Vegetarians and Health - Essay Example

Vegetarians and Health I would agree that vegetarians live healthier lives than other individuals do. I have read a wide range of literature that confirms the same fact. In my assessment, vegetarians live healthier because they align their lives with nature. Their way of diet is not in conflict with that which is natural. Man was created to depend more on vegetables than other foods. Science confirms that the dental formula of man was customized for fruits and vegetables. During the historical development of man, there was a time when man only gathered fruits and leaves for food. During this time the lifespan of an individual could stretch to hundreds of years, according to science and history. The same fact conforms with the current reality, which shows a systematic reduction in the lifespan of individuals over the time. This reduction in lifespan has also corresponded on increasing shift from fresh vegetables to high-content proteins and junk food. The logical conclusion is that the increasing dependency of man on non-vegetarian foods is the one major cause of reduced span of living in the current civilizations. Fruits and vegetables fall under the food category of vitamins. The main purpose of vitamins is to protect the body. They build the body defenses by providing the immune system with the necessary nutritional support (Beezhold, Bonnie, Carol Johnston and Deanna 14). A consistent reliance by an individual on this kind of support will naturally produce positive results in terms of longevity and good health. In my opinion, the logic behind the long spans of life for the vegetarians revolves around the elimination of diseases from the body. Diseases have an attrition effect to the body. A person who does not consume fruits and vegetables regularly is more susceptible to diseases. On this account, it follows that the more a person, an individual, or a group relies on fruits and vegetables, the more they are likely to lead healthier lives. Vegetarians fall within this category. Fruits and vegetables are known to be oxidants. They eliminate poisonous substances from the body leaving it free from disease-causing pathogens. The natural defense bodies require consistent external support in order to provide the necessary support for the body. In this perspective, it becomes important to consider vitamins in terms of their capacity to shield the body from harmful substances that are resident in the various places, which meet the body. As such vegetarians have their body systems maintained at the highest levels in ways that protect them from many diseases. Understanding the advantage of vegetarians over other people should also involve the negative effects of the foods consumed by the opposite category of people. Individuals who are more reliant on red meat and other categories of animal proteins are prone to various diseases. Red meat is associated with diseases such as cancer, gout, anthrax and other conditions that pose threats to the lives of the consumers. A consistent reliance on these diseases will have the effect of shortening the lives of the users. On the other hand, many of the green foods that are consumed by the vegetarians are known to have essential medicinal qualities. They attend to the ailments of the systems. The effect of the foods on the bodies of the consumers holds the answer as to why vegetarians live healthier lives than other individuals do. Works Cited Beezhold, Bonnie, L., Carol Johnston and Deanna Daigle. Vegetarian diets are associated with healthy mood states: a cross-sectional study in Seventh Day Adventist adults. Nutrition Journal, 2010, 9 (26). Recommended Supplement for Athletes I would recommend a professional athlete to use Glutamine as a preferred supplement. My recommendation is based on the twin factors of safety and effectiveness. Glutamine is classified under non-essential amino acids. The level of its effectiveness usually shows itself during moments of intense and strenuous physical activities (Gunzer, Manuela, and Elisabeth 44). At such moments, Glutamine usually breaks down and becomes an important supplement to the body because it is rich in nitrogen, which is used for the synthesis of proteins in the body. Glutamine is an important supplement to people who experience gastrointestinal problems. It is also of value to people who have undergone some kind of injury or those who are experiencing some form of illness. All these are possibilities in the field of athletics. Therefore, apart from the usual strength and muscle supplementary value of Glutamine, it extends to help the athlete in other areas that may not be directly associated with sporting. Glutamine is equally important in shielding athletes from diseases of the heart, which may occur in the process of training. Other nutritionists have associated the use of Glutamine to a rapid decrease in the possibilities of cancer. These qualities derive from the fact that Glutamine plays an important role in the strengthening of the immune system. The two types of T-cells namely lymphocytes and macrophages depend on Glutamine as their primary source of energy. Athletes are always vulnerable to illness because studies have shown that nearly all forms of strenuous activities have a depleting effect on glutamine. This makes it important for frequent replacement of Glutamine in the form of a supplement. Another important aspect of Glutamine is that it lessens the adverse effects of overtraining. The competitive world of athletics requires that athletes engage in processes would enhance their performance in the highly competitive world of politics. Sometimes this requires a determined effort that often leads to stress on the muscles. One other advantage of Glutamine is that it works by replacing worn out muscles and the developing the ones that waste away. Another related aspect on muscle development revolves around the building of muscle mass. Athletes require sufficient muscle build up, which is necessary to give them the kind force that could be used in the process of strenuous physical activities (Gunzer, Manuela, and Elisabeth 62). Training is a muscular activity that requires both internal and external support. An advantage of Glutamine is that it is able to supply the required muscles mass during the process of muscle repair. When compared to other muscles supplements Glutamine remains the most ideal because it combines various benefits that are found in other supplements. Few incidents of side effects have been associated with Glutamine. The supplement is regarded as one of the safest as it has passed various quality standards that determine the value and safety of supplements. Athletes require supplements that do not impose unnecessary strain on their bodies. Studies have associated some supplements with body dysfunctions and disruptions in organ functions. However, Glutamine does not contain any adverse additives that could result in negative consequences on the part of the athletes. Athletes who regularly use Glutamine remark that it has enormous potential of maintain the body in ways that appear natural, less risky, and more effective in terms of performance. It is on account of these qualities that I recommend it for use by athletes. Works Cited Gunzer, Wolfgang, Manuela Konrad and Elisabeth Pail. Exercise-Induced Immunodepression in Endurance Athletes and Nutritional Intervention with Carbohydrate, Protein and Fat — What Is Possible, What Is Not?. Nutrients, 2012, 4 (9). Read More