Major Issues in Vegetarianism - Essay Example

? Vegetarianism The results of a 2008 study by Fox and Ward (2008, p. 18) “suggests that the non-meat eating body is much more than simply a physicalentity unsullied by animal protein, it is constituted from these physical engagements but also from a myriad of cognitive, emotional, cultural, social and philosophical relations.” The bodies that these authors refer to are those of vegetarians, and they are describing the many personal systems often interlaced with such diets. From these findings, it’s recognized that vegetarianism is not always confined to a form of diet (although it may be in some cases). Instead it can encompass a lifestyle intimately connected with one’s personal identity, including values, beliefs, and ideals. Some vegetarian diets exclude animal products to a moderate degree while others (vegan diets for example) are associated with a stricter adherence to the avoidance of animal product consumption. Vegetarianism has effects outside of the diet that may affect consumer behaviors, social interactions, and career paths. People with strict vegetarian-based ethics could disavow all consumer networks that engage directly or indirectly in animal product creation and distribution. Vegetarianism may be a choice made in response to personal beliefs and desires, be they newly developed or previously established. Additionally, those with strong vegetarian-based ethics may be drawn to social circles that share their views, and may choose a place of employment consistent with their morals. There are several benefits that arise as a result of embracing a vegetarian lifestyle. In some cases, those who adopt vegetarianism into their lives do so for the improvement and preservation of personal health, to become advocates for animal rights and assist in protecting the environment. These goals, alone or in combination, are illustrative of factors that may contribute to or come as a result of the decision to implement a vegetarian lifestyle. Further investigation can illuminate the mechanisms through which vegetarianism may benefit personal health, animal rights, and the environment. The vegetarian diet is associated with several immediate health benefits for humans. For example, the fitness of the heart and lungs is paramount to a healthy lifestyle, and improvements in cardiovascular health have been noted following the adoption of a vegetarian routine. Research suggests that these benefits can be attributed to the lowering of lipids and the normalization of blood pressure linked with vegetarianism, but it is possible that other aspects of the vegetarian diet also contribute to cardiovascular improvements (Ferdowsian & Barnard, 2009). Another generally positive result of vegetarianism that may lead to improved cardiovascular health is weight loss. The loss of weight has many associated benefits, and may be achieved (in the case of the vegetarian diet) largely because of the lowered caloric intake of vegetarian diets (Sacks et al., 2009). Despite the reduction in calories, the study by Sacks and colleagues also implies that vegetarians experience a similar amount of satiation from their diets as compared to traditional nourishment regimens, and are not likely to overeat in response to the decrease. Vegetarian diets are also associated with prolonged health benefits, such as the sustainment of an optimal weight and a long-term decrease in the risk of developing certain cancers. The body requires a small amount of various nutrients such as zinc and cobalt. These requirements are more broadly met through vegetarian diets, and these obtained micronutrients are connected with the maintenance of optimal weight as well as decreased risk for cancer. An increase in the consumption of carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin E, and folic acids (found in vegetarian diets) is also linked with reduced cancer risks, and vegetarians have a much lower rate of colorectal cancer when compared to people on other diets (Van Duijnhoven et al., 2009). The benefits of vegetarianism reach beyond the individual. The promotion of the ethical treatment of animals is a cause directly affected by the adoption of vegetarian diets. Often, these results are in direct concordance with the ideology of the consumer, although this is not a universal occurrence. Some estimates place the number of animals slaughtered each year in America in the billions, though United States Department of Agriculture reports numbers in the tens of millions (2010). The adoption of the vegetarian diet causes an immediate decrease in the consumption and demand for animal products, ultimately resulting in the minimization of animal slaughtering for dietary purposes. Vegetarianism also leads to a decrease in the harvesting of non-lethal animal products like eggs and milk. The need to remove animals from their natural surroundings may be minimized due to vegetarianism, preventing ecological disruption. Reducing both lethal and non-lethal animal product consumption also minimizes the need to perform hormonal and genetic modifications to animals in an attempt to meet public demand. These treatments are controversial both for the experience of the animal as well as the unknown effects of such experiments on the consumer. People, animals, and the environment are all potential benefactors of human adoption of the vegetarian lifestyle. Raising and maintaining livestock is an ecologically damaging process, accounting for nearly 20% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. More specifically, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that about 80% of ammonia emissions within the United States come from livestock animal waste (2011). The reduction of air pollutants has been a long-time concern for many valid reasons, and eliminating livestock keeping such as factory farms could have a large positive influence on the future of the atmospheric environment. The EPA also reports that that agricultural runoff is the number one cause of waterway pollution. Vegetarianism promotes the minimalizing of animal-based agriculture and is therefore associated with eliminating water pollution. Additionally, high rates of soil erosion can be attributed to the growth of modern agriculture, including livestock keeping. Polluted water and air are serious concerns in modern society, and the widespread environmental damage caused by livestock-based agriculture may be avoided or at least significantly curtailed through the mass adoption of the vegetarian lifestyle. Fox & Ward (2008) uncovered the relationship between personal identity and vegetarianism. This link may be strengthened by the influence that vegetarianism may have on a wide variety of personal variables. Ranging from a simple diet choice to a fully integrated lifestyle, vegetarianism can influence many aspects of a person’s day-to-day activities. Food choices, general consumer preferences, cognition, emotions, social activities, and employment are only a few of the personal characteristics that can be affected by the adoption of a vegetarian diet and worldview. There are many potential benefits associated with vegetarianism. Diet changes are associated with both short-term and long-term health benefits as a result of cardiovascular improvements, weight loss, and micronutrient intake. The avoidance of animal products also has positive repercussions for animal rights causes as a lowered demand directly contributes to reduced production of both lethal (slaughtering) and non-lethal animal products like eggs and milk, respectively. The environment is another benefactor of vegetarianism. Reducing the demand for livestock could significantly decrease greenhouse gas emissions as well as water pollution associated with animal waste and other runoff. An additional environmental benefit is the reduction of agriculture-based erosion. Morally driven vegetarians may associate their beliefs with a sense of personal identity. In the case of a full routine change, those who adopt vegetarianism into their lives benefit from a healthier lifestyle while also having peace of mind by not contributing to the unethical practices and the unnecessary ecological damage produced by the animal products industry. However, an ethically directed interest in vegetarianism is not required to reap the personal rewards of a healthier diet, nor is it needed to contribute to the animal rights and environmental benefits that are associated with the concept. Rather than being morally driven to become a vegetarian, it is possible that ethical concerns could arise from taking on a vegetarian lifestyle. In this manner, vegetarianism may lead to benefits for these causes that we may not otherwise anticipate. Whether by design or by influence, the vegetarian lifestyle is completely compatible with improving several environmental and animal rights issues. References Ferdowsian, H. R., & Barnard, N. D. (2009). Effects of plant-based diets on plasma lipids. The American Journal of Cardiology, 105(6), 902. Fox, N., & Ward, K. J. (2008). You are what you eat? Vegetarianism, health and identity. Social Science & Medicine, 66(12), 2585-2595. Retrieved from https://ehis.ebscohost.com Sacks, F. M., Bray, G. A., Carey, V. J., Smith, S. R., Ryan, D. H., Williamson, D.A. (2009). Comparison of weight-loss diets with different compositions of fat, protein, and carbohydrates. New England Journal of Medicine, 360, 859-873. Retrieved from https://ehis.ebscohost.com United States Department of Agriculture (2010). Background Statistics: U.S. Beef and Cattle Industry. Retrieved from http://www.ers.usda.gov/news/BSECoverage.htm United States Environmental Protection Agency (2011). 2011 U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/usinventoryreport.html Van Duijnhoven, F., Bueno-De-Mesquita, B., Ferrari, P., Jenab, M., Boshuizen, H., … Riboli, E. (2009). Fruit, vegetables, and colorectal cancer risk: The European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 89(5), 1441-1452. Read More