Eating Meat Is Not An Ethical Issue

Superior Essays
According to the Harvard study from the Archives of Medicine in 2010, eating an abundance of meat will cause a 20% increase in the likelihood of death by cancer and heart disease. On the other hand, those who don’t eat meat decrease their chances by 12 to 40 percent. In 2011 the number of American adults who reported not eating animal products more than doubled from 1% to 2.5% within a span of two years (Don’t Eat Anything with a Face- Debate Details, 2013). The growing health, environmental, and ethical concerns from our food choices have now been taken in account by many Americans (Don’t Eat Anything with a Face- Debate Details, 2013). This disciplined debate focuses merely on whether or not humans are fit to consume animal-based products. …show more content…
Neal Barnard, who is for the motion, is a Professor of Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine. He primarily argues that eating various meats can cause chronic digestive diseases and will take a toll on your future health. His debate partner, Gene Baur, is the president and of Farm Sanctuary. Throughout the three rounds, Baur merely discusses the abuses animals are exposed to prior to their executions. On the other hand, Chris Masterjohn, a Nutritional Sciences Researcher who is against this motion insists that vegans and vegetarians often lack vital nutrients in order for our bodies to function properly. Additionally, Joel Salatin, who is also against the motion is a farmer and the author of eight books. Salatin stands firm with his stance by insisting life comes with death and animals are a part of our natural …show more content…
Neal Barnard and Gene Baur are the rising health concerns of eating animal meat and the unethical conditions animals are forced into. Dr. Barnard states that he conducted research proving that meat can cause atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a disease that causes plaque to build up in one’s arteries that blocks blood from pumping to the heart (What Is Atherosclerosis?, 2015). Additionally, Dr. Barnard informs that audience that consuming processed, red, and lean meats are causes of obesity, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Similarly, heart disease deaths amongst men were up 27% and 50% in women from 2005 to 2011. He also adds that meat doesn’t contain sufficient vitamins such as vitamin c, amino acids, and vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is vital for proper brain function and production in DNA and red blood cells. Dr. Barnard states, “The risk of vitamin B12 deficiency increases with age, which is why the United States government requires all meat eaters over the age of 50 take B12 supplements.” This point remains one of the strongest because as continuously stated throughout the debate, consumers are becoming more conscious about what they are putting in their mouths. Therefore, these startling facts may shake the audience into changing their eating habits. From an ethical standpoint, Baur argues that animals are forced to live in their feces, slaughtered young, and crammed into small cages. According to a research done

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