Nutrition may be one of the most important things that we can regulate on our day to day lives. It is obvious that the average American doesn't worry about health as much as one should. Being more involved in one's intake can cause drastic change and improvement that is detrimental for body growth. Nutrients like protein, zinc, and calcium are found in the foods we eat and it is our job to get the correct amount needed every day. Roughly 600,000 people in the United States die every year from heart disease (Heart Disease Facts and Statistics). Adopting a more diverse diet can help one get the nutrients needed daily to prevent disease while also learning more about one's own body and health.
A study shows, vegetarian diets are linked to a mutation that possibly makes one less immune to heart disease and colon cancer. This is only true if said vegetarian doesn't follow a strict regimen to counteract this. Making those who don't get enough omega-6 or omega-3 susceptible to inflammation (Campbell). This being said, not all vegetarians are unhealthy and not all meat eaters are healthy. Vegetarians have to be more conscious about their diets, because proteins are more likely to be found in animal products than in plant products. As a matter of fact, the majority of plant proteins are not complete, with the exception of quinoa and buckwheat. This means that they lack one or more essential amino acids necessary for a complete source of protein (Johnson). Zinc is another example of the importance of a diverse diet. A study of Iranians and Egyptians shows, “A similar syndrome (to anemia and hypogonadism) was observed in Egyptian adolescents who had similar dietary history to that of the Iranians, mainly subsisting on bread and beans. This shows that those mainly sticking to a vegetarian diet are more likely to have zinc deficiency, which is linked to certain problems such as, diarrhea, pneumonia, and malaria (Roohani, et al.). These studies do not account for every single person in the world, therefore there is room for assumption.
Save your time!
We can take care of your essay
- Proper editing and formatting
- Free revision, title page, and bibliography
- Flexible prices and money-back guarantee
Those who eat either meat or plants, only are less prone to diseases because both food groups hold necessary nutrients. A study used in Klurfield's article shows: “The highest consumers (of meat) always had a higher cancer risk, suggesting that other factors not measured affected the risk of colon cancer... People who ate a lot of vegetables and fruit had no increased risk, no matter how much red meat they ate”. This is a first-hand example of why a diverse diet is healthier for you than sticking to just meat or just plants. “One study of 118,000 people found no evidence of a significant association between egg consumption and heart disease. In fact, people who ate up to a half dozen eggs per week actually had a lower risk of heart disease, as natural cholesterol, raises HDL (good cholesterol), which protects your heart” (Rakoczy). Veganism, which is the practice of not coming in contact with animal products, is actually a lot less healthy for you than a strict meat diet. This is true, because candy, donuts, soda, and energy drinks are vegan among many other things. India, which has the lowest meat consumption compared to all countries (except for Bangladesh), also is the place where diabetes is the most frugal. Vegans have a higher risk of sarcopenia, which is muscle wasting, senile dementia, and osteoporosis (Mangan). Although, many important nutrients are not found in plant material, one is, fiber. Fiber, which helps with a person's digestive system, can only be found in plant proteins as a matter of fact (Johnson).
When finding one's right dietary plan, a person needs to take into consideration many things. Some things that affect this are: ethnicity, history, or genetics. Some people are just naturally more susceptible to diseases and diet may not influence their health in anyway. When looking for the most nutritious foods, a person needs to take into consideration whether those nutrients are natural or modified. If they are not natural then it would be recommended to change your diet in some way. By looking at others who follow certain dietary plans, one can learn many things about themselves to maximize nutrient intake, which is extremely important for the health of a subject. Both meat and plants are consumed by the majority of the world and that fact ensures we're on the right track for overall successful health of the people.
Many people, regardless of the facts, do not process foods like everyone else so it is important to know your body to reach maximum health. Meat and vegetables together generate the best results for nutrient gain to stop or lessen the risk of disease. Our ancestors have been eating meat and vegetables for millions of years and it has kept our species alive, so why change anything? Too much of any type of substance can be unhealthy to a person's body, that is why moderation is key in finding your right diet plan. This being said, a more diverse diet will help a person learn and discover many things about their body, while gathering nutrients to ward off diseases and other health related problems.
Works Cited
- Campbell, Hank. “Why a Vegetarian Diet May Be Bad For You”. American Council on Science and Health, 29 Mar. 2016, http://www.acsh.org/news/2016/03/29/why-a-vegetarian-diet-may-be-bad-for-you
- Mangan, P. D., et al. “Why Being Vegan Is a Bad Idea”. Rogue Health and Fitness, 20 Oct. 2018, http://roguehealthandfitness.com/vegan-bad-idea/
- Doheny, Kathleen. “Are There Health Downsides To Vegetarian Diets?” WebMD, WebMD, 18 Jan. 2018, http://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/news/20180118/are-there-health-downsides-to-vegetarian-diets
- Klurfeld, David M. “What Is the Role of Meat in a Healthy Diet?” OUP Academic, Oxford University Press, 7 July 2018, http://academic.oup.com/af/article/8/3/5/5048762
- Roohani, Nazanin, et al. “Zinc and Its Importance for Human Health: An Integrative Review”. Journal of Research in Medical Sciences : the Official Journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd, Feb. 2013, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3724376/
- Wyness, Laura. “The Role of Red Meat in the Diet: Nutrition and Health Benefits”. Cambridge Core, 8 Dec. 2015, http://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/proceedings-of-the-nutrition-society/article/role-of-red-meat-in-the-diet-nutrition-and-health-benefits/7EE0FE146D674BB59D882BEA17461F1B/core-reader#
- Johnson, Jon. “Animal Vs. Plant Protein: What Is the Difference and Which Is Best?” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322827.php
- Rakoczy, Anna. “The Case for Eating Meat”. Homemade Method, 12 Mar. 2019, http://www.homemademethod.com/the-case-for-eating-meat/
- “Heart Disease Facts & Statistics”. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, http://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm.
Stuck on your essay?
