Pro-Con Position paper

Running head: PRO-CON POSITION ON VEGETARIANISM 1

PRO-CON POSITION ON VEGETARIANISM 7

Pro-Con Position on Vegetarianism

Maxine Philitas

Chamberlain University

Course Number: Course Name

August and 2019

Pro-Con Position on Vegetarianism

Vegetarianism can be characterized persons who do not ingest meat or animal products. Vegetarianism is often associated with its advantages including, weight loss, decreases the risk for heart disease and saving lives of innocent animals. However, there are several disadvantages, considering the harm it may cause such as, environmental issues and put persons who do not eat meat at risk for health-related issues such as anemia. Supporters of vegetarianism may recommend becoming a vegetarian; however, evidence proves that this diet may cause health-related issues and negatively affect the environment.

1st Counter-Argument (your oppositions’ point)

The health-related risk from vegetarianism is steadily progressing as more patrons believe that by choosing to become vegetarians promotes their health indirectly by consuming more fruits and vegetables. According to Dittfeld, A., Gwizdek, K., Jagielski, P., Brzęk, J., & Ziora, K. experts on vegetarian diets stated, "One study has shown a case of a boy whose strict vegetarian diet led to his death as a result of cachexia." (2017) Cachexia can be defined as muscle faintness or wasting, this can cause muscle death and overall respiratory issues. Though it is important to eat vegetables and fruits, having a well-balanced diet is even more imperative especially for children. Children's bodies are constantly growing and need vitamins and minerals from protein to encourage their growth. Persons with inferior levels of protein, sodium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus in their blood and body systems are particularly cautious when changing to a vegetarian diet.

1st Rebuttal (your point)

Vegetarian diets prevent the leading cause of death in America; heart disease. Vegetarians ultimately reduce their amount of fat and cholesterol intake from meat, which may enhance their overall wellbeing and diet. As stated in the article, “Diet plays a key role in the most pervasive and deadly diseases afflicting the American population” Ballaro, B., & Sprague, N. (2016). Persons who consume fruits and vegetables can help maintain wellbeing and prevent cancer, heart attacks, and stroke. Commonly red meat and heavily saturated foods are connected to cardiac attacks while vegetarians consume natural sugars provided by fruit and natural supplemental vitamins from vegetables.

2nd Counter-Argument

Supplements with acquired proteins and minerals have been created to meet the needs of those who do not consume meat. Vegetarians enhance their diets with over the counter vitamins and minerals to compensate for what they are missing. Issitt, M., & Carson-Dewitt, R. suggest "Vegans, who reject all animal products, including milk, eggs, and honey, place themselves at even greater risk for malnutrition" (2016). Natural recourses such as eggs and milk come from animals since the beginning of mankind. Some persons feel uncomfortable eating meat and meat products due to the condition's animals are being treated in and the additives injected into the animal of choice. Individuals decide to stop eating meat or meat products ‘because of their religion. These individuals are still at risk and need supplements in the form of pills or supplemental beverages that one may consume. However, these supplements do not acquire the same nutritional value that natural resources do. Promotion of these supplements can harm employment opportunities for cattle farms and decrease income for meat corporations.

2nd Rebuttal

Adequate intake of vital vitamins and minerals essentially comes from fruits and vegetables. Relying solely on the earth’s natural resources can positively impact the consumer’s health and contribute to enhancing the technology that increases meat substitutions. By creating these technologies, employment opportunities are promoted. Technological advances help vegetarians provide themselves with the proper amount of vitamins and nutritional content that they lack from not eating meat by following what they eat and how they can compensate for the vitamins they are missing. According to Vesanto Melina, Winston Craig, Susan Levin, “These applications for mobile devices allow vegetarians to discover nutritional needs, track intake, and locate restaurants and markets where vegan foods are available" (2016) Promoting technology and positively impacting economics is vital when indulging vegetarians. Through closely monitoring the dietary intake of vitamins and minerals, it can cause a decrease of mental under development for children coming from a vegetarian mother. Adhering to technologically sound nutrition can cause vegetarians to have a healthy weight and a welly balanced regime.

3rd Counter-Argument

Through research, I have concluded vegetarianism may jeopardize the stability of the ecosystem and damage the environment. For example, consuming large amounts of fish rather than meat can cause fishermen to overfish to meet consumer requirements. Another way vegetarianism may negatively impact the environment is the increasing need for agricultural products. Animals can become deceased during harvest season due to the increase in the loss of their dietary needs and shelter. Studies have shown "about six animals per acre, or 52-77% of the animals (such as birds, mice, and rabbits) that live in agricultural crop fields, are killed during harvest.” (Vegetarianism., (2018) Agriculture influences stabilizing conservational requirements by providing housing and alimentary resources. Thus, it is evident vegetarianism may

destructively impact the environment and cause damage to the ecosystem.

3rd Rebuttal

Vegetarian diets often consist solely of vegetables and fruits that come from plants. Vegans often don't eat meat as an act of morality, animals are sacrificed every day on cattle farms to provide dietary needs to people across the globe. According to Flatley, R. M. L. S. “Plant sources can meet the body’s need for protein as long as a variety of plant foods are consumed.” (2019). Often the conditions of these cattle farms are poor and cause abuse to animals. The excessive killing of animals for human needs can overall negatively impact the environment and lead to global warming. Animal cruelty is one of the leading causes of vegetarians becoming solely plant-based due to the excessive killing of these animals for oral fixation. Often, it is forgotten that non-humans still have emotion and can fear, and feel pain as well.

In conclusion, vegetarianism can both positively and negatively affect the environment, consumer health, and employment opportunities. Vegans have their right to decide to not eat meat. It is most effective when vegans have a plant-based diet, that uses serval aspects of legumes, soy, and other fruits and vegetable to meet nutritional requirements. However, this can cause animals who live in these areas to no longer have shelter or food and eventually die out. Cattle farms slaughter animals in filthy conditions and ultimately contribute to global warming. Thus, vegans do not want to eat the meat provided by these cattle farms because of the conditions the animals are held in. Likewise, technological advances for providing well-balanced nutrition for vegans can benefit persons seeking employment by providing them with more prospects.

References

Ballaro, B., & Sprague, N. (2016). Point: Vegetarianism Promotes Both Human and Planetary Health. Points of View: Vegetarianism, 2. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-com.chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pwh&AN=28675341&site=pov-live

Dittfeld, A., Gwizdek, K., Jagielski, P., Brzęk, J., & Ziora, K. (2017). A Study on the relationship between orthorexia and vegetarianism using the BOT (Bratman Test for Orthorexia). Psychiatria Polska, 51(6), 1133–1144. https://doi-org.chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/10.12740/PP/

Flatley, R. M. L. S. (2019). Vegetarian diet. Salem Press Encyclopedia of Health. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-com.chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ers&AN=94416304&site=eds-live&scope=site

Issitt, M., & Carson-Dewitt, R. (2016). Counterpoint: Vegetarianism is an Unhealthy Dietary Choice. Points of View: Vegetarianism, 3. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-

com.chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pwh&AN=28675342&site=pov-live

Vegetarianism. (2018). In ProCon.org (Ed.), Procon. Santa Monica, CA: ProCon. Retrieved from https://chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/procon/vegetarianism/0?institutionId=8802