The arguments in favor of a vegetarian diet are many, and for the purpose of this article we will deal with three main categories. Some are quite valid, some have some truth and are backed up by data that is weighted to support their argument, and some of the points in favor of vegetarianism are more humorous than swaying. Let us get into some of the reasons people may want to turn to vegetarianism and dissect the arguments.
Health Reasons. Studies have shown that vegetarians have far less likelihood of getting cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis and diabetes. In addition, they are less likely to be overweight and have more stamina. These studies are based on people on a vegetarian diet as opposed to those eating a typical amount of animal foods for Americans. One can hardly argue with those findings. But probably every dietician in the United States would agree that the average intake of animal foods in the American diet is way too high. I would argue that would not mean that you must go completely off a meat diet, but substantially cutting back might put you in perfect health.
Also, vegetarians have fewer diseases and greater stamina, but can we with certainty attribute that to a vegetarian diet? If a person is a vegetarian, there is a good chance that he is for health reasons, and as such would be careful of his health in all aspects of his lifestyle, such as working out regularly, not smoking and watching his overall weight. To make the point for vegetarianism they should refer to studies comparing only vegetarian versus a sensible diet, but either there hasn't been a study as such or it just doesn't back up the vegetarian argument.
Environmental Reasons. Here the supporters of a vegetarian diet have a valid argument. Meat has been found to contain a higher amount of pesticides than plant food, and that would be a health concern, especially if taken in large quantities. And whenever there is a product recall or health issues such as salmonella or listeria monocytogenes, they most often come from animal products. Other arguments such as taking more land to produce food for the average American compared to a pure vegetarian seem a bit of a stretch. When land becomes an issue in food production the cost of that food will rise dramatically, causing more people to consume cheaper foods.
Animal Welfare Reasons. It is true that millions of animals specifically farmed for food will meet an untimely demise. For anyone who truly has morality issues with that, that is a wonderful reason to go on a vegetarian diet. But humans have farmed animals for food throughout much of human history, and it's safe to say that the human race is not going to change their way of thinking at least in our lifetimes. It must be said that there has been in the last few years an effort in the animal-farming industry to create more humane conditions for animals. For animal activists their efforts have gone a long way and they should be commended for the work they have done in this area.
My point in all of this is that I am not for against a vegetarian diet, and anyone who feels compelled by any of the reasons above should start. In vegetarian meal planning we talk of some of the great options vegetarians have now, but it would be wise to go in completely aware of all the dietary implications.
A vegetarian diet for many people is their ticket to optimum health, and as long as they are certain to get all areas of the nutritional chart filled, it has a lot going for it. If you are into an Eat Clean Diet you should check out our website, and we also have Vegetarian Meal Planning options that might interest you if you thought this article helpful. Rich Carroll is a writer and health enthusiast living in London.
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