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Veganism

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Veganism
Shadog
University of Phoenix
ENG/102
4/3/16

Veganism
Veganism is a part of the dietary system. The people who live the vegan lifestyle practice veganism because it promotes health and peace while decreasing the suffering of animals and humans (Fundukian 2009). Many people do not understand what a vegan is and they often get veganism confused with vegetarians. A vegetarian is a person who eats only eat fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains (Vegetarian 2012). The differences between a vegan and a vegetarian are that vegetarians could also eat and drink animal based products like dairy, eggs, and honey. Vegetarians could also wear and use items made from or tested on animals. And it seems that people become vegetarians more for health and taste reasons. Individuals who consider themselves as a vegan also do it for health reasons but mainly become vegan for ethical reasons. But is becoming a vegan the best thing to do for everyone’s life?
There are a couple of health benefits for people who are vegan. The benefits of being a vegan are decreases in diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and lower mortality rates (Boston University 2016). Studies have shown that the risk of diabetes was about twice as high for non-vegans than the people that are vegan. The reason for this is because vegans usually have lower body weights than non-vegans (Boston University 2016). Studies have also shown that the people who chose to be vegan increases the chance to prevent cancer than the people who eat red meat. Mostly because vegans have a large intake of legumes, which helps prevent cancer cells (Boston University 2016). Veganism could lower your chance of cardiovascular disease because a diet of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and nuts allows people to have lower cholesterol levels, higher fiber content, lower blood pressure levels and lower chances of obesity (Boston University 2016). The combination of all of this health prevention leads to vegans having a lower mortality rate.
Although there are many health benefits for people who are vegan, there are some causes for concern for this type of diet. According to Tanya Di Genova and Dr. Harvey Guyda, some problem areas that vegans have to pay attrition to are protein intake, vitamin B12 deficiency, vitamin D deficiency, calcium intake, iron intake, and energy intake. Vegans have to watch out for their protein intake because “total protein in vegetable-based foods is lower than in animal sources” (Genova and Guyda 2007). Vegans are prone to be vitamin B12 and vitamin D deficient because “plant foods are not a high-quality source of vitamin B12” (Genova and Guyda 2007), and vitamin D is better found in milk products, fish, or eggs (Genova and Guyda 2007). They have to worry about their calcium and iron intake because some plant-based foods may weaken calcium absorption and iron is better found in meat products and is more efficient. They also have to watch their energy intake. Their energy becomes difficult to attain because they have to consume more food during the day just so that they could have the proper nourishment (Genova and Guyda 2007). So vegans should consume a variety of plant-based foods, introduce some supplements to their diet, and watch their protein, calcium, iron, and energy intake to make up for deficiencies and to ensure that they are getting the proper amount. But for children and infants, it is better for them not have a vegan diet. Many people become vegan for health reason. People also become vegan for ethical reasons. The moral reasons why people become vegan is the environment and animal rights. A person who eats meat could harm the environment. One consequence of having a meat based diet is the depletion of the world’s natural resources (Ogden 2016). Having livestock takes up a lot of room and raising them requires large amounts of water to take care of them. “It takes 2,464 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef in California but only 25 gallons of water to produce one pound of wheat” (Ogden 2016). Since the plant’s water levels are decreasing more each year, people could say that eating meat is not good for the environment. Also raising livestock and producing meat based products are using up the world’s fossil fuels (Ogden 2016). Veganism is a diet that many adults chose to live by rather it be for health reasons, ethical reasons, or both. It seems to make them healthier than a person that chooses to eat meat although they have to pay close attention to their deficiencies for their diet to work for them. And when it comes to the world around them, they want to keep every living thing safe and save the planet’s resources. It just comes down to what a person beliefs are and how that person wants to live their life.

References
Boston University. (2011). Are There Health Benefits to Being a Vegetarian?, The Movement (Spring Issue 2011) Diet as a Determinant of Health. Retrieved from http://www.bu.edu/themovement/past-issues/spring2011/being-a-vegetarian/
Dupler, D., & Davidson, H. (2009). Veganism. In L. J. Fundukian (Ed.), The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine (3rd ed., Vol. 4, pp. 2318-2323). Detroit: Gale. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.contentproxy.phoenix.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX3240100832&sid=summon&v=2.1&u=uphoenix_uopx&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w&asid=c53185eaef16be7631f92dd853b8e0b9
Di Genova, T., & Guyda, H. (2007). Infants and children consuming atypical diets: Vegetarianism and macrobiotics. Paediatrics & Child Health, 12(3), 185–188. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2528709/
Holaday, S. (2010). Hearing Vegetarian Voices. FoodService Director, 23(6) 56-58. Retrieved from http://web.b.ebscohost.com.contentproxy.phoenix.edu/ehost/detail/detail?sid=4020345d-d2e7-4365-866a-4364932a2a2f%40sessionmgr102&vid=0&hid=116&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d##AN=51547497&db=bth

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