This is Why I’m Vegetarian
By: Ananya Bhogaraju
The beef-meat production has increased in the past 40 years. With the significant increase in the slaughtering of cows, large amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas, is being released into the atmosphere. As more methane releases into the air, the atmosphere becomes warmer. A warmer atmosphere creates climate change. With climate change, deforestation, the melting of the ice-caps, and rising sea levels can all hurt the ecosystem. With the environmental consequences, biodiversity is lost, habitats are destroyed and air quality can be poor. Livestock farming contributes to more than half of water(57%) and air pollution(56%). Something so simple as eating beef for lunch can cause a disaster in our ecosystem. Do we want this to happen in our generation and further?
Being vegetarian is beneficial for our human body too. It has been proven that being vegetarian can reduce heart disease, obesity, types of cancer and diabetes. According to the University of Oxford, a recent study conducted included 48,000 UK adults. The researchers monitor the indivduals for eighteen years and found results that people with plant-based diets are prone to ten fewer cases of heart disease. To add on, in a vegetarian diet the high amounts of fiber provide good energy for the human body to work more efficiently. Thus, helping the environment can also help ourselves.
Being vegetarian is part of my identity. Although all the convincing benefits of being vegetarian came to mind, the idea of animals being killed outweighed those benefits. I am against the abuse and slaughtering of animals for food. Having a plant- based diet doesn’t only mean eating salads everyday. There are a variety of options for people to eat. Something so simple as eating beef for lunch can cause a disaster in our ecosystem. Next time you eat a hamburger think about the consequences that can affect the environment and you.
What are your thoughts on being vegetarian? Do you think you could give up meat? Do you think becoming vegetarian can help save the ecosystem?
What are your thoughts on being vegetarian? Do you think you could give up meat? Do you think becoming vegetarian can help save the ecosystem?
30 comments:
At this current point in my life, I don't think I could become a vegetarian however I respect those that have taken a vegetarian diet for the sake of the environment. I don't think that I could give up meat as it is present in a lot of my favorite meals. I understand that a vegetarian diet has fewer detrimental effects on the environment as we would operate on a lower trophic level so less energy is lost raising meat for us to eat. However, to reduce my ecological footprint, I could reduce the amount of meat I eat and eat it fewer days a week. I could also refrain from eating beef as it does much more damage to the environment than other meats like chicken. Doing these two things could allow me to eat meat while also lessening my environmental harm.
I believe that becoming a vegetarian is a great way to not only become a little more healthy, but also to help save our planet. Although it is very unlikely, think about how much of a difference it would make if everyone become a vegetarian. That would substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow down the changes that are taking place in our climate. I personally believe that I could give up all meats and become vegetarian. This is because due to my religious beliefs, I already do not consume beef. So, it would not be that big of a transition for me if I decide to become vegetarian. As I did say before, becoming vegetarian definitely makes a difference in our ecosystem, and it may even help save it.
Over a year and a half ago, I made the decision to become vegetarian for many of the same reasons described in this post. Vegetarianism is healthier for me and, in all, healthier for the entire biosphere. Many factors contribute to the damage that animal and animal product manufacturing inflict on the environment: certain animals' belching and flatulence add to the carbon in the atmosphere on a massive scale and factories in general discharge various pollutants into the air and water sources. On this, too, frightening, new instances of animal cruelty are brought to light every day. For these reasons and more, it is necessary that humans massively reduce their intake of animals and animal products. Though I understand the struggle of finding new meal ideas, utilizing some creativity and a google search makes it much easier. At this point in time, it is paramount to do so for the sake of humans, animals, and the entirety of Earth.
I understand the perspective of this blog, however I believe that being realistic is also essential when considering ways to save the planet. I imagine that very few people are inclined to become vegetarian solely based on health issues and fewer people swayed by the effects it has on our environment. Although promoting the idea of having a plant-based diet might be beneficial to certain individuals, research has shown that there are some negative health benefits to being vegetarian. For example, in the same study of the 48,000 individuals mentioned in this blog researchers also found that vegetarians had a 20% higher rate of stroke than meat eaters. Another crucial factor to consider when adopting a plant-based diet is the possibility of negative mental-health effects. Aside from the health and environmental advantages and disadvantages to being vegetarian, I completely understand and respect the moral standpoint of becoming vegetarian. The abuse and slaughtering of animals is truly disheartening, however changing something manifested deeply into being human — having meat incorporated into your diet — is extremely challenging and unrealistic. Therefore, I believe that it is crucial, especially right now, to find more sustainable and achievable ways of protecting our planet from further harm and destruction.
The idea of vegetarianism has been present in my mind for some time, although I don't believe that I could make the switch. My family does not regularly consume meat and we tend to stay away from beef, however, cutting out meat entirely from my diet would require a huge diet change that wouldn't be healthy for me. I also don't think that the idea of everyone becoming a vegetarian is possible, simply because meat products may be a large factor in some people's diets as well. Instead, I think that encouraging others to reduce the amount of meat consumed is a far more plausible solution. I do agree with the fact that the beef and poultry industry can be barbaric and cruel. I think that consuming ethically sourced meat products is essential and can do a significant amount in terms of the humane treatment of animals.
This is certainly an interesting topic! This class has really made me see the benefits of switching to a vegetarian diet, and seeing as peanut-butter sandwiches are probably 80% of my body weight, it wouldn’t be hard for me to personally do. I’ve heard many perspectives why or why not to peruse a vegetarian diet, from ethics to personal health, but enviornmenal care really seems to carry the most weight. While I do believe it is unrealistic to expect every person on the planet to bar eating meat for the rest of their lives, I think vegetarian choices are a good way to live sustainably. They are clearly not the only way to live sustainably, but if every American ate meat 3 meals a day, I would be afraid to know how much land was used, how much food was grown, and how many fossil fuels were burned to kill, transport, and store the meat fresh. The idea of at least lessening meat in our daily diets to reduce our footprint and discourage overconsumption is food for thought.
Vegetarians have my upmost respect. In the present society where cooking all kinds of meat has become very popular, vegetarians have held on to their practices, and I respect them for that. I also respect them because it does indeed help the environment. Being vegetarian maintains biodiversity, and it helps contain the amount of methane being released into our atmosphere. Although being vegetarian wont make a humongous change to our environment like other tasks would, it still would benefit it. As for me, I feel like it is too late for me to become vegetarian. Meat is something that is very common in my diet. I won’t be able to change because not only am I used to consuming it, it is also something that i like to consume. There are also many downsides of being Vegetarian. Although meat isn’t the only source of protein, it is the most common source. Also, people who eat meat are less likely to have a stroke than people who are vegetarian. I truly respect vegetarians and their cause, and I am aware of the help it can do for the environment, but it feel like it is too late for me to change, and it just wont be able to do it now.
I am not a vegetarian, even though I have considered it. However, lot of my friends and family do choose to have a vegetarian diet, and I respect their decision and their reasons behind it. I also do think that limiting our meat consumption may have a positive impact on the environment and ourselves for the reasons already explained in this post (reduction in carbon and greenhouse gas emissions, etc.). Even some news articles about animal cruelty in the meat industry may convince some to switch to vegetarianism. Personally, I do think that I could give up meat in my diet, since I don't eat meat very often anyway. However, just simply switching everyone to a vegetarian diet will not solve all of our problems. This is because meat production isn't the only industry that is increasing carbon emissions. For example, the production of rice accounts for about 12% of the farmable land and has a large carbon footprint. In summary, I think that limiting the production of meat may help the environment to an extent, but it won't solve all of our environmental problems.
About two years ago, I became vegetarian as well. Before I completely stopped eating meat, I did some reseach on the health and environmental effects, along with the history, of being vegetarian. In doing so, I learned that the diet traces back to ancient Greece, where many believed that all living things had souls and shouldn’t be killed for food. In the 1970’s, the lifestyle struck mainstream America, where it was viewed from an environmental sustainability perspective. Also, learning about the distribution of water for food production, where even eliminating meat from your diet for just a year can save over 150,000 gallons of water, helped me realize the harm I was doing to the environment. Though the lifestyle may not be for everyone, I believe reducing our intake of animal products is a crucial step in improving our current environmental state.
I think that being a vegetarian is a wonderful thing and it takes a lot of self obedience and control if someone is switching into it. For me personally, meat is a big part of my religion so I don't think it would be possible for me. But the cons of eating meat is much greater than I ever anticipated so I do think that some change needs to take place in order to practice sustainability and reduce our ecological footprint. One way that the people who eat meat can still help out the environment is to reduce our consumption of meat. Studies show that people who rely on meat in their diet really only need to eat meat once every 40 days and it will be perfectly healthy for our body. Trying to follow this schedule, the meat eaters could assist the vegetarians in conserving the environment. I think it's great that you have given up meat and saved not only the animals lives but also perhaps lengthened the time that future people can survive off the land
Personally, I have a couple friends who choose to be vegetarian, and I’ve seen that they are just as healthy and happy as the rest of us. However, the downside to a healthier produce based diet is that it is more costly, thus meaning it is harder for lower class families to be able to afford these better diets. Often cases in a fast moving society people are forced to run to fast food chains and picking up a quick and easy meal which often means finger food such as chicken tenders or burgers. Most often people don’t have the time to sit down and eat a proper healthy salad. This is unfortunate because it inevitably harms their health and allows for mass production of animal products for consumption. I believe that if cheaper options of healthier foods such as salads were available it could help entice consumers to pick the healthier route rather than the cheapest meal they can get their hands on.
Although I am not a vegetarian myself, I would not deny the fact that I have considered switching to a vegetarian diet because of the moral reasons behind slaughtering animals for food. Unfortunately, I doubt I'll turn vegetarian any time soon; however, this does not mean I do not respect vegetarians. Honestly, I admire people who choose to be vegetarian because not only does doing so take a lot of self control but also they tend to live healthier lifestyles. Becoming vegetarian would definitely help save the ecosystem because it would reduce an individual's ecological footprint, and collectively, have a great component of the human population being vegetarian would significantly reduce humankind's ecological footprint on this earth. Like you said above, having lots of people switching to being vegetarian would allow them to lead environmentally sustainable lifestyles in addition to having healthier lives. Although these are very compelling reasons to become a vegetarian, I am disappointed to say that I and most likely many other humans might not be inclined to turn to this diet unfortunately because it would be such a huge change to our lives that we may not like unfortunately.
I've been vegetarian for as long as i can remember, though it is mainly for the reason that i cant really stomach eating a living-breathing animal rather than the environmental benefits it brings. In my opinion, Vegans and vegetarians who "flex" about their lifestyle with a morally superior attitude may turn people off to adopting this diet. It is very important to advocate for veganism /vegetarianism and the benefits it could bring to one's body and our environment , however I think shaming people into adopting such a diet usually doesn't work as they feel insulted and talked down to. This phenomenon is illustrated through the meme making fun of VSCO girls, even though they advocate for objectively good things such as reducing plastic to "save the turtles" they do it in a pretty annoying and "holier than thou" attitude, thus turning people off to their message. PETA an organization that started out with such a brilliant ideology has turned into a joke due to the methods they have used to propagate their message. It is also important to consider that many can not be vegetarian/vegan even if they desire to do so such as athletes, those in the military or those with health problems. it is important to encourage people who attempt to adopt this lifestyle so that they may gradually start making more vegetarian friendly decision instead of shaming from a vegan/vegetarian causing them to completely give up. Hence, while it is important to spread the knowledge of the benefits of veganism/vegetarianism it is vital to do so in a encouraging and non-condescending way.
As much as vegetarianism reduces human environmental impact, unfortunately many people are unwilling to sacrifice their meat. Thus, a compromise between environmental sustainability and practicality must be found. One idea is pescatarianism, as the only meat eaten is fish. This lifestyle has a relatively low environmental impact compared to other meats, and also provides some nutrients that are not found in other meats. Omega 3 is a nutrient that helps maintain good health. Unlike other meat, fish can be eaten raw, cutting down cooking time and fuel used to cook. Without a doubt, some meats have less of an impact than others, mainly: fish and chicken. If people are unwilling to become vegetarian, these alternatives are still progress. Any change will slow down methane release, and slow the progress of global warming. Though I believe it is unlikely for everyone to become vegetarian, healthy and sustainable alternative can serve as a compromise.
I agree that there are some benefits to becoming vegetarian, however, I personally would not want to switch to vegetarian. In my case and many other people’s, the switch to a vegetarian lifestyle is a drastic change, and not everyone is ready for that. Also another reason why people don’t switch to vegetarian is because of the lack of information that people receive about the meat industry. Not many people understand the practices that livestock farmers use to maximize the efficiency of meat production, and if people realized it, they would feel sorry for the animals and cut down their meat intake. I do think that becoming vegetarian could help save the ecosystem. If consumers bought less meat from meat producers, then meat producers would be forced to cut down meat production. This would decrease the green house gasses being released into the air and help alleviate some of the climate change issues we face today.
In my personal opinion, I believe switching to becoming a vegetarian is a huge commitment and I wouldn't think I'd be up for the taking. Although it benefits our environment by living in sustainable conditions, changing the way I eat would most likely switch up how my body may function for a few days before adapting. Even if that weren't to happen, I most definitely would not prefer eating vegetables over meat, because I'm a crazy meat lover. Essentially humans have to face the conflict of deciding whether they would want to benefit the environment with the cost of some factor in their lifestyle, or keep their high-consumption level life style with the cost of some factor in the environment.
Personally I cannot imagine myself becoming vegetarian. I don’t believe I can give up on something I’ve eaten for the past 16 years of my life. Other people are unlikely to give up eating meat as well. However, as more restaurants and chains are developing plant-based or “fake meat”, it gives options for people to reconsider the possibility of becoming vegetarian. I agree that becoming vegetarian can help save the ecosystem, but how many people are actually doing it for the ecosystem? It seems like most people are prioritizing their health and personal experiences (such as disgust for the meat-slaughtering industry) as the main reason for becoming vegetarian. Despite all of this, if everyone were to become vegetarian, it would not solve every environmental problem as it’s 18% of the emitted greenhouse gasses. Though, it’s definitely better than no change and can slow down the rate of rising temperatures.
Considering the fact that beef and other types of meat are huge part of South Indian culture, it would be difficult to cut it out of the diets of my family and I completely. However, my family and I could probably cut down on our meat consumption, especially beef, for the sake of the environment and our health. By reserving beef or other hearty meats for special occasions, our carbon footprint would be significantly reduced. South Indian culture is also heavily influenced by seafood, making it a more practical first step towards vegetarianism than cutting out beef, chicken, and pork completely from our diets. When I have the chance to decide what I eat, like when I buy lunch from school, I try to purchase healthier less meat-oriented meals. Another option would be to consume meat alternatives or substitutes like soy products or tofu. Given the number of products and innovations being made in this field, I could see my family eating them in the future, but not right now. Although vegetarianism would decrease the number of animals being slaughtered and prevent the growth of ranches, most meat-consuming people would have a difficult time giving up what is a usually huge part of their diet.
Personally, I am not a vegetarian, but I understand why people choose to keep their diet animal-free. In my Korean culture, meat is an important ingredient in many Korean dishes, so changing my diet to become vegetarian never crossed my mind. However, it was very eye-opening to realize that the meat industry has such a huge impact on the climate and atmosphere. I previous did not know that the killing of animals for meat releases large amounts of methane into the air, which ultimately affects global warming. In addition, it was very interesting f to find that vegetarian diets help prevent heart disease. Although I personally won’t change my diet, it was very interesting to know that there are multiple different reasons why people become vegetarian.
This post was very eye opening. I had not realized the other effects of farming animals such as deforestation, land breakdown, and loss of biodiversity. Becoming vegetarian for these reasons is applaudable, but I think it would be pretty hard to implement worldwide. Personally, I love eating meat and would not be able to cut it out of my diet. Though I think it's worth mentioning that I only eat chicken, fish, and shrimp. There are certain places across the world that don't eat certain meats, like beef in India. I think it would be interesting to see how not eating that specific meat may have an impact on the local environment.
While I recognize the significant positive effects that becoming a vegetarian can have on the environment, I don’t think that I could become a vegetarian, because I love eating meat and it is a nutritional cornerstone in my diet. After reading this however, I might try to limit the quantities I consume because of the vast environmental impacts that it can have. Limiting the amount of meat I consume will not only help to limit destruction of biodiversity and increasing greenhouse gasses, but can be good for my own health. I think if all consumers such as myself unable or unwilling to give up meat would limit themselves, it could really help future generations.
My father’s side of the family lead a strictly vegetarian lifestyle. As a result, our family hardly ever brings meat into the house. However, on the days we do get to eat meat, it is very satisfying. I recognize the benefits to leading a vegetarian lifestyle and I fully believe I could make the change for the benefit of the human race and for my personal health. Even if I didn’t fully give up eating meat, I could reduce the amount of meat that I consume, and that would greatly reduce my ecological footprint.
I think being vegetarian is a really smart, bold move. I admire people who can make the dietary change and become vegetarian. Quite frankly, the meat industry is dangerous and after watching a few documentaries on it, it is gross. Not only do they kill animals, but they brutally slaughter these animals in an inhumane fashion. Personally, I hate the thought of the animals dying, but I cannot really be vegetarian. I love meat and I eat meat almost every day for dinner. I don’t like vegetables at all, but there are plenty of vegetarian dishes I enjoy. I try to be vegetarian for 3/7 days of the week, but making the change to being fully vegetarian has proven difficult. If everyone was vegetarian, there would be a huge change in biodiversity, as animals wouldn’t be killed to the same extent. Also, being vegetarian could reduce the greenhouse gas emissions which would in turn decrease climate change. Being vegetarian would be a hard choice for many people to make, but it would be a choice that could save ecosystems.
Being vegetarian is one of the most smartest, yet most difficult way to eradicate the global warming problem. If the population of cows were to be decreased, a large percentage of our methane gas production would lower and solve the global climate issue. However, cows are one of the hardest resources on our planet to cut back on. Especially in America, where beef is staple in most household diets. There has been research on making genetically engineered beef and steak as a substitute for real cow meat, but because of the stigmas revolving genetically manufacture food, it's not yet a solution that people are willing to accept. Having people go vegetarian is almost out of the question when compared to the response people had to a beef substitute.
Unfortunately, I most likely would not be able to make the switch to a entirely vegetarian diet, as I love chicken a little too much. However, I respect and understand the reasons why many people are switching to vegetarian diets, as it does have many benefits for the environment, and possibly for health. There are environmental and moral issues with the meat industry, but attempting to take it down completely may be a drastic measure. Instead I think we should push for more sustainable and environmentally and animal friendly practices. One of the ways this could be done is by supporting smaller, more local meat farms, who often have much better and humane conditions for their livestock. We could also support research for lab grown meat, which could provide a safe and efficient alternative to large animal farms.
Being vegetarian had many health benefits and of course environmental benefits. However, a plant-based diet is not cruelty free. Do you ever consider where your leafy greens come from? Who grows them? What are those peoples' work hours and pay amounts? Child labor is especially common in the agricultural industry and these children work in harsh conditions with little pay. There is no way to get food that has not been produced by abuse unless you grow the food yourself. Yes, there are benefits, but in reality one hamburger is not going to make that much of a difference in the grand scheme of things. There need to be larger steps taken to prevent climate change. I understand the thinking behind becoming vegetarian, and I do not look down upon these people. I believe it is great that people would be willing to change their diets because they believe it will help. However, there are better ways to help the environment.
Personally, I have considered going vegetarian a few times, but I have never gone through with it. I try not eat too much meat, especially because it makes me sad to think about the animals I’m eating. I think it would be hard at first to switch to a vegetarian diet, but I think it would be ok eventually. I never actually think about the effect that meat production has on the environment. I think that eventually the whole world is going to have to switch to a vegetarian diet if were going to be able to survive on Earth.
I committed to a vegan diet in March 2019 largely for health reasons. As I began to consume more vegan-oriented media while trying to find recipes, I learned about the food industry’s impact on the environment, sparking a desire within me to reduce my environmental impact as much as possible. As a former competitive dancer, I do not find it hard to create nutritious meals similarly high in protein with plant-based ingredients. I know a fully plant-based diet is not sustainable for everyone, but I do believe that reducing meat consumption is a simple way to reduce one's ecological footprint and some may find it benefits their health.
I think I could become a vegetarian. I have no particular attachment to meat, although I do like fish and seafood a lot more, so the transition wouldn't be as hard relative to other people. I think that being vegetarian is more of personal concern, mainly because it is hard to believe that a small group of people becoming vegetarian will have any real positive effect on the environment. That being said, I do believe that becoming vegetarian and leaving the meat industry behind, would be beneficial for the environment and would be much more sustainable for the Earth.
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