Vegetarianism
1. What is vegetarianism?
2. Why do people become vegetarians?
3. Is a vegetarian diet healthy and tasty? What does it consist of?
Vegetarianism is going mainstream and there is very little doubt about it. Millions of people around the globe have already switched to a meat-free diet. Some of them are very concerned about their health and physical condition and hope to reduce animal fat and cholesterol intake. Others have become vegetarians out of concern for animal welfare and environment. Those who have become faithful converts claim it is worthwhile. So do doctors, dieticians and researchers dealing with the impact of animal fat upon human health. A long-term study of the relationship between diet and health has revealed that the vast majority - up to 90 percent - of all cancers, cardiovascular problems and other degenerative diseases have resulted from unhealthy eating habits involving excessive consumption of animal meat. Heart diseases, strokes and diabetes so common among middle-aged people are closely related to the high intake of animal fat and cholesterol. Another cause may be attributed to the modern factory farming technologies. Animals in mass production are routinely given growth hormones, antibiotics and pesticides that remain in their flesh and are consumed by human meat eaters. It is estimated that people who eat animal parts and products are at least 30 percent more prone to develop heart diseases, 40 percent more susceptible to cancer and other conditions including osteoporosis and arthritis. All of these afflictions are preventable on condition that people adopt a plant-based diet that is acclaimed for its positive influence on human well-being.
A vast group of vegetarians are committed nature lovers. They frown on the idea of consuming animal flesh. They are well aware of the cruelty to farm animals before they are slaughtered and processed into savoury dishes. On today's factory farms animals like cows, pigs, goats or poultry spend their entire lives confined in cages and stalls barely larger than their own bodies. Death for farm animals does not usually come fast and painlessly. The brutal treatment of farm animals is a common occurrence. They are beaten, strangled and scalded before they are put to death. The aspect of animal cruelty and the environmental concern add much credibility to the idea of vegetarianism.
Whereas people have learned to recycle rubbish and select paper over plastic, they still seem to overlook the easiest way they can positively influence the natural environment by becoming vegetarians. People need to understand the devastating impact that the meat industry exerts on the natural environment. It is the major cause of soil erosion, deforestation, water pollution, desertification and the extinction of species. The high inefficiency of the use of food resources becomes clear when one takes into consideration the area of land needed for animal production. More acreage is required to breed farm animals than to grow crops providing the same nutritional
value. Each animal raised to be slaughtered for meat consumes about 10 acres' worth of vegetables and cereals. These 10 acres could feed 100 people for more than one year. It is claimed that reducing meat production by just 10 percent will free enough grain and vegetables to feed 60 million people.
Livestock agriculture destroys land by its inefficient use. Cattle production is the major contributor to clearing land for pastures and deforestation. A vast area of the Earth's lungs - the rain forest - has been destroyed to create grazing pastures for livestock. An additional problem is the amount of manure and animal waste that amounts to billions of tonnes each year and ends up as a pollutant of rivers, lakes and other fresh water reservoirs.
No wonder that the number of devoted nature lovers and vegetarians is on the increase. Environmental and health aspects have begun to outweigh the taste for flesh. It is said that animal meat is not necessary for the proper functioning of the human body. Nutritionists and physicians have proven that plant products are equally good sources of protein, calcium, vitamins and minerals and do not contain artery-clogging fat. Vegetarian foods are typically low in fat and contain no cholesterol. Instead, they provide human bodies with fibre, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and minerals.
Before adopting the vegetarian diet, many people are worried about its nutritional value. Some may believe that omitting meat from their everyday dishes will damage their health and cause diseases like anaemia. They cannot be more wrong, according to vegetarians. A well composed plant-based diet can be as nutritious as any other diet. Proteins can be provided in the form of brown rice, pasta, cereals and nuts. Fruit and vegetables are well known to contain ample amount of vitamins while dairy products supply enough calcium, sodium and potassium.
A transition to vegetarianism may appear to be a challenge and a serious change in lifestyle. There may be moments of indecision, lack of willpower and craving for meat. But once the vegetarian diet is accepted, it is believed to bring immense satisfaction both nutritional and moral as well as benefits to humans and their little animal brothers.
Speak your mind.
1. Has the article convinced you to adopt the vegetarian diet? Why?
2. Is vegetarianism extravagance or a way of living?
3. Do you believe animals can be helped through vegetarianism?
4. Is there a need to propagate vegetarianism?
5. A stricter form of vegetarianism called veganism excludes all animal products including dairy products, fish and eggs. Can the vegan diet be healthy then?
summertime2