"Lettuce" Talk About Vegetarianism: Looking At Pros and Cons in Hopes to "Meat" in the Middle

A vegetarian diet has never interested me simply because I like the taste of meat.  Do I eat vegetarian meals at times?  Yes, but don’t go out of my way to just eat a vegetarian diet.  In the summer, I love when I can plan a meal of sweet corn, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini and not include any meat.  I also enjoy steaks on the grill.

So much of the research from my reading this week supports vegetarian diets, but they also discussed the limitations of vegetarianism.  Researchers have conducted numerous studies on people who follow a vegetarian diet, or have switched to a vegetarian diet, and the benefits it has had on type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

The research outcomes weren’t surprising.  One article I reviewed by Dr. Jane Hart was a compilation of several research studies and the benefits of vegetarianism on chronic disease.  Along with type 2 diabetes and heart disease, obesity was also positively impacted by a vegetarian diet.

Over one 17-year study, people who ate meat were 29 percent more likely to get diagnosed with type 2 diabetes than vegetarians.  A short-term study, conducted over just 22 months, showed that diabetics following a vegan diet reduced their medications by 43 percent while other diabetics following a diet based on the American Diabetic Association guidelines, which includes some meat, lowered their medications by 26 percent.

Studies looking at heart disease concluded that diets high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts proved to be beneficial in lowering the risk of death from heart disease.  Vegetarians were 24 percent less likely to die from ischemic heart disease compared to their meat-eating counterparts.

Instead of turning to the popular Atkins Diet or Weight Watchers, research showed becoming a vegetarian was just as effective in losing weight.  Vegetarians lost the same, if not slightly more, weight than those who followed other diet plans.  These studies were limited because they did not mention any levels of physical activity.  According to our textbook, vegetarians tend to live a healthier lifestyle, which may include exercise, so that would aid in weight loss.

The one thing that was slightly surprising was that there was no research to support claims of vegetarianism helping in the fight against cancer.  Consuming large amounts of red meat may increase the chances for certain cancers, especially colorectal cancer, but there is no research to show vegetarians have lower cancer risks.

Looking at it the other way, Richard Corliss wrote an article that showed a vegetarian diet is not necessarily a healthy diet.  Without meat, some vegetarians do not get enough essential vitamins and nutrients.  They need to search for foods that provide things they are missing from not consuming meat.  Agreeing with our textbook, Corliss listed groups of people who might want to avoid following vegetarian diets.  Young children, pregnant and nursing mothers, athletes, and seniors have special dietary needs that may not be met through a vegetarian diet.

Too much of this seems like common sense – avoid too much red meat, limit saturated fat intake, eat more fruits and vegetables, and seek balance in a diet.  These are things I’m well aware of and try to incorporate into my diet, although I’m not always successful.

After examining the benefits of a vegetarian diet on chronic diseases, I’m still not willing to change my mind and switch to a vegetarian diet.  I understand there are some health benefits to eating this way, but I think an adequate and balanced diet with meat can help achieve the same results.

Although looking at some research, maybe I could consider myself a vegetarian.  In one survey, 37 percent of those calling themselves vegetarians had eaten meat in the last 24 hours.

Corliss, R., August, M., Cooper, M., Bjerklie, D., McLaughlin, L., Cole, W., & Ressner, J. (2002). Should We all Be Vegetarians? (Cover story). Time, 160(3), 48. Retreived from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?irect=true&db=aph&AN=6915028&site=ehost-live

Hart, J. (2009). The Health Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet. Alternative & Complementary Therapies, 15(2), 64-68. doi:10.1089/act.2009.15202

Sizer, F. & Whitney, E. (2013) Nutrition: concepts & controversies (13th ed, p. 226-232). Belmont, Calif: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.