NEWS FEED

Con: Is becoming a vegetarian beneficial?

Written by Rachel Shoemaker, Entertainment Editor

As you force yourself to scarf down that piece of tofu at the dinner table, various notions may be going through your mind. You may be patting yourself on the back for saving the lives of animals or for preventing your arteries from clogging up, but in reality, you may be unnecessarily depriving yourself of the essential nutrients in meat.

According to “Vegetarianism in America,” a survey published by Vegetarian Times, 7.3 million people are vegetarians and 22.8 million follow a vegetarian-inclined diet. Of those who are vegetarians, 53 percent say they are vegetarian to improve health and 31 percent because of concerns about food safety. However, eating vegetables in place of meat cannot be justified as a safe alternative.

The 2006 and 2007 Market Estimates survey from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated that 857 million pounds of conventional pesticide were used in 2007, up from 821 million pounds in 2006. That doesn’t even include the four other pesticide groups being used on the crops that over 310 million Americans consume every day. Having a diet consisting solely of vegetables with a film of pesticide residue can hardly be called healthier than eating meat.

Red meat contains protein, zinc, iron and Vitamin B12. Protein can be found in food other than meat, but typically at lower levels, and while it is true that certain meats contain high levels of saturated fat, lean meats such as skinless chicken and turkey have lower amounts.

Also, vegetarian diets are not for just anyone. Vegetarian infants and young children have been reported to have slow growth and excessive leanness. Iron and B12 deficiencies can also be issues when a vegetarian diet is not carefully planned.

Experts point out that plant proteins lack essential amino acids that animal proteins contain.

“Unless they choose a proper balance of foods, strict vegetarians are at risk for several deficiencies,” the authors of one study said.

Vegetarianism is not something that should be taken lightly. It is a lifestyle choice that is not appropriate for everyone.

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