argumentative essay on being a vegetarian

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Vegetarianism Essay

This is a model  vegetarianism essay .

As I always stress, you should  read the question very carefully  before you answer it to make sure you are writing about the right thing.

Take a look at the question:

Every one of us should become a vegetarian because eating meat can cause serious health problems.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Staying on topic

If you rush to start writing and don't analyse the question and brainstorm some ideas you may include the wrong information.

There are religious or moral arguments for not eating meat, but if you discuss those you will be going off topic .

This question is specifically about the health problems connected to eating meat.

So you must discuss in your answer what some of these problems are and if you think there are real health risks or not.

Knowing about the topic

And don't get worried that you do not know much about diet and health.

As part of your IELTS study it will help if you know the basics of most topics such as some health vocabulary in this case, but you are not expected to be an expert on nutrition.

Remember, you are being judged on your English ability and your ability to construct an argument in a coherent way, not to be an expert in the subject matter. So relax and work with

Organisation

In this vegetarianism essay, the candidate disagrees with the statement, and is thus arguing that everyone does not need to be a vegetarian.

The essay has been organised in the following way:

Body 1: Health issues connected with eating meat (i.e. arguments in support of being a vegetarian Body 2: Advantages of eating meat

Now take a look at the model answer.

Model Essay

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.

Write at least 250 words.

IELTS Vegetarianism Essay - Sample Answer

Vegetarianism is becoming more and more popular for many people, particularly because of the harm that some people believe meat can cause to the body. However, I strongly believe that it is not necessary for everybody to be a vegetarian.

Vegetarians believe that meat is unhealthy because of the diseases it has been connected with. There has been much research to suggest that red meat is particularly bad, for example, and that consumption should be limited to eating it just a few times a week to avoid such things as cancer. Meats can also be high in saturated fats so they have been linked to health problems such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

However, there are strong arguments for eating meat. The first reason is that as humans we are designed to eat meat, which suggests it is not unhealthy, and we have been eating meat for thousands of years. For example, cavemen made hunting implements so that they could kill animals and eat their meat. Secondly, meat is a rich source of protein which helps to build muscles and bones. Vegetarians often have to take supplements to get all the essential vitamins and minerals. Finally, it may be the case that too much meat is harmful, but we can easily limit the amount we have without having to cut it out of our diet completely.

To sum up, I do not agree that everyone should turn to a vegetarian diet. Although the overconsumption of meat could possibly be unhealthy, a balanced diet of meat and vegetables should result in a healthy body.

(264 words)

You should begin by intoducing the topi c. The introduction in this vegetarianism essay begins by mentioning vegetarians and the possible harm of eating meat .

It then goes on to the thesis statement , which makes it clear what the candidate's opinion is.

The first body paragraph has a topic sentence which makes it clear that the paragraph is going to address the possible health issues of eating meat.

Some reasons and examples are then given to support this.

The second body paragraph then has a topic sentence which makes it clear that the main idea is now about the arguments for eating meat .

The conclusion in this vegetarianism essay then repeats the opinion and gives the candidates final thoughts.

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Should People Become Vegetarian?

• History of Vegetarianism

Vegetarians , who account for about 5% of the U.S. adult population, do not eat meat (including poultry and seafood). The percentage of Americans who identify as vegetarian has remained steady for two decades. 11% of those who identify as liberal follow a vegetarian diet, compared to 2% of conservatives.

In Western culture, vegetarianism dates back to Ancient Greece. The mathematician Pythagoras (570 BC – 495 BC) advocated vegetarianism. A meatless diet was commonly called the “Pythagorean diet” until the term vegetarian became popular during the 1800s. The philosopher Plato (428 BC – 348 BC) described a vegetarian diet as “divinely ordained.” Read more background…

Pro & Con Arguments

Pro 1 Killing animals for food is cruel and unethical. Raising animals in confinement for slaughter is cruel, and many animals in the United States are not slaughtered humanely. Animals are sentient beings that have emotions and social connections. Scientific studies show that cattle, pigs, chickens, and all warm-blooded animals can experience stress, pain, and fear. About 50% of meat produced in the United States comes from confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), where mistreated animals live in filthy, overcrowded spaces with little or no access to pasture, natural light, or clean air. In CAFOs pigs have their tails cut short; chickens have their toenails, spurs, and beaks clipped; and cows have their horns removed and tails docked with no painkillers. Pregnant pigs are kept in metal gestation crates barely bigger than the pigs themselves. Baby cows raised for veal are tied up and confined in tiny stalls their entire short lives (3-18 weeks). [ 32 ] [ 35 ] [ 41 ] [ 100 ] [ 147 ] The Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA) mandates that livestock be stunned unconscious before slaughter to minimize suffering. However, birds such as chickens and turkey are exempted from the HMS, and a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Organization (GAO) found that the USDA was not “taking consistent actions to enforce the HMSA.” [ 65 ] [ 66 ] [ 90 ] In 2017 (the most recent data available), the United States slaughtered a total of 170.6 million animals for food, including 124.5 million pigs, 33.7 million cows, 9.2 million chickens, and 2.4 million sheep. These animals should not have to die painfully and fearfully to satisfy an unnecessary dietary preference. Read More

Pro 2 A vegetarian diet is healthful. According to the American Dietetic Association, a vegetarian diet can meet protein requirements, provide all the essential amino-acids (the building blocks of protein), and provide all the necessary vitamins, fats, and minerals. And, a vegetarian diet can improve one’s health. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] According to the USDA and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, meat is not an essential part of a healthy diet. Further, studies have linked heme iron found in red meat with an increased risk of colorectal, stomach, and esophageal cancers. Vegetarian sources of iron like leafy greens and beans contain non-heme iron. [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 68 ] [ 123 ] [ 150 ] Meat also has high renal acid levels which the body must neutralize by leaching calcium from the bones, which is then passed into urine and lost. There are many sources of healthy vegetarian calcium including tofu, dark leafy greens like kale, spinach, and collard greens, as well as fortified cereals. [ 5 ] [ 128 ] Vegetarian diets can reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance to bacteria, kidney stones, gallstones, death from heart disease, high blood pressure, hypertension, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ] [ 9 ] [ 10 ] [ 40 ] [ 64 ] [ 102 ] [ 122 ] [ 132 ] [ 140 ] [ 148 ] Several studies show that vegetarian diets increase the lifespan of adherents by 3.6 to 7.28 years. [ 76 ] [ 86 ] [ 121 ] [ 130 ] Read More

Pro 3 A vegetarian diet is better for the environment. Overgrazing livestock hurts the environment through soil compaction, erosion, and harm to native plants and animals. Grazing has also damaged streams and riparian areas in the western United States. And, grazing has been a factor in the listing of at least 171 species of animals and plants under the Endangered Species Act because the large tracts of flat land interrupt natural habitats. Abstaining from eating meat would help restore land more naturally suited to provide habitat for native plants and animals. [ 29 ] [ 92 ] [ 93 ] A vegetarian diet also conserves water. Producing one pound of beef takes about 1,800 gallons of water, on pound of pork uses about 576 gallons, one pound of turkey needs about 486 gallons, and each pound of chicken requires about 468 gallons. Meanwhile, a pound of tofu only takes about 302 gallons. [ 151 ] [ 152 ] [ 153 ] Additionally, raising animals for food contributes to air and water pollution. Manure produces toxic hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, which pollute the air and leach poisonous nitrates into nearby waters. Runoff laden with manure is a major cause of “dead zones” in 173,000 miles of U.S. waterways, including the 7,700-square-mile dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico. [ 32 ] [ 115 ] [ 166 ] All told, a vegetarian diet leads to lower greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gases are created by enteric fermentation (aka animal farts and burps), manure decomposition, and deforestation to make room for grazing animals and growing feed. Diets including meat cause the creation of up to 54% more greenhouse gas emissions than vegetarian diets. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, a “worldwide diet change away from animal products” is necessary to stop the worst effects of global climate change. [ 104 ] [ 134 ] Read More

Con 1 Eating meat is natural. Vegetarians mistakenly elevate the value of animal life over plant life. Research shows that plants also respond electrochemically to threats. Every organism on earth dies at some point so others organisms can live and there is nothing wrong with this cycle. Humans are simply animals and fit into the existing ecosystems that allow for carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores. [ 98 ] [ 148 ] U.S. slaughterhouses must conform to the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA) that mandates that livestock be stunned unconscious before slaughter. Many of the largest U.S. meat producers also adhere to the handling standards developed by Dr. Temple Grandin that factor in animal psychology to design transportation devices, stockyards, loading ramps, and restraining systems that minimize stress and calm animals as they are led to slaughter. [ 65 ] [ 87 ] [ 88 ] [ 89 ] Further, there is a growing movement to raise “cruelty-free” organic meat. In the United States, animals raised for certified organic meat must be given access to the outdoors, clean air, and water. They cannot be given growth hormones or antibiotics and must be fed organically grown feed free of animal byproducts. According to a 2007 report from the Range Improvement Task Force, organic meat accounted for 3% of total U.S. meat production. By the end of 2012 “natural and organic” beef accounted for 4% of total beef sales in the United States. And, in 2019, 76% of consumers thought that grocery stores should sell meat and poultry raised and slaughtered with good animal welfare standards. By all accounts, the production of and demand for ethically raised meat products is soaring. [ 84 ] [ 85 ] [ 129 ] [ 149 ] Read More

Con 2 Eating meat, poultry, and fish is part of a healthful diet. Lean red meat, eaten in moderation, can be a healthful part of a balanced diet. According to researchers at the British Nutrition Foundation, “there is no evidence” that moderate consumption of unprocessed lean red meat has any negative health effects. Poultry like chicken and turkey, unprocessed pork (e.g. pork loin, not bacon), and fish are considered healthy components in a diet. [ 50 ] Meat is the most convenient protein source available. In one serving, meat provides all the essential amino acids (the building blocks of protein), as well as essential nutrients such as iron, zinc, and B vitamins. Most plant foods do not provide adequate levels of all the essential amino acids in a single serving. [ 3 ] [ 46 ] [ 47 ] [ 49 ] [ 61 ] [ 101 ] [ 133 ] Meat is the best source of necessary saturated fats, vitamins, A, D, E, and K, good cholesterol, iron, zinc, and amino acids. And fish is the best source of omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, which lower the risk of death from heart attacks and strokes. [ 3 ] [ 46 ] [ 47 ] [ 52 ] [ 53 ] Vegetarians do not live longer. This myth stems from the fact that vegetarians tend to be more health conscious overall, eating a more balanced diet, exercising more, and smoking less than the general population. However, when compared to health conscious meat eaters, vegetarians do not live longer. [ 56 ] Read More

Con 3 Vegetarian diets are not necessarily better for the environment. Raising beef is often the most efficient way to produce food for humans, especially considering about 85% of U.S. grazing land is not suitable for raising crops humans can eat. Natural prairie grasslands can coexist with sustainable herds of cattle or bison, but they cannot coexist with monocrop agriculture. [ 27 ] Growing crops isn’t always the best for the environment. Almost 100 million acres of farmland in the Corn Belt has lost all topsoil due to erosion, polluting nearby waterways. Further, 94% of U.S. soybeans and 92% of corn were genetically modified (GMOs), which are immune to herbicides, alowing farmers to douse their fields with large quantities of herbicides that are toxic to other plants and fish. Increased herbicide use could create “super weeds.” And, vegetarian diets can cause the death of animals, too: 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. [43] [44] [118] [154] [155] [ 43 ] [ 44 ] [ 118 ] [ 154 ] [ 155 ] Processed vegetarian protein options such as tofu [which is made with soy beans] can cause more greenhouse gas pollution than farming meat. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) found that the production of soy-based proteins could contribute more to greenhouse gas emissions than eating locally produced meat. Giving up all animal products would only give a 7% reduction in green house gas emissions. [ 16 ] [ 106 ] > Further, it is not necessary to become vegetarian to lower our environmental footprint. Some vegetarians eat an unhealthy diet, drive SUVs, and consume eggs and dairy products produced at factory farms (CAFOs). Some meat eaters use solar panels, ride bikes, grow their own vegetables, and eat free-range organic meat. All of a person’s actions make a difference—not just a single act such as eating meat. Read More

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Vegetarianism: Unveiling Ethical, Health, and Philosophical Debates

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The Ethical Dimensions of Vegetarianism

Counterarguments and Nutritional Concerns

The philosophical underpinnings of meat consumption, conclusion: a matter of choice.

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Everyone should become vegetarian – IELTS Writing Task 2

Updated On Feb 28, 2024

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Effective IELTS Essay Connectors for Writing Task 2 & Task 1

The Essay Writing section of the IELTS Writing Module can be a difficult task for many IELTS Aspirants. Thus, it is vital that you polish your essay writing skills before attempting the IELTS.

Below is a sample IELTS Essay for the IELTS Essay topic:

Everyone should become vegetarian because they do not need to eat meat to have a healthy diet. Do you agree or disagree?

Opinion essay (Agree/disagree)

Introduction

• Paraphrase the topic of the essay and give an insight into it.
• State your side of the argument and mention what can be anticipated from the essay.
• Paragraph 1- Non-vegetarian diets are considerably higher in the total intake of protein, which is highly beneficial for the body. As scientists show, protein can not only improve overall health and fitness but also can contribute to reinforcing the immune system.
• Paragraph 2- Meat is also a fertile source of many nutrients, such as iron or zinc. It is already recognized that while iron helps in producing tissues inside the body, zinc is indispensable in helping to transport oxygen to different parts of the body, thus allowing the proper functioning of all body organs.

Reemphasize your opinion in conclusion and give a summarized argument for that.

Sample Essay

In the last few decades, vegetarianism has entered the mainstream of many societies, most notably in western countries. It is suggested by those who side with vegetarians that meat is not a necessary element in a healthy diet and that going vegan is the way to go in modern times. Personally, I reckon that this view has flaws.

In the first place, non-vegetarian diets are considerably higher in the total intake of protein, which is highly beneficial for the body. As scientists show, protein can not only improve overall health and fitness but also can contribute to reinforcing the immune system. As vegetarian diets hardly meet daily protein requirements, those who follow are generally more vulnerable to fatigue even when doing physically undemanding tasks, or they can be more susceptible to common diseases such as flu or cold.

In the second place, meat is also a fertile source of many nutrients, such as iron or zinc. It is already recognized that while iron helps in producing tissues inside the body, zinc is indispensable in helping to transport oxygen to different parts of the body, thus allowing the proper functioning of all body organs. Besides, when consuming meat, the body will also be absorbing numerous kinds of vitamins, which strengthen bones and promote the health of the teeth or the eyes.

Although, going entirely vegetarian or vegan is a matter of choice of lifestyle and could placate the need for nutrition to a decent extent, however, when it comes to a wholesome dietary sufficiency, going for a typical vegetarian diet couldn’t serve the purpose for the entirety.

To conclude, the above-mentioned points have manifestly shown that the benefits derived from following a wholesome diet overshadow those from vegetable-only ones. Thus, it is not advisable to become vegetarians.

• To enter the mainstream of…: become popular
• This view has flaws: This view can be argued against.
• To reinforce the immune system: make the immune system stronger.
• They can be more susceptible to common diseases: they are more likely to get sick.
• Indispensable (adj.): very important.
• To be more vulnerable to fatigue: to be more likely to get sick
• Be a fertile source of many nutrients: be very nutritious
• To strengthen bone structures: make the bones stronger.
• Manifestly (adv.): obviously.

Band 9 Sample Essay

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There has been a considerable surge in the inclination towards a vegetarian diet and eradicating meat from everyday meals. Some people hold the view that going stringently vegetarian could serve the purpose of their dietary requirements. However, I find myself standing in disagreement with this and think that meat should be included in the diet for nutritional needs. In the forthcoming sections, this essay will discuss the reasons for this opinion.

The most eminent reason for the inclusion of meat in a diet is nutrition adequacy. Drawing a comparison between an entirely vegetarian diet and a combination of veggies and meats have shown by the researches that vegetables alone couldn’t satiate the requirement that our physiologies need up to the mark. Predominantly, the protein requirement which is suggested by the nutritionists to be one gram proportional to the kilos we weigh is not sufficed by the vegetarian meal alone. Various macro and micronutrients which are abundantly found in the meat content bolsters our body and enhances our diet.

Moreover, the people who are specifically indulged in strenuous and vigorous exercises and physical activities should ineluctably incorporate meat in their daily food platter as in this case, the dietary and metabolic needs are only met when a nutritional regime has a confluence of vegetables and meat. The people in a toilsome profession that includes labour and intense work schedule should reportedly not miss on their nonvegetarian food source as they couldn’t efficiently perform otherwise. 

Though veganism and vegetarianism owing to the efflux and rise in the trend have been gaining grounds and have been able to find various dietary substitutes especially, for their dietary protein enrichment, the replacement of meat and the essential constituent of it is irrefutable and couldn’t be replaced, let alone its complete displacement.  

In conclusion, therefore, it could be conspicuously stated that going vegetarian could be a trend and the latest bandwagon, the wholesome virtues of an integrated diet couldn’t be supplanted.

Bonus topic:

Everyone should adopt a vegetarian diet because eating meat can cause serious health problems. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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Arguments For and Against Veganism

For veganism.

• ANIMAL WELFARE: Eating meat requires the death of a living being. Eating dairy usually involves animals being separated from their children, causing distress to both mother and calf. Dairy cattle frequently develop bovine mastitis (a painful infection and inflammation of the udders), and factory farmed animals are kept in cramped conditions and pumped full of antibiotics and growth hormones in order to maximise profit. Unlike wild animals, humans do not require meat to survive (and definitely not dairy products from other animals). Eating meat is a choice and, as moral actors, the correct choice is surely to give up meat and dairy.
• ENVIRONMENT: When cows eat grass, microbes in their gut break down their meal and produce methane. This methane (a greenhouse gas) is released into the atmosphere via the magic of cow burps and farts, making livestock farming one of the biggest contributors to global warming. Factor in deforestation from land clearance, biodiversity loss, and air and water pollution, and animal agriculture is terrible for the environment.
• HEALTH: Vegan diets tend to be rich in foods that have proven health benefits: fresh fruit, vegetables, seeds, nuts, beans and pulses. A vegan diet is typically higher in fibre, and  lower  in cholesterol, protein, calcium and salt compared to a non-vegan diet. Research suggests that vegans may have a lower risk of heart disease than non-vegans. It is true that vegans need to supplement their diets with B12, but this is easy to do (e.g. via yeast extracts such as Marmite).

AGAINST Veganism

• NATURE: Humans (and our ancestors) have eaten meat for an estimated  2.6 million years . In fact, scientists argue that animal protein was vital for helping early hominids develop larger brains, meaning that humans likely wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t for eating meat. We evolved to have meat as part of our diets. Animals eat meat and it would be cruel to prevent them from doing so. Well, guess what? Humans are animals too, and meat is a natural part of our diets.
• CULTURE: Food is a central part of all human cultures. And, around the world, people celebrate their cultures by cooking meat dishes. If the world went vegan, we would lose iconic cultural traditions such as bolognese sauce, tandoori chicken, sashimi, currywurst, and Peking duck.
• HEALTH: A balanced diet is a healthy diet. Eating moderate amounts of fish, meat, and dairy alongside fruit, vegetables and pulses gives us all the vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and other things we need to stay healthy. Research does suggest that vegans have a lower risk of heart disease, but that same research also indicates they have a higher risk of strokes (possibly due to B12 deficiency), and it’s unclear whether the supposed health benefits of veganism are anyway less about diet and more about broader lifestyle (e.g. vegans tend to exercise more, be non-smokers, not drink to excess, be more moderate in what they consume, etc.).

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• Essay on Vegetarianism

Example Of Argumentative Essay On The Benefits Of Being A Vegetarian

Type of paper: Argumentative Essay

Topic: Vegetarianism , Diet , Animals , Skin , Food , Life , Money , Children

Published: 02/04/2020

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Not many years ago, being vegetarian was almost cultic; however as society becomes more educated about the meat it consumes, more and more people are embracing the vegetarian life-style. The main reason for this conversion is the quest for longer, healthier life. When my siblings and I were growing up our parents did not have much money, therefore we did not always have meat; sometime three or five times per month. Despite the fact that our mother was a good cook and knew how to make vegetables taste good. we thought we were depraved going without meat. The one thing that stuck with me through all those years is the fact that our skin was smooth and it glowed. Adults were always asking us what did our mother used to make it look skin so pretty. We did not have that answer; it was not until we became adults that we discovered that the condition of our skin was due to our partially vegetarian diet; those were “the good old days.” Now my sisters and I reminisce, we have concluded that a meatless diet is what we need; it was good for us then and it is good for us now. Of course meat tastes better than vegetable, but that can be said about everything that is not good to eat, nonetheless it is not hard to change our life-style. There are many palatable non-meat dishes, and I am not talking about tofu; vegetable done well can be very tasty. One just needs to make sure that he or she is eating from the four food groups. Protein is the only thing we will be changing and our bodies only need three ounces of protein for each meal. No one would willingly consume pesticide, steroids or hormone, but we do so every time we eat meat. The animals “arealso pumped full off antibiotics, hormones, steroids, and are dipped in pesticides. Over half the cattle and nearly all pigs, calves, and poultry are fed a steady diet of antibiotics” (Academic Library). Meat has not always been bad for ingestion; this is the twenty-first century and we must keep up with technology and meat is another item we add to our list of “killing me slowly.” My grandfathers lived to be eighty-five and ninety-four respectively and I have never seen either of them use a cane; like us, they were partially vegetarians. When we were growing up, once in a while we would hear of a still birth, and any other death was an old person; now, everybody dies; the baby, the young, the middle age, and the old. We become financially independent; and we bask in the sunshine of the “better days;”. Technology has taken over our lives and everything is being done in a shorter and cheaper manner. Live stocks including chickens were made to graze in open fields and mature slowly; not anymore, the financial profit from slow maturity is marginal. Even fish that belongs in the ocean, and should remain in its natural habitat, is farm grown now. Everything is geared for speed; George Bernard Shaw says: In our factory farms chickens never see the light day, have there[sic] beaks cut off, and are forced to eat food containing their own excrement. Baby cows that are destined to become veal are forced to spend their whole lives chained to stables so small that the animals cannot turn around. In order to make their meat tender they are feed a low-iron diet. This artificial diet leads to joint problems, which cause the animals to be in constant agony. We human are a set of rebellious people; we cannot leave anything in its natural state we have to spoil it by making it better. We pollute our water and our environment and then we spend twice the amount of money fixing what we should have left alone. We will spend even more money for health care because we need to have synthetic meat. We called this modern time, “the better days,” yet our grandparents were more sensible than we. We need to start practicing vegetarian life-styles or prepare ourselves to ingest even more tainted meat, meat made in laboratories.

“Vegetarian - To Meat or not to Meat.” Academic Library. 3 May 2013 Shaw, George Bernard. “Reason for Being a Vegetarian.” Academic Library. 3 May 2013

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IELTS Blog & IELTS Mock Test

Ielts exam preparation for a higher band score., ielts essay: everyone should adopt a vegetarian diet.

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Everyone should adopt a vegetarian diet because eating meat can cause serious health problems.

Do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.

Write at least 250 words.

Model Answer 1:

People should consume more vegetables and fruits and as little meat as possible because intake high amount of meat can cause serious health issues. In my opinion, the consumption of a vegetarian diet is a better way to live a healthy life and I agree with the notion.

Firstly, vegetarian diets are cheaper and more healthy. If the majority of people become vegetarians, a nation needs to struggle less to become self-sufficient on food production. Moreover, such diets are easily accessible both for the poor and rich citizens. Most importantly, plant-based food provides necessary vitamins and food values, especially fibre, which protect us from many dangerous diseases. Not to mention, producing vegetarian food is more ecologically sustainable, and it reduces damage to the environment.

On the contrary, a certain portion of meat is necessary for a balanced diet because it contains protein, calcium and other vitamins. Nevertheless, these can be also gained from alternative sources like beans, mushrooms and nuts. Most meats are cholesterol-rich, which is detrimental to the human body and cause diseases. On top of that, deadly illnesses like cardiovascular diseases, obesity and brain haemorrhage are increasing gradually all around the world due to a high intake of red meat in different countries and I believe a vegetarian diet is a perfect solution to all these problems.

In conclusion, a healthy diet determines our wellbeing and life expectancy. Since a vegetarian diet is far beneficial than meats, we should choose wisely and decrease our meat intake as little as possible.

[By – Amraiz Ali Shahzad ]

Model Answer 2:

When it is perfectly possible to lead a healthy life by eating plant-based food, I see no justification for killing birds or animals for our food. Therefore, I completely agree with the argument that everyone should adopt a vegetarian diet.

There are several benefits to following a vegetarian diet. To start with, plant-based food is rich in vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and other nutrients required for good health. What’s more, most fruits and vegetables contain little or no cholesterol or calories. Research has shown that vegetarians are less likely to develop health-related problems like obesity, cancer or heart diseases. Health benefits are not the only reason to follow a vegetarian diet. When we obtain our food from plants, we can also stop cruelty to animals.

By contrast, non-vegetarian foods such as fish and meat are high in cholesterol, fat and calories. Regular consumption of red meat is known to increase a person’s risk of cancer and heart disease. In addition, unlike fruits or vegetables, fish and meat cannot be eaten raw. The slaughtered animal may have some illness. If half-cooked meat is eaten, it can cause deadly infections in human beings. In fact, many cases of food poisoning are caused by the consumption of contaminated meat.

The quality of non-vegetarian food has also deteriorated over the years. Seafood has become contaminated due to the pollution in ocean water. It is a well-known fact that farm animals are given steroids to grow rapidly. When we eat their meat, the steroid also enters into our body. This leads to several problems like precocious puberty in children.

To conclude, vegetarian diets are healthy and do not constitute cruelty to animals. Therefore, I believe that everyone should adopt vegetarianism.

[Written by – Manoj ]

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Vegetarianism — An Introduction to the Reasons for Vegetarianism

Vegetarianism: Introduction, Positive and Negative Sides

• Categories: Vegetarianism

About this sample

Words: 1182 |

Published: Aug 10, 2018

Words: 1182 | Pages: 3 | 6 min read

Table of contents

What is vegetarianism (essay), benefits and drawbacks of vegetarian diets, works cited.

• Davis, B., & Melina, V. (2014). Becoming Vegetarian: The Complete Guide to Adopting a Healthy Plant-Based Diet. Book Publishing Company.
• Flynn, R. W. V. (2017). Vegetarianism in Western Europe: A Study of Vegetarianism in France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, and Sweden. Routledge.
• Fox, N., & Ward, K. (2008). Health, ethics and environment: A qualitative study of vegetarian motivations. Appetite, 50(2-3), 422-429. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2007.09.007
• Haddad, E. H., Sabaté, J., Whitten, C. G., & Tanzman, J. S. (2014). Vegetarian food guide pyramid: A conceptual framework. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 100(Supplement_1), 356S-361S. doi:10.3945/ajcn.113.071621
• Leitzmann, C. (2017). Vegetarian nutrition: Past, present, future. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 100(Supplement_1), 496S-502S. doi:10.3945/ajcn.113.071621
• Mangels, A. R., Messina, V., & Messina, M. (2011). The Dietitian's Guide to Vegetarian Diets: Issues and Applications. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
• Marsh, K., & Zeuschner, C. (2012). The vegan plate: A guide to healthy vegan nutrition. Akerman Publishing.
• Sabaté, J., & Wien, M. (2015). Vegetarian diets and childhood obesity prevention. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 101(1), 152S-157S. doi:10.3945/ajcn.113.071621
• Spencer, E. A., Appleby, P. N., Davey, G. K., & Key, T. J. (2003). Diet and body mass index in 38 000 EPIC-Oxford meat-eaters, fish-eaters, vegetarians and vegans. International Journal of Obesity, 27(6), 728-734. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0802300
• Tuso, P. J., Ismail, M. H., Ha, B. P., & Bartolotto, C. (2013). Nutritional update for physicians: Plant-based diets. The Permanente Journal, 17(2), 61-66. doi:10.7812/TPP/12-085

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Vegan vs. Vegetarian Diets: Impacts on Health Essay

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Vegans and vegetarians are people who do not engage in the consumption of meat. However, vegetarians have the option of consuming animal products like eggs and milk, but this option is not available to vegans; vegetarians tend to avoid the intake of all the animal proteins (Craig 1627). It is assumed that most vegans choose their food due to their religious and political beliefs, while vegetarians act out of choice. In effect, Veganism is a way of life that seeks to eliminate the consumption of animal products. On the other hand, vegetarianism is the practice of diet choices that exclude meat products. Mostly, vegans do not consume anything that is obtained from animals, like milk, eggs, honey, or any other supplements derived from animals. On the other hand, vegetarians tend to exclude meat products like fish and meat from their diet, while some of them take dairy products and eggs.

Over the years, there has been an increase in the popularity of vegetarian diet. Mostly, vegetarian diets are associated with many health benefits due to the high intake of vitamins, folic acid, magnesium, potassium, unsaturated fats, and phytochemicals (Phillips 134).

Most vegan diets have less cholesterol, less saturated fat, and high fiber compared to some vegetarian diets. In effect, these groups of people are normally thinner, have lower serum cholesterol levels, tend to have fewer cases of high blood pressure, and have a reduced risk of getting lifestyle related diseases. While vegetarian diets seem to be the healthy way of living, they increase the number of nutritional deficiencies in the body, as one foregoes the intake of animal products. Of particular concern among the list of micronutrients that such groups of people are likely to be lacking include vitamin B-12, Omega 3 fatty acids, and calcium, among others (Key, Appleby, and Rosell 36). Resultantly, it is imperative that vegans engage in the consumption of supplements to substitute the minimal intake of foods containing these nutrients.

Numerous health effects are related to the intake of vegan diets. Vegans are thinner in nature, have lower levels of cholesterol, and considerably lower levels of blood pressure compared to vegetarians. One study by Marsh, Zeuschner, and Saunders shows that the health benefits were true for all the races that were vegan in nature; they included the whites, African-Americans, and Hispanics (260). The study showed that the cholesterol level of vegans was about 44%, which was a lower level than their omnivore counterparts (Phillips 138). One major cause of cardiovascular disease is obesity. Thus, cardiovascular disease is not prevalent among vegans due to their lower body mass index (BMI). Essentially, a good BMI is an efficient protective factor, as it implies lower blood lipid levels and reduces the potential for heart disease among the vegans.

Further, vegans tend to have a higher intake of vegetables and fruits compared to their omnivore counterparts. Mostly, a high intake of fruits and vegetables tends to increase folic acid, phytochemicals, and antioxidants in the body, all of which are associated with low cholesterol levels. Consequently, a higher intake of fruits and vegetables leads to fewer occurrences of stroke and reduced mortality from stroke and resultant heart disease. Vegans also consume a lot of nuts, whole grains, and soy, which are associated with cardio-protective effects.

An Adventist health study showed that non-vegetarians had a higher risk of both prostate and colorectal cancer compared to their vegetarian counterparts. It is stated that a vegetarian diet offers protective nutritional components for the ailments (Le and Sabaté 2131). Overall, the BMI of vegetarians being lower than that of non-vegetarians acts as a protective factor against the development of cancer as opposed to non-vegetarian populations (Le and Sabaté 2131).

Primarily, vegans tend to consume more vegetables, legumes, tomatoes, fiber, vitamin C, and vegetables compared to their omnivore’s counterparts. All the nutrients derived from the fruits tend to be highly protective against cancer. For instance, the intake of vegetables and fruits is termed protective against mouth, lung, stomach, and esophagus cancers. Further, the frequent consumption of legumes offers a protective lining in the stomach, which guards against prostate and stomach cancer.

Moreover, the consumption of foods rich in flavonoids, phytochemicals, fiber, vitamin C, and fiber offers protection against various forms of cancer, with garlic being associated with protection against colorectal cancer. Despite the benefits of most of the foods that the vegetarian population eats, there has been a slight difference in cancer rates between vegans and non-vegetarians. This could be attributed to poor preparation methods and inadequate intake of vitamin D, which also increases cancer risk among the vegan populations.

Further, the proteins that are avoided by the vegetarian societies seem to cause serious health consequences to those who consume them. Processed meat and red meat are two protein sources that have increasingly been associated with many cancer problems. Notably, people with a high intake of red meat suffer the greatest risk of developing cancer, with a risk of about 20-60%. Among the prominent types of cancer that these populations are associated with include the cancer of the liver, lung cancer, colorectal, and esophageal cancer. Moreover, eggs intake is seen to lead to a high risk of pancreatic cancer in various populations.

While vegans avoid the consumption of the food purported to cause higher cancer incidences, they engage in the use of high legume amounts. However, while the use of legumes helps in developing a stomach lining that guards against stomach cancer, it also facilitates colon cancer. Nonetheless, the use of soy foods among the vegan populations tends to protect them from prostate cancer.

While the consumption of vegan diets is associated with some benefits, there are also some risks associated with such foods. Primarily, most vegans emphasize on a high intake of vegetables, which are also dominated by fruits. They also include a high intake of cereals, which are both unrefined and refined, as well as legumes. Cereals and legumes tend to release moderate amounts of bio-available protein levels, yet very rich in nutrients like phytate. Nonetheless, vegan diets exclude fish, shellfish, and meat, which are the primary sources of nutrients that one could consume. In effect, the vegan foods are highly devoid of vital nutrients necessary for physiological functions. In effect, both vegetarians and vegans are prone to vitamin B-12 deficiency, iron, zinc, and calcium deficiencies. They also tend to lack vitamins A and D, among other important fatty acids.

It is estimated that about 68.5% of vegetarians and 83% of vegans suffer from the problem of vitamin B-12 deficiency compared to 5% of non-vegetarians (Craig 1630). The purpose of vitamin B-12 is to work in synergy with folate to synthesize DNA and red blood cells.

The two nutrients are also important in the generation of the myelin sheath, which is a protective cover on the nerves that helps in carrying out nerve impulses. In effect, the lack of nutrient implies that vegans and vegetarians may suffer conditions like fatigue, lethargy, weakness, poor memory, anemia, neurological, and psychiatric issues, among others. In fact, a child brought up with this kind of diet tends to face worse struggles, as they hardly acquire the nutrients even when given some animal products to boost their vitamin B-12 levels. In effect, the standard of reasoning, problem-solving capacity, and learning is low among children with vitamin B-12 deficiency.

The level of calcium intake is equal in both vegetarians and omnivores, although it is lowest for vegans. Vegans tend to lack calcium, as they eliminate foods that are rich in calcium from their diet. Further, it is harder for vegans to acquire calcium from plants, as most plant foods contain phytate and oxalate, which tend to inhibit the absorption of the nutrient. This, further, limits the amount of calcium that the body can get from the plant foods. In effect, while the level of calcium is high in plant foods like kale and spinach, the plant calcium is poorly absorbed into the body during digestion (Craig 1633).

Overall, the health benefits of a vegan and vegetarian diets are positive because the diets are largely protective against cancer, among other lifestyle diseases like cardiovascular disease. However, the diets tend to limit the absorption of various other essential nutrients like calcium and vitamin B-12, leading to deficiencies in the nutrients. Therefore, it is imperative that vegans and vegetarians increase their supplement intake of the vital nutrients they do not acquire from both fruits and vegetables.

Works Cited

Craig, Winston J. “Health Effects of Vegan Diets.” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 89.5 (2009): 1627S-1633S. Print.

Key, Timothy J., Paul N. Appleby, and Magdalena S. Rosell. “Health Effects of Vegetarian and Vegan Diets.” Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 65.01 (2006): 35-41. Print.

Le, Lap Tai, and Joan Sabaté. “Beyond Meatless, the Health Effects of Vegan Diets: Findings from the Adventist Cohorts.” Nutrients 6.6 (2014): 2131-2147. Print.

Marsh, Kate, Carol Zeuschner, and Angela Saunders. “Health Implications of a Vegetarian Diet A Review.” American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine 6.3 (2012): 250-267. Print.

Phillips, Frankie. “Vegetarian Nutrition.” Nutrition Bulletin 30.2 (2005): 132-167. Print.

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IvyPanda. (2020, June 29). Vegan vs. Vegetarian Diets: Impacts on Health. https://ivypanda.com/essays/vegan-vs-vegetarian-diets-impacts-on-health/

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IvyPanda . 2020. "Vegan vs. Vegetarian Diets: Impacts on Health." June 29, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/vegan-vs-vegetarian-diets-impacts-on-health/.

1. IvyPanda . "Vegan vs. Vegetarian Diets: Impacts on Health." June 29, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/vegan-vs-vegetarian-diets-impacts-on-health/.

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