Vegetarianism and Veganism: The Greens and the Beans
Emily P.
In today’s world, the idea of a healthy, organic lifestyle is becoming more and more common. Because of this, being a vegetarian or a vegan is gaining popularity.
History of Vegetarianism
Vegetarianism dates back to Ancient Greece, where the philosopher Pythagoras became the “father of vegetarianism”. He spread his idea of meatless eating to his followers, who continued the diet after he died. Skip ahead to the 1960s, where the movement grew. It spread because Francis Moore Lappe discovered in her book Diet For a Small Planet that it not only has health benefits, but it can help the environment as well. Some notable vegetarians are Mahatma Gandhi, George Bernard Shaw, and Louisa May Alcott. Today, there are about 375 million vegetarians in the world, and about 3 million people in the United States are vegan. The diets are gaining the most popularity in countries like England, India, and Ethiopia. The vegan / vegetarian lifestyle is also very popular in urban, American cities such as San Francisco, New York, and Philadelphia.
A vegetarian is someone who does not eat meat, poultry, fish, or any product that comes from a dead animal. Their main food sources are fruit, vegetables, grains, and legumes. Most eat eggs and dairy. However, vegetarians are careful to avoid chicken stock, beef stock, lard, and gelatin. A vegan is a vegetarian who doesn’t eat any animal products. For example, vegans do not eat eggs, milk, yogurt, honey, and cosmetics that include animal products. Some even decide not to wear any clothing that comes from an animal. Such as, leather, wool, and silk. Los Angeles even passed a “Meatless Monday” resolution stating that choosing meatless foods one day a week will make the population healthier. These diets are definitely gaining popularity.
Why do People Choose to be Vegetarian or Vegan? There are three main reasons why vegans and vegetarians choose their lifestyle. It is to stop animal cruelty in the meat industry, to help the environment, and for the health benefits. The most notable motivation for vegetarianism is opposing the cruelty in which meat is produced. Many cows and other animals endure castration, sub therapeutic antibiotics, and neglect. These events and many others cause animals a lot of pain and even threaten human health. Chickens face the largest amount of confinement and cruelty in their cages. It can be described as, "...the hens are crammed so closely together inside wire cages, these normally clean animals are forced to urinate and defecate on one another." and, "At the slaughterhouse, their legs are forced into shackles, their throats are cut, and their immersed in scalding hot water to remove their feathers.” The mass meat production also takes a toll on the environment. “The 2006 report Livestock’s Long Shadow, released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, states that ‘the livestock sector is a major stressor on ecosystems and on the planet as a whole. Globally it is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gases and one of the leading causal factors in the loss of biodiversity, while in developed and emerging countries it is perhaps the leading source of water pollution.” The greenhouse gas from livestock is fifty percent more than transportation. These greenhouse gases affect the globe on a large scale. Ten thousand species are wiped out every year because of environmental problems. Health is also a major reason why people decide to be vegetarian / vegan. It has been proven that vegetarians have a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer. People also choose this lifestyle because it can help the fight in ending starvation. Eliminating meat by 10% can feed 100 million people. If western countries eliminated meat intake by 30%, imagine how many starving families could be fed.
What Do They Eat? Many people assume that once vegetarians and vegans give up animal products, their diets become very restricting. Some even believe that it can lead to eating disorders. However, being a vegetarian exposes a wide variety of healthy food choices. Vegans and vegetarians have a healthy intake of vital nutrients such as magnesium, fiber, folate, vitamin c, potassium, and more. For those transitioning into the lifestyle, be sure to include a variety of fruits and vegetables to meet all nutritional requirements. All important vitamins we need can be found in plant-based foods. However, vegans must be extra careful about the vitamin B-12. This can only be found in animal products, so vegans may get a B12 deficiency. They can eat fortified cereal and soy to make sure they receive enough B12. Other than that, if vegetarians and vegans make smart food choices, then they have the potential to live a long, healthy life.
What are the Health Benefits? Veganism and vegetarianism is well known for it’s health benefits and assistance in weight loss. But are these lifestyles actually healthy for you? Let’s look at the statistics. It has been proven that vegetarians have a lower risk of heart disease, cancer, and type two diabetes. According to Harvard Health Publications, “ - vegetarians were, on average 25% less likely to die of heart disease.” and, “...there’s evidence that vegetarians have a lower incidence of cancer than non vegetarians do.” Also, “In studies of Seventh-day Adventists, vegetarians’ risk of developing diabetes was half of non vegetarians even after taking BMI into account.” Being a vegetarian also lowers blood pressure, according to the physicians committee, “Vegetarian diets have been shown to reduce one’s chances of forming kidney stones and gallstones.” Those who choose to be vegan also say that it decreases acne, fatigue, PMS symptoms, allergies, and migraines. According to Huffington post, “The health benefits associated with a healthy and well-balanced vegetarian (or vegan) lifestyle are undeniable. Countless studies have shown that a well planned, nutritious, plant-based diet is associated with a lower risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes and stroke, as well as a longer life expectancy.” As of right now, a plantbased lifestyle is a very healthy choice!
To conclude, research has proven that being a healthy vegetarian / vegan has countless benefits. The drive for these diets includes religion, helping the earth, preventing animal cruelty, and to live a healthy, long life. Going the veggie route is not easy, but it can lead to environmental improvements, more resources worldwide, and healthy, happy animals. Those who choose this lifestyle are taking steps in improving our earth and society.
Bibliography Figus, Cinzia. "375 Million Vegetarians Worldwide." EXPONet. N.p., 27 Oct. 2014. Web. 06 Nov. 2015. Brown University. "Being a Vegetarian." Being a Vegetarian. Brown Health, n.d. Web. 06 Nov. 2015. Walsh, Bryan. "Environmental Impact of Global Meat Production." Science Space The Triple Whopper Environmental Impact of Global Meat Production Comments. TIME, 16 Dec. 2013. Web. 06 Nov. 2015. "Vegetarian Foods: Powerful for Health." The Physicians Committee. Physicians Committee, 13 Oct. 2010. Web. 06 Nov. 2015. Vegan / Vegetarian Food Pyramid. Digital image. Medicine Net. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2015. Jacobsen, Maryanne. Vegetable Still Life. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2015.