Being a strict vegetarian means
making the choice to eat absolutely
no meat, poultry, or fish. The
health risks of being a vegetarian
was a major concern, but it has
been proven that non-meat foods can
provide all the nutrients necessary
for a healthy, complete diet.
Jeanne Peters, R.D., the former
nutrition specialist to Pritikin
Systems, argues that Ascience has
proved that a plant-based diet is
the healthiest@ (Finn 1). Many
scientific studies have also proven
that meat dramatically raises blood
pressure and increases health risks
such as heart attacks and cancers.
Also, growing concerns over
environmental protection, personal
health, and moral and ethical
beliefs often lead to
vegetarianism. According to
national polls, in the U.S. alone
Athere are 12.5 million
vegetariansB 7 percent of the
population@ (Finn 1).

Concerns are rising about the
relationship between meat
production and our environment.
Beef production is a very
inefficient way to produce protein.
The amount of grain which is needed
to Aprovide four people with one
serving of hamburgers could feed
one person for over a week@
(R.F.B.V. 1). In Alberta

Amore than 50% of the grain grown
is fed to livestock@ (R.F.B.V. 3).
This 50% of grain could definitely
be put to much better uses in a
world where people starve to death
every day. In fact, Aproduction of
the least energy-efficient plant
foods are nearly ten times more
efficient as the production of the
most energy-efficient animal foods@
(Finn 2). For example, one acre of
land planted with legumes yields
ten times more available protein
than if that same acre was used for
meat production.

Furthermore, the production of meat
wastes massive amounts of water:
AIt takes an average of 10 tons of
waterBthe amount a small town uses
for all purposes in a month. An
average chicken processing plant
uses 100 million gallons of water
in just one day; enough to provide
a community of 25,000 people for
one day@ (R.F.B.V. 3). Not only is
meat production wasting valuable
production means, but it is also
polluting our air. Cattle are a
main source of methane gas, which
is rapidly destroying our ozone
layer.

Vegetarians often replace meat and
dairy foods with soy products.
These foods are highly nutritional
and contain

disease-fighting properties. The
National Cancer Institute has
Aidentified specific substances in
soy products called phytochemical
that have anticancer properties@
(Finn 7). In 1994, the British
Medical Journal announced that:
researchers have examined 12-year
mortality rates of non-meat eaters
and meat-eating control groups and
found that cancer deaths were 40
percent less common among
vegetarians then meat
eaters...Also, a 1990 study in the
New England Journal of Medicine
found that daily meat consumption
doubles an individual=s risk of
colon cancer. (Finn 3)

Plant based foods have more fiber
and less fat than meat products,
and also contain Ahigh amounts of
vitamins E, C and beta-carotene@
(Finn 3). These natural ingredients
help to keep the human body healthy
and protect it from cancer and
other diseases.

Contrary to what most people think,
essential nutrients such as calcium
and protein are easy for
vegetarians to obtain. Calcium is
found in broccoli, collards, and
spinach; protein is found in beans,
rice, seeds, and nuts. In addition,
zinc and iron deficiency is not a
major concern, as it has long been
believed. Zinc, which is needed for
wound healing and proper growth and
development is easily obtained from
nuts, grains, and legumes. Iron is
abundantly supplied in dried
fruits, lima and kidney beans,
lentils, millet and wheat.

AFor most humans, especially those
in modern urban and suburban
communities, the most direct form
of contact with non-human animals
is at mealtime; we eat them@
(R.F.B.V. 6). Many people become
vegetarians because they believe
that it is morally wrong to
slaughter animals for food and
because they are against the
cruelty and suffering inflicted
upon the animals that are raised
for food. AHens are crammed into
tiny cages; calves are raised
chained in crates; pigs may never
see outside their pens@ (R.F.B.V.
6). This killing and torture is not
a necessity, it is our choice.
Fiddes states that Aeating other
animals= flesh provides the
ultimate authentication of human
superiority over the rest of
nature, with the spilling of their
blood a vibrant motif@ (503). The
very idea that we eat animals to
show superiority is downright
morally wrong. The reason that we
eat should be because we are hungry
for food and nutrients, not because
we are hungry for power.

Vegetarian diets are agreeable with
both Dietary Guidelines and
Recommended Daily Allowances for
all necessary nutrients. It

has also been scientifically proven
that essential proteins are not
limited in a vegetarian diet. Ample
protein is found in eggs and diary
products (for less strict
vegetarians) or in nuts, seeds,
beans, or rice to mention a few.
The Physicians Committee for
Responsible Medicine has recently
Arecommended to the Secretaries of
Agriculture and Health and Human
Services that vegetarian diets are
an appropriate alternative to the
typical fat-laden American eating
problem@ (V.D.G.B. 1). So, it
appears that the scientific
evidence is in, and it clearly
states that we do not need meat to
survive from a health standpoint.
Maybe our world would be even
better without meat production, and
the abuse to animals which it
brings.



Works Cited





AAre You Eating
Enough Protein?@. 8
pages. Online.
Internet. March 13,
1998.

Finn, Kathleen. AVegetarian Food:
It Does A Body Good@. Delicious
Magazine. 10 pages. Online.
Internet. March 13, 1998.



Hirschberg, Stuart and Terry
Hirschberg. One World, Many
Cultures. (Boston: Allyn and Bacon,
1998).

Fiddes, Nick, The Power of Meat.

AReasons For Being
Vegetarian@. 12
pages. Online.
Internet. March 13,
1998.

AVegetarian Diet
Gets A Boost@.
Delicious Magazine.
3 pages. Online.
Internet. March 13,
1998.