WAC - Is being a vegetarian healthier than being an omnivore?

      Living a vegetarian lifestyle is healthier than being an omnivore. This is because having a plant-based diet is more beneficial to your health than eating meat, for many reasons. One reason being is that when you are a vegetarian, you consume more fiber and antioxidant rich produce. In addition, avoiding meat reduces risk of disease, such as cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and chronic disease. Lastly, being a vegetarian helps avoid obesity by keeping your weight down.

      A benefit of being a vegetarian is that you have a plant-based diet. This helps your body consume more vegetables, as well as no meat. Living this lifestyle helps you intake more fiber and antioxidant rich produce. In the article by ProCon.org, titled, "Should people become vegetarian?", it states that according to the American Dietetic Association, having a vegetarian diet can meet protein requirements of eating meat. In addition, it can provide essential amino-acids and phyto chemicals, which improves health. This proves that being a vegetarian can provide nutrients vital for health and maintenance of the body.

       Being a vegetarian also means that you are reducing risk of many diseases by having a plant-based diet. These diseases include, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, and chronic disease. In the article, "Is it healthier to be a vegetarian or omnivore?", by SENCER, it states that being a vegetarian can reduce the risk of chronic disease, cardiovascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease linked to fat of animal product. This is because, avoiding meat means that you are reducing the intake of unhealthy fats and saturated fats. In addition, in the article, "Should people become vegetarian?" by ProCon.org, it states that being a vegetarian also reduces the chance of kidney stones and gallstones. This is because diets high in animal protein cause the body to excrete calcium, oxalate, and uric acid. These are the main components of kidney stones and gallstones. So because you avoid meat when being a vegetarian, you are also avoiding the components of kidney stones and gallstones.

         Going vegetarian means that you are converting to a plant-based diet. This helps vegetarians reduce the risk of obesity and being over weight. In the article, "Is it healthier to be a vegetarian or an omnivore?" by SENCER, it states that because vegetarians have a plant-based diet and are avoiding meat, it reduces the risk of being over weight and obesity. Just as avoiding unhealthy fats and saturated fats help reduce cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, and chronic disease, it also reduces the risk of obesity. This is because when you are vegetarian you are avoiding meat and animal product altogether. Which gets rid of the consumption of unhealthy and saturated fats.

          Reading this essay, omnivores might say that being a vegetarian with a plant-based diet means that you lack in vitamins, minerals, protein, and calories. Such as  B12, iron, zinc, and vital Omega 3 fats. This is because being a vegetarian means that you are avoiding meat and because meat is such a great provider in protein, it means that you lack in all the protein meat provides. However, this isn't much of a problem for vegetarians although it may seem like a big deal. The reason being is that there are many ways a vegetarian can easily avoid meat while still getting those vital nutrients and proteins. One way is that a vegetarian can take extra supplements  to replace the deficiency in these nutrients. For example, a vegetarian can take B12 and Omega 3 supplements. In addition, a vegetarian can also eat more servings of food to make up for the lack of nutrients in only one serving of food. Also, a vegetarian can eat more legumes, soy, and nuts.

         All of the points I have presented are examples of how having a plant-based diet and avoiding meat is better for your health. I hope that you will consider the benefits of vegetarianism. As you have read, vegetarianism means that you are consuming more fiber and antioxidant rich produce. Along with reducing the risk of many diseases. In addition, vegetarianism keeps you healthy by keeping your weight down and reducing the risk of obesity.