Omnivore or Herbivore?

Omnivore or Herbivore?

Have you ever thought about what would happen if you didn't buy meat at the grocery store? Could it make a difference to many animals? Would it have made difference at all? The number of animals that are bred and slaughtered depends on the consumer demand for meat. Every time we refrain from buying at the store, we reduce this consumer demand, knowing that less animals will be forced to suffer. Is it okay to eat some meat some of the time or never?

In America over 90% of households consume meat on a daily basis or even with every meal. Doing so is now common practice and contributes to the widespread obesity rate in this country. I believe in a humane way of eating, thus not eating meat. I also believe that changing your diet to mostly or all plant diet, you can increase your chances to help fight diseases and to keep a friendly relationship with the planet. All across the globe, there is a community of people that love and embrace the all-plant or vegan lifestyle. Not only does this diet succeed in making you a healthier person, but it also does the world a service too. Livestock rearing contributes to 51% of global warming. This mere fact makes a person wonder what we can do to fix or stop this negative spiral into global warming. To begin with, raising livestock and producing meat is greatly contributing to contamination of the world. The population of the world is growing, and it is prompting an increase in livestock. More livestock will produce more greenhouse gases. These gases are harmful to the world because it is heating up the earth’s atmosphere. The world does not need much heating, so reducing livestock would be helpful because livestock produce two of the most powerful greenhouse gases, which are nitrous oxide and methane. Reducing the amount of livestock would help cool our world from being too hot. Studies in 2006 show that livestock is the number one factor for “deforestation and water pollution” and is eighteen percent of the world greenhouse gases are from livestock.

         The greater majority of the world’s population does not eat red meat on a regular basis. Of these countries, they also have the world’s lowest BMI average for males and females. Although they do not follow a vegan on vegetarian diet, their ancestors ate traditionally in these ways. Many cultures found it unnecessary, or simply could not afford eating meat daily. Do you think we have a moral duty to take animals' interests into account when we decide how to act toward them?

The vegan diet can be a very healthy way of life. There have been some research studies that have shown vegans are significantly lower in weight, we have lower blood pressure and lower levels of cholesterol than normal vegetarians and meat eaters. These health benefits are apparent because vegans consume more dietary fiber, about two to three times more than their meat-eating counter parts, which have been shown to reduce cholesterol, blood glucose levels and protect against colon cancer. Our diets are higher in potassium, magnesium, folic acid, vitamins C and E and the health-promoting phytochemicals which have all been proven to reduce the risk for heart disease, arthritis, prostate and other cancers, and may improve bone health (Vegetarian Diet). We are less likely to suffer from heart disease, stroke, diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers because they consume such high levels of plant foods (Vegan Diets: The Pros and Cons). There are many reasons I believe that you are what you eat. When assessing an obese individual, you would now that they have a nutritional problem. Also, when you look at a frail underweight individual they may have a nutritional problem as well. Your health depends on what you eat. Whether an individual is obese, or has a debilitating disease a balanced diet has a significant role in good health. A healthy diet according to Lutz & Przytulski includes six to eleven servings of grains, two to four servings of fruits and three to five servings of vegetables. Also included in a balanced diet are two to three servings of dairy and two to three servings of meats. Lutz & Przytulski also states that you should eat fats and sweets sparingly. These six food groups compile a balanced diet. When an individual does not have a balanced diet they often develop deficiencies. An example is when a person lacks calcium in their diet they are at risk of developing osteoporosis. This is a wasting or deterioration of bone that often leads to a fracture of the bone.

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