Not Just Hippies
Vegetarians aren’t just hippies. Vegetarians are animal lovers, believers and miniature health nuts. There are many different types of vegetarians. One of them is, of course, vegan. If someone is vegan, they do not eat any animal products. That means no dairy, eggs, fish, or meat. Other types include ovo-lacto-pesketarian, which means that the person still eats dairy, eggs, and fish but do not eat meat. Then there is just ovo or lacto vegetarians. They only either eat dairy or eggs, still no meat or seafood. Vegetarianism, like many other diets, is a choice, this choice can depend on religion, health benefits, lifestyle, or personal beliefs and preferences.
Do you ever wonder where your meat really comes from?
Perhaps the most influential reason that people choose to become vegetarian is the terrible way that your meat is harvested. One truth is the pure number of animals slaughtered per year for food. A survey taken in 2001 recorded that 155 million cattle, sheep, hogs, and horses are killed per year. Another truth is the gory and painful manner in which many of these animals are killed. According to the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, livestock is supposed to be unconscious before they are killed. Too often, though they are not. According to an article in The Washington Post, "They Die Piece By Piece" by Jo Warrick, most cattle are not unconscious as they whirl through machines that rip them apart at 309 miles an hour. Dozens a day get to the tail cutter, belly ripper, and the hide puller while clearly conscious and still the machines do not stop to put the poor animal out of its misery. Chickens are killed in a completely different manner, tough. Slaughterhouses do not even try to knock out chickens as they are strung up by their feet and their throats cut. Some chickens struggle too much and they are scalped alive. People should become vegetarian to stop the inhumane slaughter of animals.
Another reason that someone should become vegetarian is because of their personal beliefs. Some religions do not allow their followers to eat meat. For example; Jainism and small groups of Christians, and Judaists promote vegetarianism for religious reasons. Another reason is an attachment to animals. Some people are vegetarian because they raise animals like chickens, cows, horses, etc. They cannot eat animals like the ones they care for so much. Similarly, the next reason is that their love of animals has lead them to join an animal rights group like PETA. PETA encourages vegetarianism even though they are a group that focuses on the protesting of testing products on animals. Another, more helpful reason is the definite health benefits that come from being vegetarian.
The next good reason to become vegetarian is to increase your personal physical health. Becoming vegetarian can lower your risk of heart disease. According to “9 Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet” by Doctor Edward Group, there are more antioxidants in vegetarian diets. Antioxidants are molecules that reduce the damage caused by oxidative stress and therefore reducing the risk of heart disease. Also, vegetarianism can lower the risk of cataracts. Research released by Oxford university shows that vegans and vegetarians are at a lower risk for cataracts than people who eat meat on a regular basis. The next health benefit is a growth in vitamin consumption. According to doctor Edward Group, “a vegetarian diet is associated with a higher consumption of fiber, folic acid, vitamins c and e, magnesium, unsaturated fat”. Finally, a vegetarian diet can lower the risk of obesity. Also according to Dr. Edward Group, vegetarians “ tend to be much more deliberate in their food choices and far less likely to binge eat or choose bad food based on emotions- two habits that greatly contribute to obesity”. So, not only does being vegetarian contribute to stopping animal abuse, is also provides a healthy lifestyle.
Vegetarianism is a choice not to eat meat and possibly other animal products. This choice can be because of religion, lifestyle choices, personal preferences and health benefits. If more people become vegetarian, our life expectancy will grow, our animals will no longer be raised to be tortured, and more personal beliefs will be supported. People, especially Americans should become vegetarian.
Vegetarians aren’t just hippies. Vegetarians are animal lovers, believers and miniature health nuts. There are many different types of vegetarians. One of them is, of course, vegan. If someone is vegan, they do not eat any animal products. That means no dairy, eggs, fish, or meat. Other types include ovo-lacto-pesketarian, which means that the person still eats dairy, eggs, and fish but do not eat meat. Then there is just ovo or lacto vegetarians. They only either eat dairy or eggs, still no meat or seafood. Vegetarianism, like many other diets, is a choice, this choice can depend on religion, health benefits, lifestyle, or personal beliefs and preferences.
Do you ever wonder where your meat really comes from?
Perhaps the most influential reason that people choose to become vegetarian is the terrible way that your meat is harvested. One truth is the pure number of animals slaughtered per year for food. A survey taken in 2001 recorded that 155 million cattle, sheep, hogs, and horses are killed per year. Another truth is the gory and painful manner in which many of these animals are killed. According to the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, livestock is supposed to be unconscious before they are killed. Too often, though they are not. According to an article in The Washington Post, "They Die Piece By Piece" by Jo Warrick, most cattle are not unconscious as they whirl through machines that rip them apart at 309 miles an hour. Dozens a day get to the tail cutter, belly ripper, and the hide puller while clearly conscious and still the machines do not stop to put the poor animal out of its misery. Chickens are killed in a completely different manner, tough. Slaughterhouses do not even try to knock out chickens as they are strung up by their feet and their throats cut. Some chickens struggle too much and they are scalped alive. People should become vegetarian to stop the inhumane slaughter of animals.
Another reason that someone should become vegetarian is because of their personal beliefs. Some religions do not allow their followers to eat meat. For example; Jainism and small groups of Christians, and Judaists promote vegetarianism for religious reasons. Another reason is an attachment to animals. Some people are vegetarian because they raise animals like chickens, cows, horses, etc. They cannot eat animals like the ones they care for so much. Similarly, the next reason is that their love of animals has lead them to join an animal rights group like PETA. PETA encourages vegetarianism even though they are a group that focuses on the protesting of testing products on animals. Another, more helpful reason is the definite health benefits that come from being vegetarian.
The next good reason to become vegetarian is to increase your personal physical health. Becoming vegetarian can lower your risk of heart disease. According to “9 Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet” by Doctor Edward Group, there are more antioxidants in vegetarian diets. Antioxidants are molecules that reduce the damage caused by oxidative stress and therefore reducing the risk of heart disease. Also, vegetarianism can lower the risk of cataracts. Research released by Oxford university shows that vegans and vegetarians are at a lower risk for cataracts than people who eat meat on a regular basis. The next health benefit is a growth in vitamin consumption. According to doctor Edward Group, “a vegetarian diet is associated with a higher consumption of fiber, folic acid, vitamins c and e, magnesium, unsaturated fat”. Finally, a vegetarian diet can lower the risk of obesity. Also according to Dr. Edward Group, vegetarians “ tend to be much more deliberate in their food choices and far less likely to binge eat or choose bad food based on emotions- two habits that greatly contribute to obesity”. So, not only does being vegetarian contribute to stopping animal abuse, is also provides a healthy lifestyle.
Vegetarianism is a choice not to eat meat and possibly other animal products. This choice can be because of religion, lifestyle choices, personal preferences and health benefits. If more people become vegetarian, our life expectancy will grow, our animals will no longer be raised to be tortured, and more personal beliefs will be supported. People, especially Americans should become vegetarian.