The Pros of Vegetarianism Essay.

Vegetarianism, is it just a fad, or will it continue to cultivate and grow more mainstream than it is today? All signs are indicating that it will, indeed, continue to grow. “As many as 3. 2% to 6% of the U. S. adult population is a vegetarian” (Parker 1). If one loves life, why not try vegetarianism? Having a vegetarian diet not only saves animals, but also improves health and uses less of our planet’s diminishing resources. The earliest known practice of vegetarianism was in ancient Greece. Vegetarianism was encouraged by the famous Greek philosophers, such as Pythagoras and Socrates.

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They stated that it was unclean and unfair to the living animals around them (Driscoll 2). Vegetarianism was – and still is – practiced by Hindus and many Buddhists for their religion. Even some Christians are vegetarians for religious reasons, most notably Seventh Day Adventists. Benjamin Franklin was one America’s earliest vegetarians. According to Vegetarian Times, a magazine that caters to vegetarians, there are four major types of vegetarians. Lacto-ovo vegetarianism (the most popular): no meat, poultry or fish, but they consume eggs, dairy and honey. Lacto vegetarianism: no meat, poultry, fish or eggs, but they consume dairy and honey.The Pros of Vegetarianism Essay.

Ovo vegetarianism: no meat, poultry, fish or dairy, but they consume eggs and honey. Finally, veganism: do not consume or use anything from animals (Driscoll 3). Vegans consist of only 5% of all vegetarians (Time 48). There are also many other small groups that are considered legitimate by some vegetarians, such as individuals who eat poultry, but no meat. Why do people choose to become a vegetarian? There are a multitude of reasons. Including environmental concerns and, as previously stated, religious reasons. The most popular reason, though, seems to be for one’s wellbeing. Health benefits of vegetarianism are remarkable.

Having a vegetarian diet will reduce your chances of getting heart disease by 50% and reduce the chances of getting colorectal, ovarian and breast cancers (40%); diabetes; obesity; and hypertension by considerable rates. Obesity among Americans is a growing problem. Being a vegetarian has been proven to reduce chances of becoming overweight or obese by nine times (Knopper 1). Vegetarians also live an average of six to ten years longer than meat eaters (Knopper 4). The United States spends 15% of annual GDP on treating the unhealthy; if more Americans tried the vegetarian diet, that expense would be substantially reduced.The Pros of Vegetarianism Essay.

Of course, having a vegetarian diet is not perfect. Vegetarians need to pay special attention to the nutrients that are in the food they are abstaining from. Protein can be found in various nuts and lentils. Vitamin D is added to most milk. Vitamin B12 can be found in most dairy products. One can be assured that the benefits of being a practicing vegetarian far outweigh the small negativities. If a person’s diet still does not provide all of the sufficient vitamins and nutrients, multivitamin and singular vitamin supplements are safe and common to use.

Some people do not realize this, but a practicing vegetarian significantly helps the environment. ‘Being a vegetarian alleviates overgrazing, deforestation, topsoil erosion, and wildlife habitat destruction. Today nearly one-third of the earth’s land, and nearly half of all land in the United States, is devoted to either the pasturing of livestock or the raising of crops to feed livestock” (Knopper 5). If more land was used to grow crops and food for human beings, food prices would drop, and there would be less hunger and famine on planet Earth. The average meat eater burns a gallon of oil daily by not even driving anywhere. Eating just one pound of meat emits the same amount of greenhouse gasses as driving an SUV for 30 miles” (Knopper 6). While it may seem small, but many people can truly make an impact on Earth in reducing wastes and various harmful effects. Perhaps the most associated reason by non-vegetarians are the rights of animals. It has been reported that the average American will consume nineteen thousand animals in his or her lifetime. There are many absolutely grotesque and gruesome stories of animals waiting to die, stories that I will not divulge here, but the magnitude of it is worthy of researching on one’s own time.The Pros of Vegetarianism Essay.

The ethical treatment of animals a moral that many vegetarians believe and follow. This is largely reason enough to become of vegetarian, but combined with the many other reasons; vegetarianism is too hard to turn a blind-eye towards. Vegetarianism has become mainstream in many ways because of the many celebrities that practice it. Some of the more contemporary ones include, Carrie Underwood, Paul McCartney, Demi Moore and Ellen DeGeneres. Albert Einstein has been quoted as saying, “Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet. Another quote concerning vegetarianism that I personally found intriguing originates from Gandhi, “It is very significant that some of the most thoughtful and cultured men are partisans of a pure vegetable diet. ” Coming from Mahatma Gandhi, that quote can be of great impact to many people. A personal favorite of mine is spoken by Benjamin Franklin, “My refusing to eat meat occasioned an inconveniency, and I have been frequently chided for my singularity. But my light repast allows for greater progress, for greater clearness of head and quicker comprehension. ”

Being a vegetarian helps the environment, saves living animals and is better for one’s health. It enriches a person’s life. According to a CNN/Time poll, 74% felt happier since becoming a vegetarian (Time 50). It is true; vegetarianism is not an ephemeral craze. Vegetarianism will only become more popular with time. Why not try the diet for two to four weeks and see how it goes? Stores and markets have taken notice; there are vegetarian and organic sections in nearly every store. A better planet, a more reasonable milieu for animals and a healthier wellbeing, can all be achieved through vegetarianism.The Pros of Vegetarianism Essay.