Vegetarianism: Good or Bad?

Vegetarianism has been popular in many cultures since the beginning of time. Today, there are millions of vegetarians that swear by a diet free of meat. The question of the health effects of vegetarianism has been debated by both advocates of the lifestyle as well as non-vegetarians. While some people believe that eating a vegetarian diet results in longevity, vitality, and better health in general, others assert that the lifestyle results in a lack of important vitamins, nutrients, and protein. While some believe that being a vegetarian is better for the animal population and the environment, others believe that it is simply unnatural to refrain from eating meat. The fact remains that while vegetarianism offers benefits, it also presents risks in the form of genetically-modified additives as well as pesticides. Vegetarianism is a topic that is presented both in Food, Inc. and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, and its pros and cons are pursued and discussed in both pieces. After investigating and carefully considering both the pros and cons, one can come to the conclusion that it is just as unhealthy to be a vegetarian as it is to be a non-vegetarian, and there is evidence that supports this.

Vegetarianism has been a way of living for many figures in history, including the mathematician Pythagoras, who taught “that all animals should be treated as kindred included the abstinence from meat” (Vegetarian Society). Though he refrained from eating meat in order to avoid being cruel to animals, Pythagoras began to see the health benefits of eating a vegetarian diet. According to Pythagoras, vegetarianism was a key factor in peaceful human co-existence, putting forward the view that slaughtering animals brutalized the human soul” (Vegetarian Society). Early religions such as Hinduism included vegetarianism in their beliefs. Greek thinkers after Pythagoras began to favor vegetarianism, while others still debated it. The debate continues to this day between proponents and opponents.

Vegetarianism is widespread in the world today, and According to Vegetarian ProCon.org, a 2012 Gallup poll found that “approximately 5% of Americans (15,695,702 people) considered themselves to be vegetarian” (Vegetarian ProCon.org). Almost half of vegetarians are young in age: “43 percent of American vegetarians fall into the eighteen-to-thirty-four-age group” (Devries 39). A 2009 study found that “18 percent of American college students are now vegetarians” Devries 39). It is quickly becoming a popular American trend.

Some vegetarians follow the lifestyle for one specific reason. Later, they may enforce their opinion of a vegetarian diet because of other reasons. Perhaps the biggest reason is the prevention of animal cruelty. Those who are vegetarians believe that killing animals for food is simply cruel. They also contend that is not necessary since there are plenty of other food sources available that are non-animal. Not only do vegetarians believe that animals can feel fear, pain, and other emotions, they believe that animals connect socially with humans and other animals. According to Vegetarian ProCon.org, “about 35 million cows, 115 million pigs, and 9 billion birds are killed for food each year” in the United States. Not only are they killed, they are slaughtered in an inhumane way. Food, Inc. shows the way in which cows, chickens, and pigs are kept in cages in their own feces, given steroids, and mistreated by workers. One scene shows the way in which chickens are raised for human consumption:

This isn't farming. This is just mass production, like an assembly line in a factory. When they grow from a chick and in seven weeks you've got a five-and-a-half- pound chicken, their bones and their internal organs can't keep up with the rapid growth. A lot of these chickens here, they can take a few steps and then they plop down. It's because they can't keep up all the weight that they're carrying. (Food, Inc.)

One worker is shown breaking the neck of a chicken as he shoves it into the container for slaughter. The pigs and cows are treated just as badly, as they wallow in their own feces and bacteria. Vegetarians believe that this cruel treatment is unnecessary and unjust.

Proponents of vegetarianism also believe that there are significant health benefits to this lifestyle. According to the Brown University Health Education website, “vegetarians are at a lower risk for developing heart disease; colorectal, ovarian, and breast cancers; diabetes; obesity; and hypertension” (Being a Vegetarian). A study on the health benefits of a vegetarian diet concluded that “vegetarians have a lower mean BMI, a lower mean plasma total cholesterol concentration, and a lower mortality from IHD. They may also have a lower risk for some other diseases such as constipation, diverticular disease, gallstones and appendicitis” (Key, David, and Appleby 271). In addition, there is evidence that a vegetarian diet lowers the risk of heart disease: “According to a peer-reviewed 1999 study of 76,000 people, vegetarians had 24% lower mortality from heart disease than meat eaters. A vegetarian diet also helps lower blood pressure, prevent hypertension, and thus reduce the risk of stroke” (Vegetarian ProCon.org) There also may be evidence that people who follow a vegetarian lifestyle live longer lives and remain at a normal, healthy body weight for their frame. Furthermore, research shows that vegetarians are up to 40% less likely to develop cancer than meat eaters, and “a 2014 study found that diets high in animal protein were associated with a 4-fold increase in cancer death risk compared to high protein diets based on plant-derived protein sources” (Vegetarian ProCon.org) As one can conclude, there are many health benefits involved with being a vegetarian.

Vegetarians believe that this lifestyle also helps the environment. Not only do they contend that this way of eating conserve water, they believe that “Overgrazing livestock hurts the environment through soil compaction, erosion, and harm to native plants and animals” (Vegetarian ProCon.org). They also contend that a vegetarian lifestyle will help in the restoration of land that is naturally able to provide habitat. Furthermore, vegetarians believe that raising animals for food contributes to air and water pollution in the form of manure by-products that are toxic.

While vegetarians are passionate about their lifestyle and why they choose to be vegetarian, those who are non-vegetarian have the same passion for their choice to be meat eaters. Part of their reasoning for eating meat is that it is simply healthier than a vegetarian lifestyle. Studies have shown that vegetarians tend to have lower-than-normal intakes of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B-12, vitamin D, calcium, zinc, and riboflavin. According to Vegetarian ProCon.org, “two in three vegetarians are vitamin B12 deficient, compared to one in 20 meat eaters.” While vegetarians contend that their diet meets all of the necessary protein requirements for good health, this does not appear to true.

Even though vegetarians say that eating meat is cruel and unnatural, it is important to point out that “archaeological evidence shows that humans have been eating meat for at least 2.3 million years” (Vegetarian ProCon.org). Meat is an essential form of much-needed protein as well, and “the average American gets 67% of his or her dietary protein from animal sources” (Vegetarian ProCon.org). Not only is meat one of the convenient sources of protein, it provides essential amino acids, healthy saturated fats, and essential nutrients, all of which most plant-based foods cannot provide in one serving.

When it comes to the environment, meat eaters believe that the production of fruits, legumes, and vegetables cause many of the same problems as the production of meat. Vegetarian ProCon.org states that “92% of US soybeans (a vegetarian staple protein) are planted with genetically modified soy, immune to herbicides. This immunity allows soy farmers to douse their fields with large quantities of weed-killing herbicides which are toxic to other plants and fish.”

Whether or not a person is vegetarian or a meat-eater, there is still a risk to most food that is grown and sold in the United States: genetically-modified food. There is not a lot of research about the health effects of these foods: “Because Monsanto contractually stipulates that those purchasing GM seeds are forbidden to conduct independent research on them, there is a chokehold on the possibility (or impossibility) of conducting studies and finding new information on GM foods” (Carson). Other problems with genetically-modified foods are what are known as superweeds and superbugs that are engineered to be genetically resistant to pesticides. These plants and bugs are stronger, bigger, and new to scientists.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle supports meat eating as well as non-GMO foods, much like Food, Inc. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle is not a book that pushes vegetarianism on the reader. Author Barbara Kingsolver is not a vegetarian herself; she raises her own turkeys for slaughter. She is concerned with genetically modified foods and the environmental factors. She does not condone the act of being against meat production. She simply wants food to be real, whole, and without additives:

For the first time since our nation’s food was ubiquitously local, the point of origin now matters again to some consumers. We’re increasingly wary of an industry that puts stuff in our dinner we can’t identify as animal, vegetable, and mineral, or what. The halcyon postwar promise of ‘better living through chemistry’has fallen from grace. ‘No additives’ is now often considered a plus rather than the minus that, technically, it is. (Kingsolver 17)

Vegetarianism and veganism are not part of Kingsolver’s philosophy. Good, wholesome, traceable and locally grown food is what she emphasizes as the best way to eat for optimal living. In analyzing the pros and cons to vegetarianism as well as a non vegetarian diet, I conclude that a diet balanced with meat, vegetables, and grains is best. I along with many others have led a healthy lifestyle that includes meat in the diet, and it seems natural and sustainable. People have been eating meat for millions of years, and they have thrived and lived long lives. So why change that? Genetically-modified fruits and vegetables are all around the grocery stores, and unless you buy organic products, By the way, organic food is more expensive than non-organic food, but the consumer ultimately gets what they pay for. Ideally, we should worry about GMOs rather than being concerned with if we should be meat eaters or not. Either way, it seems that organic is the way to go.

Works Cited

"Being a Vegetarian." Brown University Health Education. N.p., n.d. http://www.brown.edu/

Carson, Frank. "10 Problems With Genetically Modified Foods." Wall St. Cheat Sheet. N.p., 13 Mar. 2014. http://wallstcheatsheet.com/life/10-problems-with-genetically-modified-foods.html/3/.

Devries, Juliana. "Making Choices: Ethics and Vegetarianism." Dissent 59.2 (2012): 39-41.

Food, Inc. Dir. Robert Kenner. Perf. Robert Kenner. Magnolia Home Entertainment, 2009. Film.

Key, Timothy J., Gwyneth K. Davey, and Paul N. Appleby. "Health benefits of a vegetarian diet." Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 58.02 (1999): 271-275.

Kingsolver , Barbara. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. New York: HarperCollins, 2007.

"Vegetarian ProCon.org." ProCon.org Headlines. N.p., n.d. http://vegetarian.procon.org/#background.

"World history of vegetarianism." Vegetarian Society. N.p., n.d. https://www.vegsoc.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=830