Veganism: Nutritious or harmful?
Is a vegan diet a healthy decision to follow? Are the nutritional needs of people met when they practice this lifestyle? Questions involving the vegan diet have been around for years, but as more people choose to follow the style of living, the amount of questions associated with this topic are rising. We live in a society where eating animals is normal. Eating is a way of connecting with others, so many people hesitate becoming vegan when veganism is brought up to them because it is so different than their idea of a healthy diet. Many people identify veganism as a “social life killer” because it causes them to eat a different variety of foods than friends and family. People often are inapt, or unwilling, to …show more content…
Some people are concerned that vegans do not get enough protein in their daily intake of food. Although, it is easily possible to consume enough protein through a plant based diet. Including beans, whole grains, dark leafy greens, fortified plant milks, nuts, and nut butters as main foods in a vegan diet allow anyone to be able to reach their protein goals. (Mangels par. 5) For professional athletes or people who do high intensity activities on a regular basis, more protein can be achieved by eating things such as tofu, tempeh, seitan, and even vegan protein powder. Even many professional football players who eat a vegan diet say that they have more energy and are stronger than ever, so this diet can be suitable for anyone. Two hundred and forty-two pound Tony Fiammetta plays as a fullback for the Dallas Cowboys. Fiammetta and his coach, Jason Garrett, say “There is no doubt that Fiammetta has helped the Cowboys running game this season.” (Archer, 2011) Another example of a healthy vegan athlete is Venus Williams. As the most famous women tennis player in the world, she went vegan after being diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome. Sjogren’s syndrome is an immune system disorder that causes the eyes and mouth to become extremely dry and irritated. On the vegan diet, Williams claims “The diet has not affected her athletic ability, but is has improved her health immensely.” (10 Famous Vegan Athletes, 2015) While some protein is important in the human diet to be able to survive, too much protein can be destructive to the body. An excessive amount of protein can cause diseases such as osteoporosis, which is a disease that causes bones to become weak and brittle and also kidney disease. (Mangels par. 3) In recent studies, a large amount of protein in a diet has been shown that it can lead to weight gain, extra body fat, stress on the kidneys, dehydration, declining, or worsening of important bone minerals, and
Is a vegan diet a healthy decision to follow? Are the nutritional needs of people met when they practice this lifestyle? Questions involving the vegan diet have been around for years, but as more people choose to follow the style of living, the amount of questions associated with this topic are rising. We live in a society where eating animals is normal. Eating is a way of connecting with others, so many people hesitate becoming vegan when veganism is brought up to them because it is so different than their idea of a healthy diet. Many people identify veganism as a “social life killer” because it causes them to eat a different variety of foods than friends and family. People often are inapt, or unwilling, to …show more content…
Some people are concerned that vegans do not get enough protein in their daily intake of food. Although, it is easily possible to consume enough protein through a plant based diet. Including beans, whole grains, dark leafy greens, fortified plant milks, nuts, and nut butters as main foods in a vegan diet allow anyone to be able to reach their protein goals. (Mangels par. 5) For professional athletes or people who do high intensity activities on a regular basis, more protein can be achieved by eating things such as tofu, tempeh, seitan, and even vegan protein powder. Even many professional football players who eat a vegan diet say that they have more energy and are stronger than ever, so this diet can be suitable for anyone. Two hundred and forty-two pound Tony Fiammetta plays as a fullback for the Dallas Cowboys. Fiammetta and his coach, Jason Garrett, say “There is no doubt that Fiammetta has helped the Cowboys running game this season.” (Archer, 2011) Another example of a healthy vegan athlete is Venus Williams. As the most famous women tennis player in the world, she went vegan after being diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome. Sjogren’s syndrome is an immune system disorder that causes the eyes and mouth to become extremely dry and irritated. On the vegan diet, Williams claims “The diet has not affected her athletic ability, but is has improved her health immensely.” (10 Famous Vegan Athletes, 2015) While some protein is important in the human diet to be able to survive, too much protein can be destructive to the body. An excessive amount of protein can cause diseases such as osteoporosis, which is a disease that causes bones to become weak and brittle and also kidney disease. (Mangels par. 3) In recent studies, a large amount of protein in a diet has been shown that it can lead to weight gain, extra body fat, stress on the kidneys, dehydration, declining, or worsening of important bone minerals, and