What are the costs and benefits of being a vegetarian vs eating meat?

 History in the Making: Vegetarianism

           Without history, we wouldn’t know how we got here today or what famous leaders have contributed to the  many successes throughout the world.  That being said, Ted Honderich, author of Vegetarianism, expands on the fascinating history from different sources of how vegetarianism was created and the philosophy behind it. The view that we should avoid eating meat or fish has ancient philosophical roots, and purpose behind it, morality, concern for the human population, and concern for the environment.

 

 

 

 

 

Source: http://sanfrancisco-yoga.com

 

• “In the Hindu Upanishads (about 1000 BC) the doctrine of reincarnation leads to opposition to eating meat. Buddha taught compassion for all sentient creatures.” They expand on the idea that every living thing has a purpose and a reason to be alive and thriving.

 

• “ Buddhist monks were not to kill animals, nor to eat meat, unless they knew that the animal had not been killed for their sake.” In this day in age, things are very different. Animals are killed right and left for our sake without guilt or mercy.

 

• “Interest in vegetarianism revived in the nineteenth century, on grounds of health and humanity towards animals.” Important vegetarian thinkers included the famous poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, Henry Salt (who wrote a pioneering volume entitled Animals' Rights), and George Bernard Shaw. They are all  inspirations and respectfully stand up for what they believe in.

 

• “ Ecological concerns about eating meat arise from the well-documented inefficiency of much animal-raising. This applies especially to intensive farming, in which grain is grown on good agricultural land and fed to animals confined indoors, or in the case of cattle, in crowded feed-lots.”  These practices harm the environment, and mess up the natural state of the land, along with the hormonal chemicals fed to the cattle as well.

 

• “ Much of the nutritional value of the grain is lost in the process, and this form of animal production is also energy-intensive. Hence concern for world hunger, for the land, and for energy conservation provide an ethical basis for a vegetarian diet, or at least one in which meat consumption is minimized.”  This can all be prevented by vegetarianism!

 

 

 

 

This wonderful history is key to the roots of vegetarianism.  As a vegetarian for 5 years, reading into the Hindu beliefs and practices, only enhance my choice to live this meatless life style.

 

 

Pros of Vegetarianism

Think About the Positives

If you had the chance to make the world a better place would you? Well, according to Amy Van Deusen’s, 6 Reasons to Eat Less Meat, not eating meat may be the solution. Amy gives many examples and great statistics on this wonderful topic. By becoming vegetarian, animal Cruelty, diabetes, high cholesterol, and etc can all be prevented.

SOURCE: https://www.chil.org

1. "Fatty red meats and many processed meats are high in saturated fat, which raises LDL (bad) cholesterol and increases risk of coronary heart disease,’ says Dr. Rachel K. Johnson, a spokesperson for the American Heart Association and professor of Nutrition and Medicine at the University of Vermont.” While these risks are very prevalent, other research has also proven that there is a link between meat and; colon, prostate, pancreatic, and gastric cancer!

2. "Eating a plant-based meal for lunch instead of a burger saves 2.5 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, 133 gallons of water, and 24 square feet of land, according to the people over at the PB&J Campaign. They've calculated that in just three lunches, you'll have saved more water than you'll save by switching to a low-flow shower head.”  As of now, the world is in a horrible place. We are experiencing drought in certain areas of the world and losing more and more raw materials by the minute.

3. “A large-scale 2010 study from Imperial College London found that those who ate about 250 grams a day (the size of one half-pound steak) of red meat, poultry, or processed meat gained more weight over five years than those who ate less meat, even if they consumed the same amount of calories overall.” A person’s health is very important, without good health, your life will be cut very short. That is why it is important to be cautious with what you put in your body. It has been proven that eating a vegetarian diet increases your lifespan significantly.

4. “According to the USDA, 9.1 billion cows, chickens, turkeys, ducks, pigs, and sheep were slaughtered for food in 2011. And these animals often suffer greatly in tiny cages, crates, and pens, before enduring frequently cruel slaughter practices.” There are extremely inhumane practices on animals to produce the meat in your cheeseburger from McDonald’s and many other fast food restaurants. They are treated with such disrespect and spend most of their lives being tortured and  isolated.

5. “The Humane Society of the United States estimates that if every American cut out meat just once a week, about 1.4 billion animals could be spared each year.”  Many innocent animals are tortured on a daily basis,  beat, and separated from their young.  No matter where you live, there are substitutes for meat like veggie burgers, beans, vegetables, quinoa, lentils, and much much  more!

6. “In modern factory farms, animals are routinely injected with hormones and stimulants to make them grow bigger and faster. Many dairy ranchers use recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) to enhance milk production, despite the fact that this chemical - which has been implicated in causing cancer and other diseases - shows up in milk.”  Many cows, pigs, and chickens grow up on hormones which is a chemical.  This means there is chemicals, bacteria, and poisons in the meat.

7. “A vegetarian diet reduces the destruction of tropical rain forests, wildlife habitat, and help to save endangered species! Rain forests are vital to life on earth.” Rain forests regulate the global climate and the water cycle, absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and provide humans with medicines, food, and much more. When eating meat,  some dioxins within the meat are released into the atmosphere, causing pollution.

All in all, there are many evident pros of eating a meatless diet, like a longer lifespan, better moods, and living with a guiltless conscience.

Future Question: How did vegetarianism start?

Vegetarianism: Is It Enough?

There are many rewarding outcomes of being a vegetarian such as a guilt free conscience, better lifestyle, and an a boost in energy levels according to Jason Ladock from, Health Guidance; The Disadvantages of Being a Vegetarian .  Jason expands on the negative aspects of vegetarianism with several viewpoints and outlooks on this topic.  There are multiple drawbacks to becoming a vegetarian, like a risk in a lack of protein and certain necessary vitamins.



SOURCE: http://pqliving.com

1.) “The protein in vegetables and plants doesn't have the same amino acid profile and simply isn't bio-available enough to be of any use. Yes it's there, but our body is not able to use it as effectively as protein from meat.”  Without the necessary proteins from meat, studies show, it could make the consumer more prone to sickness. Therefore worsening and prolonging your everyday colds and fevers.

2.) “Protein and amino acids are actually very complicated matters and for the meat to be usable for our bodies it needs to be as close to the way we are going to use it as possible.” A vegetarian devolves a weak immune system from a lack of specific matters in meat.  Therefore, it is necessary that a non-meat eater would take vitamins as a substitute for the natural vitamins already within meat.

3.) “You eat a plant and that's a very different protein and this means it takes a lot of effort for our body to convert it from plant to human. A lot is lost along the way and this results in a worse quality of tissue.”  Studies show that without natural protein from meat, your skin tissue starts to change and therefore worsens.  Red meat contains Themineral Zinc, which is crucial for producing  collagen.   It is also a natural anti-inflammatory.

4.) “Put simply if you have tuna, pork, mushrooms, eggs, cheese, beef and chicken you are going to get amino acids in every configuration possible and this gives our body a lot to work with. Cut over half of those sources out and suddenly we will start to struggle to find the raw materials.”  Raw materials are very important in ones diet, when meat is removed from the diet, it complicates the food triangle.  It is very important to pay attention to what you consume on a meatless diet.

5.) “Lack of protein in our diet to an adequate degree and in the right form then means we are slower to heal wounds, our skin looks more dull and less healthy, we struggle to develop muscle tissue and become weaker and our digestion and cognitive function suffers.”  Since the immune system is not as strong as a meat eaters, the healing of wounds is also not as strong or as rapid. 

6.) “B12 is actually a crucial substance and deficiency can cause serious problems such as nerve damage, low energy and problems utilizing calcium which can lead to osteoporosis. B12 is also crucial for brain damage and some theories state that we may have even become omnivorous in order to help develop our brain function.” Many times the necessary amount of B12 is not met when eating a meatless diet.  There are necessary multivitamins to be taken when trying to substitute for B12 in meat.   

7.) “Without highly strict research and regulation most vegetarians will likely end up eating something that has come into contact with meat every now and then as it is so ubiquitous." Most foods contain chicken stock, beef stock, or even gelatin, which is why it is important to always check the ingredients and labels.  Vegetarians often miss out on different types of candies and adventurous day to day foods. 

 In conclusion, Vegetarianism is not the best choice for everyone.  It is very important to be aware of what you put into your body and consume the proper amount of protein and nutrients when attempting a vegetarian lifestyle/diet.   Be safe!

Future Research Question: Pros of eating a vegetarian diet



The Costs of Eating Meat

 Is It Worth It?

Most people love a good steak every now and then. What would you say if you were told it could have a negative toll on your health?  Would you still eat it, or explore other options? Washington Post author, Darryl Fears expands on the idea that there are more severe risk health effects, such as high cholesterol, diabetes, and heart problems, when it comes to eating a diet with meat vs. a meatless diet.  The added cost of Eating Red Meat - A Quicker Death, Scientists Say. explores all different viewpoints with support and evidence.
 

 

SOURCE: http://blog.fablunch.com



1. “New research offers more evidence that vegetarians not only live better, but also longer.”  Researchers have proven from many years of research, that those who consume a vegetarian diet live not only better, but longer as well. Over 150,000 participants tested by Mingyang Song at the Massachusetts General Hospital in a time span of 4 years, helped prove this theory to be in fact true.

2. “Song's team found that a 10 percent increase in proteins from animals resulted in a 2 percent increase in mortality overall, and an 8 percent rise in death risk from heart disease.” Although meat from animals contains necessary proteins, it also contains many processed chemicals that are harmful to your body.  Your body can only handle so much, until you develop a heart disease.

3. “But a 3 percent increase in protein from plants led to a 10 percent decrease in mortality and a 12 percent drop in risk of death from cardiovascular-related mortality.” There are many good suggested substitutes including tofu, chickpeas, and veggie burgers as well.  All of which are significantly healthier for you body in comparison to meat.

4. “ Processed meats are filled with potentially unhealthy additives such as sodium and nitrates.” Studies have shown that out of 36,000 deaths, 13,000 were of cancer, and 9,00 were from cardiovascular diseases. Red meat includes a byproduct called TMAO that encourages fatty plaque.  According to many resources, the more TMAO in your body, the more it builds up, thus resulting in the consumer to become prone to heart disease.

5. “A research fellow at the hospital's Clinical and Translational Epidemiology Unit: Plant-based proteins from sources such as beans, nuts, quinoa and seeds are a healthier choice than steaks or beef products such as hot dogs.” Eating these substitutes results in a lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, lower body mass and much more!

Future Research Question: What are the costs of eating a vegetarian diet?

Vegetarianism

SOURCE: http://yourmedguide.com

• KEY ECONOMIC PRINCIPLE I’M ADDRESSING:  Because of scarcity, people choose.  All choices have an opportunity cost. (#1)

• OVERALL RESEARCH QUESTION THAT CONNECTS MY TOPIC TO THE ECONOMIC PRINCIPLE:  What are the benefits and costs of being a vegetarian vs eating meat?

• 3-4 SUB QUESTIONS/TOPICS THAT HELP ADDRESS THE OVERALL RESEARCH QUESTION and EMBEDDED LINKS TO RELIABLE SOURCES THAT HELP ANSWER THE QUESTION
• This website The Vegetarian Resource Group, explains what a vegetarian is and other substitutes for meat.
• This website The Vegetarian Resource Group, explains why people become vegetarian/vegan and the pros of this switch in diet.
• This website One Green Planet , explains why some people choose to eat meat instead of cutting it out of their diet.
• This website Common Dreams, explains the scarcity of food in our world/ society and how we have enough food.