Con: Preventing more damage

Doctors tell us drinking water, eating a balanced diet and exercising at least 30 minutes a day is good for our health.

Processed and salty foods have been known to decrease a person's energy and health. According to Medical News Today, “Processed foods are usually loaded with added sugar...and its evil twin, high fructose corn syrup.”

They also said these foods can lead to insulin resistance and increase harmful levels of cholesterol. This is why processed foods are not the best option toward one’s overall health and nutritional diet.

Veganism has become popular among Americans and it has been deemed as a healthier alternative. Vegans exclude any type of animal product consumption in their lifestyle, whether that is food or clothes.

Pierce College should offer more vegan options to its students. It’s healthy, better for the environment and doesn’t require any animals to suffer in the process.

According to the Vegan Society’s website, “The World Health Organisation report in November 2015 ranked processed

Eating just 50 grams per day (two rashers of bacon) increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 18 percent. It also classified red meat as a group 2A carcinogen.”

Pierce offers on-the-go snack bars, instant soups and meat options. But these choices do not provide the healthiest nutrients for students, instead of including more fresh produce and fruit beverages, which can increase a person's energy.

According to an article by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, “Vegan diets are usually higher in dietary fiber, magnesium, folic acid, vitamins C and E, iron, and phytochemicals, and they tend to be lower in calories, saturated fat and cholesterol, long-chain n-3 (omega-3) fatty acids, vitamin D, calcium, zinc, and vitamin B-12. In general, vegetarians typically enjoy a lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), obesity, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers.”

NYSHEKA HERRING Reporter

When thinking about vegan options at Pierce College, the first idea that comes to mind is how to be healthy and rid the body of waste. Students are becoming more obese because they’re eating unhealthy foods and not giving themselves the proper nutrients needed.

animals harmed or been eaten hurts my feelings,” Enge said.

According to an article by healthy eating, “Vegan diets are naturally low in saturated and trans fats, reducing your risk of developing heart disease and related complications.”

There are students who find it difficult to find vegan options on campus. Some may even go all day without eating. With enough effort, there can be an even amount of vegan options as there are meat related foods.

This will be inclusive. All students, even those who are non-vegan, can enjoy a food variety to pick off the menu.

Full-time vegan students mostly spend their day at school and or work. Sure it is up to them to bring their own food at times, but what if they need to stay longer than expected and get hungry later? What will their options be?

@b3l3nh3rnand3z Photographers: processed carbs, sugary, fatty foods or more vegan snacks. The lack of nutrients can affect omega fatty acids, B-12, and folate. Any lack of vitamins can cause severe weakness, fatigue and even constipation.

Schools should be like grocery markets: sell what attracts people, or grow with the community. Pierce needs to start looking around more or perhaps start a poll on what percentage of the school is vegan. Asking them questions like, “Do students have several food options on campus?” is a good start.

All people need to eat. If meat lovers have options, why not vegans?

This will highly benefit students in the long run and maybe even convince meat lovers that there are great vegan food options out there for them to eat as well. This will help promote good health and make sure that vegan students have the options they can be delighted to choose from.

Well, veganism is not as simple as changing a diet and calling it a day. Many complicated procedures must be considered to transition to such a lifestyle.

Vegans exclude all forms of meat, dairy and even fish from their diets. They will refuse to use any products that have been animal tested or eat anything that has come from an animal, such as eggs.

Eating healthy can have just as bad of a downfall as to eating unhealthy. When thinking in terms of students’ eating habits, we have to consider that not everyone wants to go vegan.

Everyone knows that it costs more than your average penny to be fit and healthy.

According to the article “Negative Effects of Veganism” posted by SFGate, “Omega-3 fatty acid deficiency can lead to skin rashes, poor wound healing, slow growth in children and increased risk of infection. Breast milk of vegan mothers also tends to be low in omega-3 fatty acids, which are necessary for proper brain development in infants.”

Omega-3 fatty acids are abundant in plant foods such as flaxseed, walnuts and pumpkin seeds, but nutrients have to be converted to activate. The body converts them with only 12 percent efficiency so you need to eat these foods in very high quantities, which may be impractical.

Eleni Enge, a student at Pierce, has struggled with maintaining a vegan lifestyle.

Like Enge, many students have transitioned from processed foods to veganism, but most tend to fall through the cracks. Going vegan is a consistent commitment, and continuously supplying these specific needs may prove problematic for Pierce.

The campus is just fine with selling food and snacks just the way they are. It keeps a balance between the two, whether it’s health or not. Let the choice be made by the person and not be focused upon the school to dictate.

More options would just throw everything off balance, and worries concerning having to pay more for food would arise. It would be more difficult for the school to maintain its supply of lettuce, vegetables and other produce that spoils within a few days if it’s not being sold.

They would need a bigger refrigerator and also invest in more workers to suit these needs.

More investment on the school side meaning more we would have to pay more on the tuition side or out of pocket just to eat and to keep it going.

Maja

“I’ve been vegan for three years now and I like it,” Enge said. “However, when I first started it was quite hard for me so I started small and then I gradually progressed.”

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Students are already struggling at campus trying to get a bag a chips, yet pay double for a salad or vegan burger.

For beginners, when changing a diet, the body wouldn't be use to eating healthy. So to fill that void, we buy the foods that have high

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She said her major and outlook toward animals has inspired her to change her diet.

Restricting every students’ diet could be expensive and is not within the school’s budget. If students really cared about maintaining a healthy lifestyle, they could bring food from another reputable source. bhernandez.roundupnews@gmail.com

“It may be easier for me because I’m currently going to school to be a veterinarian, and seeing nherring.roundupnews@gmail.com in the editorials. Cartoons and photos, unless run under the editorial masthead, and columns are the opinions of the creators and not necessarily that of the Roundup. The college newspaper is published as a learning experience under the college journalism instructional program. The editorial and advertising materials published herein, including any opinions expressed, are the responsibility of the student newspaper staff. Under appropriate state and federal court decisions, these materials are free from prior restraint by the virtue of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. Accordingly, materials published herein, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the L.A. Community College District, the college or any officer or employee thereof.