Imagine being born in a dark, cramped environment and being taken away from your parents shortly after birth. The main purpose of life is to produce enough milk or eggs to satisfy your owners or eat enough to become fat. You rarely see the light of day, you eat the worst food possible, and your living space is a cramped mess. You are an animal growing up in a factory farm. Factory farms sometimes contain up to 20 thousand hens in a single shed (Broudy). Many consider Vegetarianism to protest the unfair treatment of animals, while others choose vegetarianism for health reasons. A vegetarian lifestyle is healthier for people and the planet they live on. Bob Holmes, a consultant for New Scientist says this may be why 20 percent of the world’s …show more content…
Animals in factory farms are treated with extreme cruelty. In the U.S., birds have as little as 48 square inches, a six- by eight-inch space (Broudy). This treatment of animals is unacceptable and inhumane and while free range animal farms exist, something needs to be done about the massive amount of factory farming that still occurs in the United States. One approach is to choose meat and dairy products wisely, with one example being choosing grass fed beef and free range eggs. However, a switch to vegetarianism is a better choice as free range farms cost more to maintain than vegetarian farming, making vegetarianism better for the economy. The manufacturer Sanitarium has said that “A massive 20 percent reduction in costs can be achieved by maintaining a vegetarian diet” (“Vegetarian diet …show more content…
Some of the most common nutrient deficiencies occur with a lack of vitamin B12, iron, and omega 3s, because all three are typically consumed when eating meat and fish, and finding sources of them in a vegetarian diet can be more difficult. Both can be added through additional standalone supplements, but are absorbed best when obtained by eating foods rich in those nutrients. According to the British Nutrition Foundation, among teenage girls, iron deficiency anemia is three times more common in vegetarians than meat eaters (Utton 14). Nutrient deficiencies only occur when a proper vegetarian diet is not followed. If a vegetarian diet is simply an excuse for being picky, it is likely that one will not consume enough iron or vitamin B. However, if one researches and puts effort into their food choices, it is possible to live a healthy life without