People lean toward vegetarianism by all sorts of motives. Some people want to live longer, avoid the toxic chemicals that are infused in animals, or even to spare animals lives. A plethora of scientific research proves the health and environmental benefits of a plant-based diet. Grain products, vegetables, and fruits are the sources where we should be consuming most of our calories. Around 70% of all diseases are linked to the diet a person lives by . A vegetarian diet lessens the chance of obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and colon, prostate, breast, stomach,lunch, and esophageal cancer. As a result, participating in a vegetarian diet will lead you to a healthier and happier life.
http://www.celestialhealing.net/physicalveg3.htm
Vegetarian diets are more beneficial and healthful than the average American diet. Vegetarians are less prone to heart disease, cancer, and stops the progression of coronary artery disease. A vegetarian diet is naturally wholesome due to the lack of consumption of animal fat and cholesterol. Contrary to an average diet, vegetarians consume more antioxidant-rich produce and more fiber.
The stereotypical diet of an American consists of foods that are high in saturated fats, processed foods, and complex carbohydrates. Thus, many Americans suffer from obesity. Their dinner plates consist of three colors opposed to a vegetarians that consist of seven or more. The more color you add to your plate, the more nutrients like fiber, antioxidants, potassium, and vitamins you will receive in your diet. The seeds and skins of fruits and vegetables contain insoluble and soluble fiber. Insoluble fiber advocates a healthy digestive system and soluble fiber aids in lessening cholesterol and regulates blood sugar levels. Antioxidants counterbalance the unwelcome compounds in your body. Vegetarian diets do not include high concentration cholesterol, artery blockage animal products that gradually slow people down. To receive energizing fuel vegetarians consume foods high in complex carbohydrates like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
http://corefitx.com/3-tips-to-color-your-plate/
The meat industry has been an up and coming big business in society, and we are convinced that the meat we consume is wholesome and nutritious. But only if people new that was far from the case. Many people are not aware that the delicious chicken tenders or the juicy burger they eat at baseball games are loaded with poisons and toxins. According to the EPA, in an average American diet about 95% of the pesticide debris comes from dairy products, fish, and meat. Fish consists of substances that may potentially cause cancer (PCB’S, DDT) and heavy metals ( Mercury, Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium). Cooking or freezing will not chemically or physically remove these toxins from the fish. Hormones and steroids can be mixed in with dairy and meat products as well. So next time you buy dairy or meat products, read the label clearly.
As vegetarian, I ask myself why people eat these meat and dairy products if they know it is detrimental to their health. Is that juicy cheeseburger or the finger licking buffalo wings worth the harmful toxins you are putting into your body? Eat veggies, be healthy, and get rid of the toxins in your body. There is more evidence to back up the claim on why to be a vegetarian than not. Eating meat is bad for yourself, the environment, and for everyone. Convert to vegetarianism to live a natural, healthy, wholesome, and toxic/poison free life.
http://www.vegetariantimes.com/article/why-go-veg-learn-about-becoming-a-vegetarian
https://www.downtoearth.org/go-veggie/top-10-reasons
http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/fill-half-your-plate-with-color
Hey jpb!
While I completely agree that the stereotypical American diet consists of typically unhealthy foods for us and is a serious issue, everything is healthy in moderation, and I completely disagree with you on the idea that meat is bad for not only ourselves, but the environment as well. Consuming meats and more fatty proteins is just a matter of being smart and bringing a key balance to our diets.
Seafood, for example, is a wonder example of a meat that is lean and gives us protein while also providing key nutrients such as Omega-3 Fatty Acids, which helps prevent the onset of heart disease and other blood-related diseases. Depending on the type of fish as well, key nutrients such as important minerals and vitamins A, B, and D, when consumed moderately, of course. (http://www.seafoodhealthfacts.org/seafood-nutrition/patients-and-consumers/seafood-nutrition-overview). Eating seafood also has the added benefit of keeping wildlife populations of some species under control, allowing for a more stabilized ecosystem throughout our bodies of water nation, and world, wide.
Red meats can also be just as healthy when, once again, eaten in moderation under a proper diet (and not just by eating a few cheeseburgers and an order of fries a day). Red meats are typically high in protein, ranging from 20-24g in a serving alone, which is roughly half of most recommended adult protein daily values (which depends on age, height, weight, and other factors – to generalize, take an individual’s body weight, times it by 0.36(grams) for every one pound of body weight – https://authoritynutrition.com/how-much-protein-per-day/) so even enjoying a serving once a day, say for a relaxing dinner, is by no means unhealthy. This Cambridge journal tends to go into a ton more information than is necessary, including benefits and recommended amounts for men, women, and children (https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/proceedings-of-the-nutrition-society/article/the-role-of-red-meat-in-the-diet-nutrition-and-health-benefits/7EE0FE146D674BB59D882BEA17461F1B/core-reader).
The American government also does a fantastic job with informing us through the use of geometric shapes in regards to healthy foods and what should be consumed. Although it is no longer a pyramid as we learned when we were tykes, it is still conveniently placed in the shape of a plate, and goes into great depth about nutritional information for everyday life (https://www.choosemyplate.gov/foodgallery-protein-foods). I am sure if meat truly was unhealthy for you, when consumed moderately of course, the government would not allow it on any level.
I found your post to be very informative in regards to some vegetarian information, and wish you the best of luck with the rest of the semester!
To answer your question as to why Americans like to eat meat: Cause it is SOOO good. I think this says something about American culture in general, as we are so opt to sacrificing our well being for simple pleasures. Take smoking or binge drinking for example, these things have been proven time and time again to be terrible for people, yet they enjoy doing them.