The Concern Of Environmental Protection

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

The consumption of plenty of fruits and vegetables in vegetarianism promotes health and fitness. We can help to reduce the risk of many chronic diseases such as constipation, cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, gallstones and others through the practise of low-fat vegetarian diet, which means consume food with low in cholesterol and have higher levels of dietary fiber, accompanied by a frequent physical exercise. Physical activities release the toxic by-products in the body through deep breath and perspiration. Besides that, a stronger immune system can be formed by practicing a healthy and well-balanced vegetarian diet. We can rev up the immune system by eating all kinds of fruits and veggies as plant foods contain a huge number of compound that are able to increase our immunity; this includes vitamin C and beta carotene. Furthermore, compared with non-vegetarian, vegetarian have a lower body mass index (Venti and Johnston, 2002). The higher intake of dietary fibre, a lower intake of animal fat, and a lower intake of alcohol cause the vegetarian to have a lower BMI compared to others. However, vegetarian does not gain hunger easily as they consume of a variety of foods from various food groups that could provide sufficient energy to their body, in which prevented them from eating in excess. On the other hand, vegetarian has a lower mortality due to heart disease for the patient of the disease is more occasionally found in meat and fish eaters.

Vegetarianism, which is a plant-based diet should be promoted to all for religion and spiritual reasons. There are some religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism encourage people to consume vegetarian diet as it can teaches them to be concerned about the animal welfare. This is because animal rights should be taken into considerations, regardless of what they are meant to be used for humans. According to Beardsworth and Keil, majority of the citizens in the West countries have made their decision to become a vegetarian instead of continue consuming meat diet (as cited in Ruby, 2012). They found that by praticing plant-based diet can help to protect the animals from being exploitized by unresponsible authorities. Furthermore, by becoming a vegetarian, one can avoid from meat consumption which is more healthier. Eating too much meat will cause a person to less liking for the taste of meats and have higher chances of getting chronic diseases. This statement reflects light on the author�s view that vegetarians have set their minds that vegetarian diet is way better than meat diet and they critize meat dishes resentfully (Ruby, 2012). Besides, some religions are concerned with the domains of asceticism and purity. Research shows that India is one of the countries that has introduced vegetarianism to its citizens and it symbolizes their tradition, status and power (Ruby, 2012). Caplan, Preece and Spencer expained that �it appears to be chiefly concerned with the domains of asceticism and purity, such that the aim of vegetarianism is to keep the body free of the pollution associated with meat� (as cited in Ruby, 2012). Moreover, most of the religions are against of killing animals as it causes unnecessary pain and death of animals which in turn leads to bad karma. It is noncompulsory to kill animals for food since vegetarian foods are available. According to GlobeScan Incorporated poll, a total of 20% of Canadians have do their objection on food industries to show their dissactifaction on slaughtering of animals (as cited in Ruby, 2012).

The concern of environmental protection and environmental issues in recent years are related with vegetarian indirectly. Since people bring up the trend of the plant-based diets, more organic food with no additives, pesticides and fertilizers become available in the market. Vegetarian lay great stress on healthy diet and food sources, they choose to grow their own fruit and vegetables to prevent non-organic farming which brings bacteria and viruses that can be transmit to humans. Some vegetarians also chose alternative lifestyles and try to be environmentally friendly in order to avoid wasting of energy and solid waste. The vegetarians� awareness not only bring health, it also open up and drive new organic food market, this also reduce the impact of environmental and land pollution indirectly.

It�s true that vegetarianism is the best diet that should be encouraged for all because it promotes health and fitness, religion and spirituality as well as better environment. In fact, it also lowers down the risk of several diseases in United States; heart disease, strokes, and cancer ( as cited in Life Dynamix). Vegetarianism guides us to a proper lifestyle which is reduces the amount of meat intake. Supporters of this issue may concern about the lack of iron and protein if they only take in vegetables, fruit, whole grains, nuts and etc. In addition, �Richardson et al. (1993) found that the healthiness of meat was a positive predictor of red meat consumption.� There is not enough protein and iron in vegetarian diets compared to non-vegetarian. Moreover, human are meant to eat meat to get enough energy and strength to continue the activities for a day. Other than that, meat is also the best-absorbed source of dietary iron that needed to make heme, the building block of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin carries oxygen over the body, so without iron, our system could not function and sometimes it will turn even worst. However, you will easily receive all the amino acids you need for optimal health if you eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, sprouts, or grains regularly. Furthermore, soy and spirulina are complete proteins that are more digestible than the proteins from the meat (as cited in Life Dynamix,2007). Certainly, enjoyment of eating meat will also be the factor to be considers by the social. Because meat has little flavor, so for those who believe in meat will refuse to be a vegetarian. Meat could be cook in different ways that tastes way better than those vegetarian foods that made from soybean only. In addition, meat could also be cook with vegetables that would improve the taste of vegetables than just cook by its own. But, meat often loaded with hormones, antibodies and dangerous chemicals. Meat can also contain germs, bacteria, tiny parasites and even viruses such as mad cow�s disease (as cited in Life Center,2007). But people still enjoy eating meat, does advocators of vegetarianism have any alternative way of preparing food that tastes like meat and yet isn�t meat? Yes, they made the texture and sauces of vegetarian food same as the real meat texture and taste. They even have variety of choices available in most of the shops and sometimes they have promotion of vegetarianism. This will definitely catch the attention from the social who don�t want to spend too much money buying the fresh meat. Therefore, majority of us still agree that vegetarianism is the best diet that should be encouraged for all.

In the nutshell, people are always lack of nutritional wisdom and unaware of the deprivation of the food to our body. Vegetarianism is the better choice to transform a people to a better health required with daily basis while avoiding eating meat. Vegetarians are also known to have longer and healthier life compared to meat eater. (as cited in Life Center,2007). There are all long-term benefit regarding to your health if you decide to be a vegetarian and cut the intake of meat in your lifetime. As long as we are a vegetarian, we will all get the benefit of healthier life, younger looking and fitter body.#