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Bringing you the ‘tale’ of veggie

illustration by Christian A. Lopez
illustration by Christian A. Lopez

by Alejandra Molina
Assistant Editor

To be or not to be a vegetarian?

More and more Americans have considered engaging in this lifestyle, according to the Time magazine article, “Should We All Become Vegetarians.”

The question is why are more people engaging in vegetarianism? And if they do choose the vegetarian life, are they living it the healthy way?

Living a healthier life and the prevention of certain diseases such as E. coli bacteria and mad cow disease are only some of the reasons why people have limited or banned their meat consumption.

The Vegetarian Times web site, www.vegetariantimes.com, states that vegetarians do have a longer lifespan than their meat-eating counterparts.

Loma Linda University conducted a 20-year study finding that vegetarians, on an average, live 10 to 15 years longer than meat-eaters. Eating a plant-based diet helps reduce the risk for hypertension, heart disease, cancers, type two diabetes and kidney disease, the study said.

Plant-based diets are lower in fat, higher in fiber and key in disease-fighting antioxidants than meat-based diets.

The Vegetarian Times found that eating a high diet in saturated fat increases the threat of heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Common among non-vegetarians, excess dietary protein is linked to kidney stones and osteoporosis.

According to a Time magazine poll, around 10 million Americans consider themselves to be practicing vegetarians, 10,000 of those being adults. An additional 20 million have tried to become vegetarians.

There are many types of vegetarians though. There are the those who build their diet around sprouted seeds, such as wheat sprouts or broccoli; others eat nothing but fruits and berries, including juice, grains, nuts, legumes, tomatoes and eggplants. The most populated type of vegetarians are the vegans, those who neither eat meat, dairy, eggs nor other animal products, according to studies.

Then there is the pesco-pollo-vegetarian, who eats fish and chicken, and the semi-vegetarian who frequently but not systematically avoids meat and dairy.

Though these three forms of vegetarianism represent a healthy diet, are those who practice these forms true vegetarians?

Another Time Magazine poll survey of 11,000 people, indicated that 37 percent responded yes to being vegetarian, but also reported that in the previous 24 hours, they had eaten red meat and 60 percent had eaten meat, poultry or seafood.

“I don’t consider someone who eats meat occasionally a true vegetarian,” said Alicia Carranco, freshman. “It’s like someone saying I don’t smoke, but I smoke a cigarette once in a while,” she said.

Being a vegetarian does bring about healthful advantages but can be dangerous as well. For vegans, their strict avoidance of meat, eggs and dairy products can provoke deficiencies in iron, calcium and vitamin B12.

Therefore, vegetarians need more iron than non-vegetarians do.

Heme-iron, the iron in animal sources, is better absorbed than the iron in plant sources, called non-heme.

To increase absorption, vegetarians need to eat iron-rich foods like legumes, soy, avocados, oatmeal and sea vegetables with foods high in vitamin C.

“I would not be able to become a vegetarian because I am used to eating meat,” said freshman Nancy Perez. “I was raised like that, and it would be too hard to break off that habit,” she said.

For those who think vegetarianism helps them stay thin, they are right.

Studies in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition have shown that vegetarians tend to be more slender than meat-eaters.

Vegetarian Times explains this to be partly true because vegetarian diets are lower in fat and calories and higher in fiber than most meat-based diets.

Kids, nursing moms and athletes all need to be smart eaters.

The article, “Should We All Become Vegetarians?” states that newborns need nutrients developed by the mother to develop properly, and toddlers need protein and vitamins that might require fortified vegetarian foods.

Pregnant women need to supplement their diets with vitamins B12 and teenagers, who are going vegetarian, need fatty acids for a healthy developing body.

The article also emphasizes that few top athletes are vegetarians. Athletes need energy, strength and muscle mass. All of these factors require nutrients that can be more easily obtained from meat.

Sports nutritionist Suzanne Girard Eberle said that world-class endurance athletes need an excess of 5,000 or 6,000 calories a day.

“As an athlete, I need a higher calorie intake, and I will not get that by eating only vegetables,” said Eric Thomas, junior. “I would have to eat more food if I was a vegetarian,” he said.

Vegetarians come in all shapes and sizes and with different reasons in engaging in this rather strictly based lifestyle.

Though being a vegetarian does bring its healthy benefits, there are precautions that vegetarians need to be aware of to prevent any health problems.

Alejandra Molina, LV Life Editor
Alejandra Molina
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Christian A. Lopez, Staff Writer
Christian A. Lopez
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