Vegetarianism: A healthier alternative?
College students eat a lot. Group project? Meet over food. Done partying? Go to IHop. Awards ceremony? There’s usually a dinner. And then you want to keep in contact with your friends from home on breaks, so what do you do? Meet for lunch. We’re a society shaped by food. But how many students stop to think before they take a bite? What are we really eating?
Interview by Emily Kish.
One popular diet among college students is vegetarianism. Whether this is for a religious practice, animal rights or health concerns, more and more people are switching away from meat. Some people worry that cutting meat from a diet may lead to deficiency diseases, but studies from the American Dietetic Association (ADA), National Institute of Health, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society and American Pediatric Society have proven this belief a myth. According to the Director of Health Center, Lynn Moran, the benefit of a vegetarian diet is that more whole grains, legumes, vegetables and fruits are eaten.
“These are the most healthful foods humans can eat to feel and be the healthiest,” Moran said. “Therefore, when eating a healthy vegetarian diet low in sugar and white flour, one can be quite healthy with low cholesterol, lower obesity, lower in coronary heart diseases, diabetes, have lower blood pressures and lower rates of some cancers.”
In a coronary heart disease study, lifelong vegetarians had a 24 percent lower incidence of heart problems and lifelong vegans had a 57 percent lower incidence compared to those with omnivore diets. Nutritionists agree that a vegetarian diet has many advantages, such as lower cholesterol. Diets including a healthy amount of fruits, nuts and vegetables have been proven to reduce LDL cholesterol up to 16 percent.
Of course eating veggies is good for health; people’s mommies and daddies told them that, but abstaining from meat actually has its benefits also. The last century saw an exponential rise in meat consumption, which has been linked to a higher incidence of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and other diseases.
Another myth about vegetarian diets is that they are deficient in protein. However, the ADA stated in 2009 that vegetarian and vegan diets are healthful and nutritionally adequate and that plant sources can provide enough protein for a healthy diet. The ADA advises that vegetarians eat an assortment of plants throughout the day to get all of the amino acids needed to form complete protein. Freshman archeology and anthropology major Zachary Gross has been a vegetarian for five years.
“I make up for protein mainly with beans,” Gross said. “I don’t really keep track of the nutrients I’m losing though. Not eating meat doesn’t make that big of a health difference.”
Gross decided to become a vegetarian in support of animal rights. He didn’t like the way animals are treated at large factory farms.
According to Moran, getting the right amount of protein can sometimes be a challenge if a person is a picky eater or not willing to try new foods and food combinations.
She also added that other risks to a vegetarian diet are that one can become low in iron, Vitamin D, calcium and zinc. Also, if too many sugars or bad oils are used, then the vegetarian diet becomes non-healthy.
Studies have shown that flexitarians, those that maintain a mostly vegetarian diet but sometimes eat meat, often see the same health benefits as vegetarians, but still get the protein, iron, zinc and B-vitamins from the meat they consume occasionally.
One problem with meat consumption is the gluttonous attitude of those who choose to partake. The average American eats 21,000 whole animals in his or her lifetime. While people consumes Big Macs at McDonalds, the recommended portion size for meat at a meal is 3 ounces, the size of a deck of cards. Of course, what restaurant boasts the three ounces sirloin steak?
Diets are a choice, and ultimately one must choose which is right based on his or her own morals, dietary needs and preferences. However, looking at the health risks and benefits of any diet is important.
