a plant-based diet and avoid such deficiencies.
Now you may be asking, is a vegan or vegetarian diet right for me? If you are considering such a lifestyle, try
starting slow and learning more about the two. For a start, vegetarianism means no meat consumption, and there are
different levels of vegetarians. Vegans, on the other hand, are much stricter with their diets and lifestyles, as they
will not eat or wear any type of animal product.
Even if you decide that becoming vegetarian or vegan is not for you, you can still help your health and the
environment by simply eating less meat. Try to make it fun and do Meatless Monday, or try a new fad
vegan/vegetarian restaurant or dish. Many of them are absolutely delicious, and you will not even miss the meat! Just
try to do your part in creating a healthier, more sustainable world. Your body and the environment will thank you.
Brantley, Jessica. "Most Vegetarians Go Back to Meat despite the Benefits of Vegetarianism." Mod Vive. Modus Vivendi
LLC, 7 Dec. 2014. Web. 6 Jan. 2015.

Is This Why Most Vegetarians Go Back to Eating Meat?

Being vegetarian or vegan is no easy featin fact, most people turn back to meat, giving up their go-to
healthy eating pattern
By Charlotte Hilton Andersen
Jennifer Lopez did it and lost 10 pounds. Carrie Underwoodsays it changed her life. Your co-worker
says it cleared up her acne and gave her tons of energy. And no wondereating veg has been
shown to have lots of great health benefits. But if you're thinking of giving up animal products for the
new year, you might want to consider a recent survey that found that being a vegetarian or vegan is
"just a phase" for most people, with 88 percent ending up back at the meat counter again.
Surprisingly, the reason most people quit eating vegetarian is the same reason most start: their
health. "The main reasons vegetarians agree to start incorporating more animal products in their diet
are declining energy levels, change in skin or hair, and even weight gain," says Lisa Moskovitz, R.D.,
CEO and founder of NY Nutrition Group. "Strict vegans and vegetarians are at risk for developing
certain nutritional deficiencies, particularly iron, zinc, b-vitamins, calcium, vitamin D, and protein," she
explains. "Plant-based sources of these nutrients do exist, however, not as abundantly as in animal
products." She adds that this is often less of a problem for vegetarians than strict vegans, as they
have an easier time getting the necessary nutrients because they usually don't eliminate dairy and
eggs. (Need to stock up on vitamins? Check out the variety from GNC Live Well.)

Figuring out how to plan, shop for, and cook all-veg meals is another issue that sends many new
vegans back to the comfort of their grilled cheese. "Following a nutritionally adequate vegetarian, and
especially vegan lifestyle, requires a lot of on-going education, meal planning, time, and consistency,"
Moskovitz says. And then there's the weight gain. Yes, you read that right. One of the main reasons
people give for trying a vegetarian or vegan diet is wanting to lose weight. While radical changes to
your diet do often lead to some pounds droppedoften from not eating because you're not sure what
you can eatover time, many people find that those pounds, and then some, come back. "When you
eliminate a huge food group such as animal products, carbs and fat-dense foods usually take its
place, and they tend to have more of a fat-accumulating effect on the body than high-protein foods,"
Horowitz says. In addition, protein is very satiating, which means it will help you feel fuller longer.
Still, many people decide to try vegetarian diets for reasons other than their weight or health, like
ethical concerns over the treatment of animals, worries about the environment, or cost. And the study
found that people who end up falling off the vegetable cart, especially those who chose vegetarianism
for moral reasons, can feel devastatedand this guilt can wreck your health. "When it comes to
sustaining a healthy diet, a large part of that revolves around one's relationship with food," Horowitz
says. "Feeling guilty after eating, no matter what type of food it is, can be a negative behavior with
serious consequences that can interfere with intuition and the ability to trust your own body."
So instead of obsessing over the "right" way to eat, Horowitz advises focusing on eating a wide
variety of nutritious foods that make you feel healthy and happy.
Andersen, Charlotte Hilton. "Is This Why Most Vegetarians Go Back to Eating Meat?" Shape Magazine. Shape.com, 29 Dec.
2014. Web. 6 Jan. 2015.

Pro & Con Arguments: "Should People Become Vegetarian?"

PRO Vegetarian
1.

It is cruel and unethical to kill animals for

food when vegetarian options are
available. Animals are sentient beings that have

CON Vegetarian
1.

emotions and social connections. Scientific studies

show that cattle, pigs, chickens, and all warmblooded animals can experience stress, pain, and
fear. [100] In the United States about 35 million cows,
115 million pigs, and 9 billion birds are killed for food
each year.[96] These animals should not have to die
to satisfy an unnecessary dietary preference.
2.

Human anatomy has evolved to support

a primarily vegetarian diet. Humans do not
have the large mouth or long, pointed teeth of
carnivores. Human teeth are short and flat for
chewing fibrous food. Carnivores have short
intestines (3-6 times body length) while human
intestines are long (10-11 times body length) to allow
slower digestion of plant foods. The liver of a
carnivore can detoxify the excess vitamin A
absorbed from a meat-based diet. The human liver
cannot detoxify excess vitamin A. [62]

3.

A vegetarian diet delivers complete

nutrition and can provide health benefits.
According to the American Dietetic Association, a
vegetarian diet can meet protein requirements,

Eating meat is not cruel or unethical; it is

a natural part of the cycle of
life. Vegetarians mistakenly elevate the value of
animal life over plant life. Research shows that
plants respond electrochemically to threats and may
feel fear, [98] so vegetarians are also causing harm
every time they kill and eat a plant. Every organism
on earth dies or is killed, at some point, so others
organisms can live. There is nothing wrong with this
cycle; it is how nature works.

2.

Eating meat has been an essential part

of human evolution for 2.3 million
years. [14]The inclusion of meat in the ancestral diet
provided a dense form of nutrients and protein that,
when combined with high-calorie low-nutrient
carbohydrates such as roots, allowed us to develop
our large brains and intelligence. [63] Evidence shows
our taste buds evolved to crave meat's savory
flavor. [57]

3.

Meat is the most convenient protein

source available. In one serving, meat provides
all the essential amino acids (the building blocks of
protein), as well as essential nutrients such as iron,
zinc, and B vitamins. [61] Most plant foods do not

provide all the essential amino-acids (the building

blocks of protein), and improve health. It can also
provide all the necessary vitamins, fats, and
minerals, and can improve ones
health. [1] [2] According to the USDA and the Food
and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,
meat is not an essential part of a healthy
diet. [68] [123]
4.

provide adequate levels of all the essential amino

acids in a single serving.
4.

fats contain the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and

K, [49] and the cholesterol from saturated animal fat
is needed for the proper function of serotonin
receptors in the brain. According to a Feb. 7, 2014
study by researchers at the Institute of Social
Medicine and Epidemiology, vegetarians "suffer
significantly more often from anxiety disorder and/or
depression." [133] Low cholesterol levels have been
linked to depression. Saturated fats are also
essential for building and maintaining cell health, and
help the body absorb calcium. [101]

A vegetarian diet can help alleviate world

hunger. Over 10 pounds of plant protein are used
to produce one pound of beef protein. [24] If these
grains were fed to humans instead of animals, more
food would be available for the 925 million people in
chronic hunger worldwide. [105] Research from
Cornell University found that the grain used to feed
US livestock alone could feed 800 million
people. [107]

5.

A vegetarian diet reduces the chances of

developing kidney stones and
gallstones.Diets high in animal protein cause the
body to excrete calcium, oxalate, and uric acidthe
main components of kidney stones and gallstones. A
diet high in animal protein is responsible for the high
rates (15% of men and 7% of women) of kidney
stones in the United States, according to a peerreviewed Nov. 15, 1999 study. [6]

Eating meat provides healthy saturated

fats, which enhance the function of the
immune and nervous systems. Saturated

5.

Meat is the best source of vitamin B12, a

vitamin necessary to nervous and
digestive system health. Although it is also
found in eggs and dairy, [46] a peer-reviewed July
2003 study showed two in three vegetarians were
vitamin B12 deficient compared to one in 20 meat
eaters. [47]

Did You Know?

1.

Environmental damage caused by grazing livestock has been a factor in

the listing of 171 species under the Endangered Species Act. [92]

2.

Two in three vegetarians are vitamin B12 deficient, compared to one in

20 meat eaters, according to a peer-reviewed July 2003 study in
the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. [47]

3.

According to the American Dietetic Association a vegetarian diet can

meet protein requirements and provide all the essential amino-acids (the
building blocks of protein) a person needs for optimal health. [2]

4.

Archaeological evidence shows that humans have been eating meat for
at least 2.3 million years. [14]

5.

The average American gets 67% of his or her dietary protein from
animal sources, compared with a world-wide average of 34%. [33]

6.

A 2012 Gallup poll found that approximately 5% of Americans

(15,695,702 people) considered themselves to be vegetarian, and 2%
(6,278,281 people) considered themselves to be vegan. [127]