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Reiley Jones
Mrs. DeBock
English 4 Honors
September 9, 2015
Annotated Bibliography
Essential Question: How does a vegan diet benefit the body and the environment?
Working Thesis Statement: A vegan diet benefits the body and the environment.
Refined Thesis Statement: Through following a vegan diet, positive changes to the body and
environment can be seen.
Driscoll, Sally, and Ann Griswold. "Vegetarianism: An Overview." Points Of View:
Vegetarianism (2015): 1. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 15 Sept. 2015.
A plant-based diet is beneficial for maintaining an ideal weight, reducing risk of diabetes
and heart disease, and provides the necessary fiber to help prevent colon disease and cancer. On
average, vegans eat less saturated fat and fewer carbohydrates. The crucially negative impact
meat-eating has had on the environment has extended into destroying undersea ecosystems,
significant amounts of the Amazon rainforest, the release of carbon produced from burning trees,
nitrous oxide in manure, and the high levels of methane produced during a cows digestive
process. Vegetarianism is a common debate among the religious communities. Some Christians
believe that God created animals to be food for humans, while others believe that killing animals
for food runs counter to a humans responsibility to respect all living creatures. Jains, along with

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many Hindus and some Buddhists, practice nonviolence to animals. This article relates to my
topic because it focuses on the impacts the farming industry is having on the environment.
"5 Minute Guide to Cruelty-free Living." Compassionate Living // Animals Australia. Web. 15
Sept. 2015.
The greatest cause of animal cruelty today is the industrialized animal abuse hidden
inside factory farms and slaughterhouses. The crates confining pigs are so small they cannot turn
around. Surgical procedures are performed on animals without pain relief. Most egg-laying hens
spend their entire lives inside battery cages so small they cannot stretch their wings. Since only
female chicks are profitable, millions of male chicks are gassed or ground up alive every year.
Just like every other female species, cows do not produce milk until after giving birth. To
continue making a profit off dairy, dairy cows are restrained and impregnated. After giving birth,
their newborn calves are forcibly removed from their mothers so the milk can be harvested for
human consumption. Hundreds of thousands of Australian dairy calves are slaughtered every
year after only a few days old because they are a waste product. With many new dairy
alternatives (soy, oat, rice, cashew, and almond milk), the need for the cruel treatment of dairy
cows is unnecessary. This article provides alternatives and ways to contribute to following a
vegan lifestyle.
Glick-Bauer, Marian, and Ming-Chin Yeh. "The Health Advantage of a Vegan Diet: Exploring
the Gut Microbiota Connection." Nutrients. MDPI. Web. 15 Sept. 2015.
Veganism has been proved to help maintain good health and manage diseases such as
cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and may offer protection against inflammatory
conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. Most vegans are found to have lower blood pressure, BMI,

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glucose, insulin, and heart disease levels. Ratios for developing female-specific cancers were
lower for those adhering to a vegan diet. Vegan diets are higher in carbohydrates and fiber than
omnivores. With inflammation being a critical component linking gut microbiota with obesity,
metabolic dysfunction and chronic disease, a vegan diet high in fiber play a significant role in
regulating the inflammatory response. This article is beneficial to me because it goes in depth
about the health advantages following a vegan diet has.
Palmer, Sharon. "A Plant-Based Diet Has Impressive Benefits." Environmental Nutrition
Newsletter (Jan. 2014). Rpt. in Vegetarianism. Ed. Amy Francis. Farmington Hills, MI:
Greenhaven Press, 2015. Current Controversies. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web.
15 Sept. 2015.
A plant-based diet has proven to have an overwhelming amount of benefits. Compared to
meat-eaters, people who eat a plant-based diet have lower disease rates, live longer, and have less
of a carbon footprint. Vegans have a higher intake of vitamin C, beta-carotene, soy protein, and
plant protein. While the intake of saturated fat is low, the intake of vitamin B12 is low. However,
it is often supplemented. With a 25 BMI being overweight, vegans averaged around a 23.6 BMI.
Through a series of studies and tests, vegans have lower levels of cholesterol, blood pressure,
and inflammation. The rates of diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease are much lower. The
behaviors of vegans seemed to improve as well; they watch less television, sleep more, and
consume more fruits and vegetables. This article highlights the ranges of benefits that following
a vegan diet has.
Stark, Michelle. "Weighing in on Wellness." Tampa Bay Times [St. Petersburg, FL] 27 May
2015: 5E. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 15 Sept. 2015.

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A vegan diet tends provide higher levels of dietary fiber, magnesium, potassium, and
vitamins C and E. Following a plant-based diet leads to lower rates of chronic disease. Although
vegans lack a high intake of vitamin B-12, calcium, vitamin D, zinc, iron, and omega-3 fatty
acids, they can be supplemented through oral vitamins or other foods. Vitamin B-12 can be
consumed through fortified breakfast cereals and soy beverages. Calcium can come from sesame
seeds, collards, kale, and broccoli. Vitamin D is made through our body after exposure to
sunlight. Zinc comes from whole grains, nuts, legumes and spinach. Iron can be consumer
through whole grains, prunes, apricots, and leafy greens. Because the main criticism of a vegan
diet is that vegans do not consume the required nutrients and minerals needed to remain healthy,
this article scientifically proves foods that include said vitamins.
"Veganism is healthy." Commonweal 134.17 (2007): 37. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web.
15 Sept. 2015.
Doctors have been studying whether meat and animal byproducts are essential to the
human diet. The heaping benefits of following veganism are lowering cholesterol and blood
pressure as well as preventing diseases. A vegan diet consisting of vegetables, fruits, and whole
grains provides the all necessary minerals, vitamins, and nutrients. This diminishes the belief that
we need to consume animal products for protein, when all that is consumed is fat and cholesterol.
Our countrys rise in obesity, diabetes, and other diet-related illnesses attribute to the mindset
that following a plant-based diet is nothing but eating lettuce and rabbit food. A portion of
vegans are people that follow their religious belief in nonviolence toward animals. This article
rebuttals the criticism that vegan diets do not consume all the necessary vitamins that meat-eaters
do.