There is no denying that veganism is a very controversial lifestyle. Veganism is a well-known type of diet, which excludes all animal products as well as byproducts such as dairy, eggs, and honey. There are two different types of people who adopt this diet - those who ethically believe animals should not be put under scrutiny for human benefits and the others for health reasons. Non-vegan’s main argument is that a vegan diet is not nutritious enough to supply the body and that research shows that there is no health reason to avoid animal meat. Currently, over half a million people in the United States are vegan. Even with the modern-day diet and science have prepared research that has become pointless to eliminate …show more content…
Many people think that protein is one of the most controversial issues involving vegetarian diets. Since much of the protein people eat comes from animals, from a dietary standpoint, animal meat has its disadvantages. First off, animal meat is an extremely fatty food that has high calories, cholesterol, and saturated fats. When you exclude animal meat from your meal, it will, in fact, be lower in fats and calories. Consuming high quantities of meat can cause diseases. Not only is eating too much animal meat linked to health risks even eating a small amount can cause issues. For instance, “…people who ate the equivalent of 2 ½ ounces of animal protein a day (less than a large chicken breast) were 22 percent more likely than vegetarians to become diabetic, per recent Dutch research. As you get older, cutting down on meat could mean living longer” (Armstrong para 4). Regardless of the amount of meat someone ingests there are many risks that can occur. Compared to omnivores, people who live a vegetarian lifestyle overall lower their mortality rate and reduce their risk for cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cerebrovascular disease. The concern about protein in a vegan diet is misplaced. For instance, Protein in the Vegan Diet focuses on how vegans can obtain the levels of protein that is necessary for body functions. Mentioning that large amounts of protein isn’t necessary and could …show more content…
It is important that the athletes focus on the specific nutrition that is necessary for a healthy endurance diet. Specifically, it is important that they obtain the correct amount of protein and amino acids, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and calories (like someone who isn’t an endurance runner). The biggest concern for the runners is getting enough protein, iron, zinc, and calcium. Going into the concerns for a runner it is not hard to obtain protein within their diet, “Vegan foods usually need to be combined to provide all the amino acids. Some examples are combining rice with lentils, tortillas, and beans, or peanut butter with wheat bread” (Clint 68). For iron, the role is to carry oxygen throughout the muscles, this can easily be found in plant foods. Then for zinc, if someone is low on zinc their health status can affect their immune function, yet zinc can easily be found in plant sources. Lastly, if a diet contains a low calcium intake can result in low bone density and can cause severe cramps during physical activity. To many people’s surprise vegans do well when it comes to consuming calcium infused foods or they take supplements. “Examples of fortifies foods include calcium-enriched drinks, such as soy drinks rice milk, fruit juices, and come breakfast cereals. Broccoli, Chinese cabbage, collards and kale provide easily utilized calcium” (Clint 69). To be