Vegetarian Diet: Why I am not a Vegan - Research Paper Example

 Why I am not a vegan: Research proposal 1. Introduction There are many who consider meat eating to be unethical but right from the early ages our civilization began to take form it has been the staple food of humans. Meat is a good source of essential components needed by the body like proteins and other supplementary vitamins plus it is delicious. On the grounds of animal cruelty, health aspects, environmental aspects and considering meat eating to be unethical there exists an array of literary contents. There exists considerable research on the benefits of being a vegan, but research done in support of meat eating is very less. This research paper concentrates on the benefits of meat eating and the presents the disadvantages in going for a completely vegan diet. Statement of the problem The number of people choosing to shift to a vegetarian diet is growing rapidly in recent years owing to the health benefits a vegetarian diet seems to have. But the health benefits of adopting a proper meat diet have been lost in all such vegetarianism propaganda. Vegetarianism is a movement of denial (Louis, 1969) and the goal of following a strict vegetarian diet is achieved only by walking the path of negation. Following a vegetarian diet does not guarantee any health benefit as at most times supplements and vitamins are necessary to cover up for the deficiency caused due to meat avoidance. Being a vegan alone is not going to provide health benefits and as any dietician many point out, there are many protein and vitamin deficiency oriented diseases known to have been caused due to avoidance of meat. This research paper proposes to set out to argue the benefits of meat eating in both a reliable, scientific and an ethical manner. 2. Literature Review At present there is a growing awareness towards what we eat and the debate as to if a completely vegetarian diet or a meat based diet is never ending. The basic reason given behind the need to adopt a vegan diet is to reduce the suffering of the animal (Peter, Jim, 2006). Many animal protection acts are in existence at present and they are being practiced in order to help protect the animals, thus ultimately advocating vegetarianism to people. On the other hand meat eaters argue that the existential status occupied by animals is only minimal in nature. According to Davis the number field mice and such animals killed accidentally while harvesting of vegetables is done might be more than killing of farm animals like cows for meat (Steven, 2003). While killing of all animal species is immoral, there is a huge amount of harm done to field animals for the sake of acquiring a ripe harvest and the farm animals are harmed due to the farming method, additionally they also become an easy prey to other animals. Also the farming methods used currently make use of fertilizers which are harmful to rats and such considered to be pests from which the crops have to be protected and some chemicals used are harmful to humans also. Meat products are good sources of vitamins and one essential vitamin B12 is found only in meat products. Inadequacy of this vitamin has been found to cause Pernicious anemia and even permanent nerve damage (Narayanan, Dawson, Lewis, 1991). If a completely vegan dieting system is followed then intake of supplements becomes a necessity and these supplements are made from chemicals harmful to humans and the environment. Also there are no substitutes for the meat products as substitutes like soy protein contain proteins in moderate amount and also they are not easily indigested for absorption by the human body. Also there is negligible cholesterol and especially for children cholesterol in moderate amounts is necessary to ensure proper development of brain and the nervous system. Philosophically also death is a natural process and A pure vegetarian is one who does not consume products which comes from animals including dairy products. But such a diet will cause health issues and thus adding meat products to the diet becomes a necessity. It would be hard to point out to a culture that is totally a completely vegan and from the beginning of time man has consumed meat and other meat products (Craig, Henry, 2001). Being against meat eaters is being against nature and if animals were not consumed in moderate amounts there would be an imbalance in the animal population and the vegetarian food sources. The major source causing diseases like heart attacks, obesity in relation to meat eating is the fact that animals are now factory grown and artificial hormones are injected to make the flesh taste good and to increase productivity (Abraham, 2000). There is a gradual shift by meat lovers to farm grown meat and this will ensure that the cruel aspects related to animal breeding and killing for meat are reduced. Many are now opting for meat products which are farm based, as they see meat to be readily available minus all the cruelty meted out to factory bred animals. Nutritionally also, the farm bred animals are a better option as the use of organic hormones to promote growth is absent, resulting in meat of a high quality. The farm grown animals’ meat does not carry high cholesterol amounts which has so far been the major reason why people have abhorred from having meat. Life and death is a natural phenomenon and the ethical aspect of eating meat varies with the individual. Death is something we all have to face and the aspect which must be considered while buying meat is, were the animals treated well while they were bread for meat. A good way to make sure the animal rearing was done naturally and no artificial hormones were used is to go for farm based meat products. Bentham says that killing animals is permissible morally as they also have to face death ultimately like us and getting killed by us is speedier plus less painful than having to wait for the inevitable natural course (Bentham, 1907). 3. Methodology A qualitative research methodology is adopted to gather data related to the food preferences amongst a small community if people both online and offline. The primary method of research used to gather relevant data involves collection of data preferably by means of interviewing or through questionnaire. A qualitative research methodology is much more accurate than a quantitative research methodology as detailed explanations making the collected data more sensible is possible by adoption of a qualitative research methodology. For the purpose of this research, a detailed questionnaire is prepared and given to a group offline to know the opinion of the group in relation the eating habit. An analysis from the obtained data is done and then the results are obtained. The group of people chosen will be questioned in relation to the food style they adopt, their preference noting the scale of preference when it comes to meat eating that is whether the consumption is high, low or never. The moral aspects of meat eating and the views of the sample group are obtained in a detailed manner. Interviews of people from across the globe are obtained from the internet and a comparison is made in relation to the ethical and moral value of people spread across the globe. By making use of the collected data based on the nutritional aspects, the moral issues and the liking factor meat eating will be shown to be nutritional, ethical, moral and the most preferred food by most people. 4. Data The data collection was carried out in the small group by making use of the following quantitative questionnaire containing the questions listed below; Rate your meat oriented food preference How often do you have meat in a week Do you think food containing meat has a high nutritional value How many members in your family and friends are vegan What are your views on the ethical issues of meat eating? Do you feel the food system you adopt now to be adequate or will you prefer a change? If you do not prefer meat are you willing to try a lean meat food routine? If you are a complete vegan do you intake nutritional supplementary tablets and such? Do you believe that meat and other such meat products obtained from farm grown animals in contrast to the animals which are factory bred is the best option available for meat eaters? Your personal views on meat eating. In order to make the data collection complete the questionnaire also contained a space where the personal comments of the persons could be filled in. Most people adopting a vegan diet have reported to be having a peaceful and harmonious life owing it to the non vegan peaceful diet they have. The meat lovers consistently said the preference towards meat arises from the nutritional value of meat and the appetizing nature of food cooked by making use of meat. Meat Lovers Vegans Nutritional food value Present in adequate amounts Added supplements necessary Taste factor of the dish Very satisfactory and savory when cooked in all cooking styles Improved cooking methods have to be adopted to improve the taste. Moral aspect Preference shown towards used or organic farm grown meat Morally seen to be correct and meat viewing is viewed as an animal behavior Environmental aspect Farm grown meat considered to be environmental friendly Considered to sustain natural resources to the highest extent Personal satisfaction High in terms of the taste of the food High in terms of the ethical and moral considerations Fig1. Chart showing the contrasts noticed in relation to a vegan or a meat based diet questionnaire issued to a small group of people for the purpose of data collection and analysis 5. Data analysis From the collected data it can be seen that there is an increasing awareness amongst the people related to the nutritional value of farm grown meat. The collected data was sorted out into meat lovers and those preferring a vegan diet. Most people were found to prefer a lean meat diet, along with a vegan diet showing the nutritional aspect of meat as the major reason. The main factor of concern for most people was found to be the high levels of cholesterol and it is the opinion of many that going in for a lean meat diet and moderating the meat consumption will help in reducing the cholesterol level. The average American meat consumption is steadily on the increase as the meat growing methods are now being changed to reduce and thus avoid factory cultivated organic meat. The people find food containing meat to be highly delicious and more appetizing in comparison with a complete vegan diet where the options available for cooking an appetizing meal are low. From the collected data it can be seen that a vegan diet is most preferred only due to the ethical aspect of cruelty meted out to animal’s factory grown just for the purpose of meat. Spiritual and ethical aspects were found to be the major contributors which made many opt for a completely vegan diet. But most people from whom the data was collected were partial vegans only as most of them consumed egg and other dairy products for the nutritional and health based advantages they had. Meat lovers were in support of meat related food owing to the nutritional value the food has. Most vegans were found to intake supplements in order to cover up for the lack of proteins in a complete vegetarian diet. 6. Conclusion Meat consumption has been viewed as a carnivorous and unethical attitude and over a span of the last ten years there have been many debates over the consumption of meat and many have turned to being a complete vegan owing to the health risks food containing meat was supposed to have. But research has shown that opting for a lean meat diet is the best option available and food containing meat have a high nutritional value containing the essential proteins and vitamins required by the human body. Vitamin B12 essential especially for pregnant women is found only in meat products. Vegan substitutes like soy are not absorbed properly by the body and they are nothing but a poor substitute when it comes to proteins found so abundantly in meat products. There is now a growing awareness towards consumption of meat, its health advantages and many dieticians are now advising a low meat diet, enriched with dairy products. Food prepared from meat is the preferred delicacy all around the globe and vegans are only denying the pleasures of meat eating on flimsy lines quoting the moral aspects related to meat eating. Philosophically as death is the ultimate end of all, meat eating cannot be considered to be unethical. Choosing farm based meat products is now an increasing phenomenon amongst meat lovers, making meat eating a more pleasurable, healthy and ethical experience. 7. References Louis Stanley Jast. (1969) Libraries and living: essays and addresses of a public librarian The history of meat eating concentrating on the health issues and the then persisting food choice of humans is depicted in detail in this book. The author’s choice of meat as a primary food source is argued and presented. Meat eaters are viewed to be the inventors of everything mankind now has like boats for example build especially for the purpose of fishing by our ancestors. The physical build of man appropriate for meat eating is also discussed. The author’s personal views and debates are dealt with. Peter Singer, Jim Mason. (2006) The ethics of what we eat: why our food choices matter. Rodale Inc. “The ethical aspects related to following a vegan diet and a meat eating diet are dealt with in this book. The choice of food is mostly due to the culture, the way a person is bred, the economic status of the society the person lives in and the spiritual plus ethical views of the person. If meat eating is viewed to be unethical then there is no room for an argument. Considering the food choice to be an ethical one rests with the individual alone.” Craig B. Stanford, Henry T.Bunn. (2001) Meat Eating and Human Evolution. 2001, oxford university press “The meat eating habits of human kind right from the early stages of evolution is discussed. The early man was mainly a hunter and he needed large amount of energy to gather food and do his daily activities. Though man does not need meat in the quantities the early cave men ate, meat is still a nutritional requirement. Meat eating is what made us evolve into what we are now, and there was no concept of a vegan diet and such in the time of our ancestors.” Steven L. Davis. (2003) “The Least Harm Principle May Require That Humans Consume a Diet Containing Large Herbivores, Not a Vegan Diet,” Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 16, no. 4: 387–94. “Plant product consumption is large quantities is not environmental friendly. The product which go to the live feed consumption cannot be consumed by humans and so there is no base for the argument that if only plant based food system is followed our natural resources will be saved.” Narayanan MM, Dawson DW, Lewis MJ.(1991) “Dietary deficiency of vitamin B12 in association with low serum cobalamin levels in non-vegetarians. European Journal of Haematology”, 47:115–118. “Vitamin B12 is found in large quantities only in animal products and the substitutes for vitamin B12 found in supplements and plant products are not absorbed just as well by the human body. Soy and other such protein substitutes for meat have no cholesterol in them and children who are fed with a complete vegan diet are at risk of neural disorders”. Jeremy Bentham . (1907). An introduction to the principles of morals and legislation. chapter 17, Oxford:Clarendon press.e “Benthem who was an animal activist and protector of animal rights was himself a meat eater. He argues that all of us have to face death and animals are the lowest in the food chain. Delivering death to animals by us for the sake of meat consumption is considered to be better than the natural death they face from other preys in existence in nature. Killing for the purpose of meat is quick and thus saves the animals from the pain.” Abrams HL. (2000). “Vegetarianism: Another View. In The Cambridge World History of Food.” KF Kiple, KC Ornelas, eds. Vol. 2, pp. 1564-1571. Cambridge University Press. [vegetarianism and health; primate diets; hunter gatherers; importance of meat in nutrition] “Children who do not have adequate meet have been found to have anemia and they have low levels of calcium and other essential proteins and minerals resulting in poor bodily development. The needs of the primates in terms of meat consumption are discussed and the nutritional needs of the modern day man are presented. Lean meat, reduced meat consumption are advised and complete vegan diet is found to lack in the essential nutrients a human body needs.” Read More