VEGETARIANISM

We don't need to eat anyone who would run, swim, or fly away if he could. James Cromwell

TO BE OR NOT TO BE?
people are often confused have compelling arguments on both sides => it is often hard for them to decide what is better for their personal health or for the environment

WHAT IS A VEGETARIAN?
o do not eat meat, fish, and poultry

o abstain from eating or using all animal products, including milk, cheese, other dairy items, eggs, wool, silk, and leather
Reasons: Health Ecological and religious concerns dislike of meat compassion for animals and belief in non-violence

 The Vegetarian Society: the

word "vegetarian" from the Latin "vegetus" meaning "lively

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) and other standard dictionaries state that the word was formed from the term "vegetable" and the suffix "-arian".

Earliest records of vegetarianism : India the ancient Greek civilization in southern Italy Greece

the diet => connected with the

idea of nonviolence toward animals promoted by religious groups and philosophers during the Christianization of the Roman Empire vegetarianism disappeared from Europe ; reemerged during the Renaissance more widespread practice in the 19th and 20th centuries.

WHY DO PEOPLE BECOME VEGETARIANS?

1. ethical problems - object to eating meat: an animal had to die to feed them - sustaining their own life by killing an animal => not a good enough reason to eat meat - some feel that eating dairy products or other animal products exploits animals => choose not to eat any animal-based foods

2. health benefits
vegetarian diets are healthier and more viable a vegetarian is less likely to have - a high BMI - high levels of cholesterol - high levels of blood pressure - a lower incidence of: * type 2 diabetes * renal failure * bone loss * dementia.

health benefits => due to the omission of meats, especially nonlean red meat, which have high levels of saturated fat and carry risks of animal-human disease transmissions

3.aesthetic reason

some people just don't like the taste of meat, or how it looks like

..

or the fact that it is high in cholesterol and often contains very high concentrations of hormones and preservatives.

4. environmental reasons

Considering recent concerns about climate change and global warming, it's no wonder many people look to their

Eating up land
around 30% of ice free land is now used in welfare of livestock (cultivated for meat). over grazing by the animals have resulted in loss of fertility and flooding the grains that are fed to the cattle in western countries if fed to humans can significantly cut down the global hunger ratio.

DEFORESTATION millions of trees are cut every year to

feed animals since last 3 decades the agriculturists are targeting tropical rainforests at large =>feed and graze their cattle, grow up the crops

It is estimated that every year around 6 million hectares of forest land is converted to farm land.

Earth Poisoning
- cattle farms channelize the animal wastes into massive waste lagoons, which often leaks, breaks, and mix up with water supplies -rivers across Asia, Europe, and America are polluted with animal wastes every year. - a single spill of waste from North Carolina Pig factory lagoon in 1995 killed millions of fish and polluted hectares of coastal wetlands

Water resources
Every summer thousands sq.km of the sea at Mississippi becomes dead zone because tones of animal waste, sewage, nitrogen compounds and These wastes create fertilizers are forced down ecological the river. imbalances within the river, thus making it impossible for other water organisms to survive.

Ruining the air

It is found that pesticides are used to manage and maintain the livestock and two thirds of the artificial ammonia is generated by the livestock. Modern practices of animal farming often lead to ozone pollution.

5. religious reasons
o the majority of Eastern religions (e.g. Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Taoism) prescribe a vegetarian diet o the Western religions (e.g. Judaism, Christianity, Islam) do not advocate a vegetarian diet, one can interpret certain lines of Scripture or morals behind holy stories or prophecies as good cause to practice vegetarianism.

 even if more and more meat-eaters are opting for a diet that comprises only fruits and vegetables and excludes any form of meat, even eggs, there are also many disadvantages attached to vegetarianism

consequently, I have gathered up a list with the pros and cons of being a vegetarian

PROS:
a balanced vegetarian diet

lowers the risk of a number of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, fruits and vegetables are cheaper than diabetes and obesity meat according to World Cancer Research Fund, following a vegetarian diet reduces the risk of cancer according to some experts, vegetarians

 many doctors claim that vegetarians are 50 percent less likely to develop heart problems. according to some experts, vegetarians and vegans may live 10 years longer than meat-eaters. many doctors claim that vegetarians are 50 percent less likely to develop heart

CONS:
a plant-based diet may lack some

vitamins and minerals, unless a wide variety of fruits and vegetables are included in it. vitamin B12, largely found in meat, is not present in a vegetarian diet. This vitamin is essential for converting protein, fats and carbohydrates into energy.
a plant-based diet lacks

Vitamin D, a very essential nutrient. finding a good source of protein in plant-based diet is difficult.

each of the 9 essential amino acids is not found in

vegetarian diets. Inadequacy of this may result in tiredness, moodiness - due to the fluctuation in blood sugar levels, lack of motivation and poor performance at work or during exercise. vegetables and fruits are not best sources of iron and calcium => most of the vegetarians have to take supplement to fulfill their daily requirements of both the minerals, unlike those who eat non-veg.

>> the choice to become a vegetarian is a personal choice for every individual to make and it is a major life style choice ! >> study up on it and review some vegetarian cook books ! >> remember to move into it slowly - no need to rush the transition ! >> You have your whole life to explore the wonderful world of vegetarianism ! GOOD LUCK !!!