EAPP - Position Paper 5

Vegetarian Diet (500 words)
Humans have evolved to become omnivores, being able to consume both meat
and vegetables. But, only having one of the two to eat will prove insufficient and will not
provide the body its necessary nutrients. An only vegetarian diet, although will be
lacking if handled incorrectly, can be highly beneficial to the health and subsequent
lifestyle of the person undergoing the change.
Before jumping into its benefits let’s answer most glaring question: what exactly
is a “vegetarian diet”? There are, according to an article by Harvard, 5 varieties of
vegetarians: vegans (total vegetarians), lacto-ovo vegetarians, lacto vegetarians, ovo
vegetarians, and partial vegetarians. For a diet to be considered a “vegetarian diet”
doesn’t necessitate that you only eat greens, you can avoid eating meat and eat poultry
or fish (partial vegetarians) or you can eat no meat, poultry, fish, or dairy products but
consume eggs (ovo vegetarians). There are many ways to undergo a vegetarian diet
and how you go about doing this will be up to you and your personal preference. You
can get the many benefits of being vegetarian without going all the way. An example of
this is a Mediterranean eating pattern---known to be associated with longer life and
reduced risk of several chronic illnesses---features an emphasis on plant foods with
sparing use of meat. Even if a full vegetarian lifestyle is not for you, steering your diet in
the general direction of a “vegetarian diet” is highly beneficial to the longevity of your
body, even with simple substitutions like eating fish or plant-based sources of protein,
instead of eating meat every day of the week.
Vegetarian diets are starting to become more appealing to the populace as

research steers from finding the potential nutritional deficiencies this type of diet has
towards confirming the health benefits of meat-free eating. Nowadays, according to an
article by Harvard, plant-based eating and other varieties of vegetarian diets are now
recognized as being not only nutritionally sufficient for the body but also as a way to
reduce the risk for many chronic illnesses and complications. There’s also some
evidence that vegetarians have a lower risk for cardiac events and death from cardiac
arrests and other cardiac causes. A study of combined analysis of data from five
prospective studies involving more than 76,000 participants published several years
ago---vegetarians were, on average 25% less likely to die of heart disease. And,
according to the American Dietetic Association, “appropriately planned vegetarian diets,
including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may
provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases.” This means
that unless you follow recommended guidelines on nutrition, fat consumption, and
weight control, becoming a vegetarian won’t necessarily be good for you. It takes a
person proper self-control and discipline to follow any diet, and not just vegetarian diets.
For health, it is important that we always keep in mind to eat a variety of fruits,
vegetables, and whole grains; replaces saturated trans fats with good fats, such as
those found in nuts, olive oil, and canola oil; and, monitor your calorie intake since even
from nutritious, low-fat, plant-based foods, you’ll gain weight. Vegetarian diets, when
taken with discipline and self-control coupled with regular physical activity, will result to
an even healthier body and reduce in developing chronic illnesses and complications.
A good counter argument, and one that has been pondered over the years since
the concept of being “vegetarian” came to light, is the problem of the potential nutritional
imbalance that may result from going for a vegetarian diet. But, that is a not necessarily
a major problem since it can easily be supplemented by the other foods that are
considered “vegetarian” such as poultry, fish, and dairy products. Changing to a
vegetarian diet does not require the person to be a complete vegetarian rather it means
to steer what they eat and consume on a daily basis to a more plant-based diet with
servings of, if their preference allows, poultry, fish, and dairy products. Vegetarian diets
are not limited to just a full diet of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, it also
encompasses a variety of lifestyles that are beneficial for the health and longevity of a
person. With so many options the problems regarding potential nutritional deficiencies
are completely null and void.
In recent years, going for a vegetarian diet has gained immense traction and it is
without merit. A vegetarian diet, according to multiple studies, has immense health
benefits and reduces the risk of chronic illnesses. And with proper self-control and
discipline can be the lifestyle that propels our bodies towards a healthier and not so
damaging direction. This diet is the change we need, and the diet that triumphs over all.

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Vegetarian Diet (500 words)

Vegetarian diets are starting to become more appealing to the populace as

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