Vanessa Case

April 4, 2020

ENG-112-401

Professor Carroll

Updated Annotated Bibliography

Felman, Adam. “Vegan Diet: Health Benefits, Risks, and Meal Tips.” Medical News Today,
MediLexicon International, 15 Nov. 2017,
www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149636#benefits
Fat from animals have been linked to lots of health issues including but not limited to diabetes,
hypertension, some cancers and heart diseases. The way that some meat is processed
can also be shown to carry cancer-linked chemicals and toxins into humans. It is said
that healthier fats like olive oil provide humans with the proper amount of healthy fats
without exposing them to the risks that animal by-products do. Meat eaters are at
higher risks for prostate and colon cancer. Vegans, or plant-based eaters also have
shown to have more calcium and better bone health because of their highly saturated
diets with calcium.

“Fight Climate Change by Going Vegan.” PETA, 23 June 2010, www.peta.org/issues/animals-

used-for-food/global-warming/.
According to the United Nations climate change influences every continent, all agriculture, the
health of humans, ecosystems and water supply. Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous
oxide are the most powerful greenhouse gases causing climate change. The U.N.
believes that shift of all people to a more plant-based diet will combat the effects of
climate change. A study from Oxford University shows that meat-eaters create more
than double the amount of greenhouse gases than that of vegetarians and vegans.
Those who eat more than 3.5 ounces of meat per day create 15.8 pounds of greenhouse
gas emissions compared to an incredibly smaller amount, 8.4 pounds, that plant-based
eaters create. Officials urge that the fastest way to omit excess greenhouse gases is to
stop eating meat and other animal byproducts.

Gray, Richard. “Why the Vegan Diet Is Not Always Green.” BBC Future, BBC, 13 Feb. 2020,
www.bbc.com/future/article/20200211-why-the-vegan-diet-is-not-always-green.

A researcher from the University of Oxford states that “it’s essential to be mindful about
everything we consume: air-transported fruit and veg can create more greenhouse gas
 emissions per kilogram than poultry meat”. So when people look into merging to an all
plant-based or vegan diet because they want to help lower their carbon-footprint, they
are still in fact making a large dent, and their carbon-footprint is not lowered all that
much. Most delicate berries are flown over from Europe and the United States by
airplane to other places. Also stated in the article, research by Angelina Frankowska,
from the University of Manchester, learned that asparagus that is sold and consumed
the United Kingdom has the highest carbon footprint compared to any other vegetable.
The asparagus has a carbon footprint with 5.3kg of carbon dioxide being produced for
every kilogram of asparagus.

Lomborg, Bjorn. “Don't Let Vegetarian Environmentalists Shame You for Eating Meat. Science Is
on Your Side.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 31 July 2019,
www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2019/07/25/vegetarianism-climate-change-
meat-vegan-livestock-column/1804090001/.
Scientist believe that everyone merging to strict plant-based diets will help combat climate
change. Although the idea that everyone should become vegan/vegetarian to help the
environment, most people, 1.45 billion to be exact, are vegan/vegetarian due to poverty
due to not being able to afford meat. It is believed that going towards a plant-based
lifestyle will cut one's carbon footprint in half, but that leaves four fifths of emissions is
ignored since our total emissions don’t come strictly from food products. Studies show
that going from a meat-eating diet to a plant-based diet will only cut a person’s
emissions by only 4.3%. Researchers believe that not just plant-based diets but holding
bigger corporations responsible for their emissions and carbon footprint will make a
bigger dent in climate change.

Olfert, Melissa D., and Rachel A. Wattick. "Vegetarian Diets and the Risk of Diabetes." Current Diabetes
Reports, vol. 18, no. 11, 2018, pp. 1-6. ProQuest,
https://login.proxy039.nclive.org/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/2108745607?
accountid=10163, doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11892-018-1070-9.

There are multiple types of diets. The vegan diet does eat any animal byproduct and solely eats an all-
vegetable diet. The vegetarian diet eats no meats but does eat milk and eggs. The pescatarian
diet only eats meats from fish and does also eat milk products and eggs. In a study after twelve
weeks the risk of diabetes went down twenty-eight percent when checking a fasting glucose
level. Those consuming meat weekly has a twenty-nine percent higher chance of developing
diabetes, and that risk goes up to thirty-eight percent if the meat is processed. A vegan or
vegetarian diet can help with weight loss, lowering risk of diabetes, and heart disease, and those
eating meat have higher risk for all of the above. There are many positives to living a plant-
based lifestyle.
"Plant-Based Diet may Prevent Heart Disease." Nutrition Health Review, no. 103, 2010, pp. 6. ProQuest,
https://login.proxy039.nclive.org/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/822233821?a
ccountid=10163.

About eight million Americans, about one in three have heart disease. Science shows that a plant-based
diet may help lower heart disease in humans. Plants contain phytosterols that reduce arterial
plaque buildup. This reduction of plaque buildup could work in a human's small intestine to help
block the absorption of cholesterols. Plant based diets can help lower and even reverse heart
disease. Researchers have been studying these benefits since the 1980’s.

“Plant-Based Diets: Pros and Cons According to NUNM.” National University of Natural
Medicine, 3 May 2019, nunm.edu/2019/04/plant-based-diets/.

Plant-based diets are mainly based on whole food including vegetables, fruits, whole grains,
legumes, seeds, and nuts. Potential benefits of plant-based diets include improved
cardiovascular health, lowering cholesterol, carbon footprint, and even risk of diabetes.
Plant-based diets are not necessarily for the purpose of weight loss, but may help with
weight management, as well. Studies show that plant-based diets may even help lower
the risk of certain cancer, neurological function, and prevention or management of
dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. Even though plant-based show many benefits, plant-
based diets may not benefit everyone. Those with low protein intake, iron deficiency’s,
vitamin deficiencies or low fatty acid intake should avoid strict plant-based diets.

Shmerling, Robert H. “Plant-Based Diets Are Best... or Are They?” Harvard Health Blog, 25 Nov.
2019, www.health.harvard.edu/blog/plant-based-diets-are-best-or-are-they-
2019103118122.

Although plant-based diets are believed to be healthier, and help lower heart disease, risk of
diabetes, and even some cancers, there are still some concerns with a strictly all plant-
based diet. Those who choose to eat only plant-based diets run the risk of have
inadequate protein, and not getting enough vitamins and minerals. Although those who
choose a plant-based diet can opt for protein sources like soy, quinoa, and nuts, some
studies are still finding that plant-based diets can still come with health risks. Lack of
vitamins and minerals can lead to several health problems, and even increase the risk of
stroke and heart disease.