Vegetarianism not only offers greater health benefits but also improves many issues with animal cruelty and even economic problems. In the last few years the number of people choosing a plant-based diet has doubled, making vegetarianism the most popular diet amongst the younger generations.
A vegetarian is a person who does not eat meat, poultry, or fish. Vegetarians eat mainly fruit, vegetables, grains, legumes, seeds, and nuts. Many eat eggs and dairy products but avoid hidden animal products such as beef and chicken stocks, gelatin, and lard. Currently in the United States, approximately 5% (16 million) of our population is vegetarian comparing to 2009 where only 2.3% were. This number has doubled in such a small amount of time showing how more and more …show more content…
There are vegetarian alternatives to almost any animal food. Vegetarian-friendly menus are sprouting up everywhere and there are fantastic alternatives to every dairy product you can imagine. Not to mention that well planned plant-based diets provide us with all the nutrients that we need, minus all the saturated fat, cholesterol, and contaminants found in animal flesh. Scientists have also found that vegetarians have stronger immune systems than meat-eaters and are less likely to get everyday illnesses such as the flu. Consequently, vegetarians and vegans live, on average, 6 to 10 years longer than meat-eaters.
In the same way, a vegetarian diet reduces pollution in the land and waters. Modern factory farms are sprayed with herbicides and pesticides to grow grains to feed cattle which destroys topsoil and leak into the ground and nearby streams and rivers. Over 4 million acres of cropland are lost to erosion every year due to plundering farmlands to fatten animals for slaughter. High contents of toxic chemicals are regularly found in fish in many lakes, rivers, and
A vegetarian is a person who does not eat meat, poultry, or fish. Vegetarians eat mainly fruit, vegetables, grains, legumes, seeds, and nuts. Many eat eggs and dairy products but avoid hidden animal products such as beef and chicken stocks, gelatin, and lard. Currently in the United States, approximately 5% (16 million) of our population is vegetarian comparing to 2009 where only 2.3% were. This number has doubled in such a small amount of time showing how more and more …show more content…
There are vegetarian alternatives to almost any animal food. Vegetarian-friendly menus are sprouting up everywhere and there are fantastic alternatives to every dairy product you can imagine. Not to mention that well planned plant-based diets provide us with all the nutrients that we need, minus all the saturated fat, cholesterol, and contaminants found in animal flesh. Scientists have also found that vegetarians have stronger immune systems than meat-eaters and are less likely to get everyday illnesses such as the flu. Consequently, vegetarians and vegans live, on average, 6 to 10 years longer than meat-eaters.
In the same way, a vegetarian diet reduces pollution in the land and waters. Modern factory farms are sprayed with herbicides and pesticides to grow grains to feed cattle which destroys topsoil and leak into the ground and nearby streams and rivers. Over 4 million acres of cropland are lost to erosion every year due to plundering farmlands to fatten animals for slaughter. High contents of toxic chemicals are regularly found in fish in many lakes, rivers, and