Jocelyn Jeon

Expos Writing
Mrs. Yuasa
02/16/17
Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet

Sticking to a vegetarian diet can be one of the most challenging goals for one person

while the easiest goal for another. Many people have been choosing to refrain from their normal

diet and instead chose one where the consumption of meat is restricted. This may be in relation

to health problems or even moral issues; however, a vegetarian diet can have many benefits that

may overlook the sorrow of not being able to eat meat. Not only does a vegetarian diet benefit

humans, but it also benefits and is healthier for the environment. The diet can not only help with

greenhouse gases, but it can also give humans more land and an overall healthier body.

Greenhouse gases have played a major impact on global warming and is continuing to do

so. According to an UN Report, almost a fifth of global warming emissions come from

livestock.(Freston)(Statistic/Quote)(Expert Statement)(Fact). This means that almost 20% of the

earths greenhouse gases come from animals that humans consume. If the world were to adopt

variations on diets, health would be greatly increased at the same time global greenhouse gas

emissions were reduced by an amount equal to the current greenhouse gas emissions of all cars,

trucks, planes, trains and ships (Smith)(Statistic/Quote). With more people turning to vegetarian

diets, it can be reasoned that it will in turn benefit the earth and help with global warming.

With less people relying on livestock, there will be more land space available and it will

also be able to conserve water. It is stated that Animal agriculture takes up an incredible 70%
of all agricultural land, and 30% of the total land surface of the planet.(Freston)

(Statistic/Quote). Strictly speaking, with the elimination of meat from diets, there will be more

available land space that humans could use to develop something that is needed or something

that will benefit everyone such as planting more trees (reason). Reducing livestock will also be

able to help with conserving water. According to Procon.org, It takes about 2,500 gallons of

water to produce one pound of beef, and about 660 gallons to make a pound of chicken. It only

takes about 220 gallons to make a pound of tofu and 180 to make a pound of wheat

flour.(Statistic/Quote). In other words, the growth of livestock takes a long time, but it also

requires a lot of water. The subtraction of meat from human diets will conserve natural resources

overall have a positive and healthy impact on the earth.

A healthy environment will be given, with the help of a vegetarian diet, but humans can

also benefit personally. By taking out meats and replacing them with vegetables, vegetarians are

likely to have lower total and LDL cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and lower body mass

index.(Harvard Health)(Statistic/Quote). Basically, this quote is explaining that a vegetarian

diet can benefit your body by making it healthier. It will not only prevent gaining of body

weight, but it will also lower your chances and protect you from getting major diseases such as

heart disease, cancer or even diabetes-type two. It can also be assumed that people who turn to a

vegetarian diet are more likely to follow, such as not smoking, not drinking excessively, and

getting adequate exercise.(Harvard Health)(Statistic/Quote). Vegetarian diets will not only

benefit the environment, but it can positively impact your health.

Some people of course, may want to question whether switching to the vegetarian diet is

sufficient. Meat is one of the many sources that you can gain protein from; however, it is not the
only way. You can also find other ways to get nutrients and these days there are many

substitutions for certain foods. Proponents of meat lovers are right to argue that meat is the most

convenient source of protein, but they are exaggerating when they claim that it is hard to find

protein through different foods. According to the American Dietetic Association, a vegetarian

diet can meet protein requirements, provide all the essential amino-acids (Procon.org)

(Statistic/Quote)(Expert Statement). This proves to show that a vegetarian diet can provide a

source of protein.

To conclude, the vegetarian diet can be beneficial to both the environment and the

humans that live in it. A vegetarian diet can not only help with greenhouse gases and expansion

of lands, but it can also improve the humans body condition. It is important that humans

continue to think about the things that can benefit our environment because the earth is slowing

dying and our children and grandchildren are going to be the ones that pay for the consequences.

Although it may be hard to become a vegetarian right away, shouldnt humans try their best to

cut meat out for the sake of the environment? (rhetorical question).
 Work Cited
Freston, Kathy. "Vegetarian Is the New Prius." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 18
Jan. 2007. Web. 11 Feb. 2017.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathy-freston/vegetarian-is-the-new-pri_b_39014.html>.
In this article, the author talks about the impact that livestock have on the earth and greenhouse
gases. It also talks about the total land surface that livestock take up. I used a quote from this
article to explain statistics on land space and greenhouse emissions. The quote contained
statistics that were used to further explain the impact of livestock in our environment.

Publications, Harvard Health. "Becoming a Vegetarian." Harvard Health. Harvard Medical

School, 18 Mar. 2016. Web. 16 Feb. 2017.
<http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/becoming-a-vegetarian>.
In this article, the author talks about what it means to be a vegetarian and also the benefits of
referring to a vegetarian diet. I used a quote from this article explaining the health benefits of
becoming a vegetarian. The quote contained cholesterol, blood pressure and much more.

Smith, Carol. "New Research Says Plant-based Diet Best for Planet and People." Our World.
United Nations University, 15 Nov. 2014. Web. 11 Feb. 2017.
<https://ourworld.unu.edu/en/new-research-says-plant-based-diet-best-for-planet-and-peopl
e>.
In this article, the author speaks about the average human diet choice and further goes on to
explain about the impacts of it. I used a quote from this article explaining the positive impact the
world would have if humans decide to reduce their impact on greenhouse gases.

"Vegetarian ProCon.org." ProConorg Headlines. Pro Con, n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.
<http://vegetarian.procon.org/>.
In this article, the authors state different positive and negative views of turning to a vegetarian
diet. I used several quotes to state statistics on the impact of livestock has on water and also to
state a statistics on whether or not, humans can get the needed nutrients from a vegetarian diet.