By Jayson Drayton ’26
Veganism has always been a controversy to people. There are a bunch of vegan influencers that try to support veganism and try to spread it to people worldwide. Some people try to persuade and tell us that being vegan is the best way to be healthy. Some people however oppose the thought of being vegan knowing the consequences and sometimes even hating vegans.
Veganism is supported by many for its “health-diet” of just plants and no animal-based foods. Plants like lettuce are indeed healthy, however as a vegan you are eating only vegetables and not any meat or dairy. Your body is missing out on many other nutrients that the human body requires to grow and thrive. For instance, an article by Bali and Naik states, “Vegans have greater iron needs than other diet patterns, mainly because non-heme iron from plant-based foods is less bioavailable, as absorption is hindered by whole grains, legumes, and nuts due to their phytic acid content” (Bali and Naik). The lack of iron that plants contain can cause a big issue in a lack of nutrients. In addition, the article adds, “An optimal diet should be balanced, consisting of lean meat, nuts, fresh fruits and vegetables, and olive oil” (Bali and Naik). These foods target the nutrients that you need, and are better than just eating plants.
Vegans lack a normal diet, therefore missing out in many nutrients by only eating one specific group of food. The foods that vegans refuse to eat are ironically one of the most important nutrients your body needs. For instance, an article on “Why Being Vegan is A Terrible Idea” states, “Animal protein contains all the essential amino acids in the right ratios. It is important for muscle mass and bone health, to name a few” (Gunnars). The importance of meat is the reason why most vegan people’s bodies suffer from lack of nutrients. In addition, the article adds on, “Vitamin B12 is a water soluble vitamin that is involved in the function of every cell in the body. It is particularly important in the formation of blood and the function of the brain… Because B12 is critical for life and isn’t found in any amount in plants (except some types of algae), it is by far the most important nutrient that vegans must be concerned with” (Gunnars). Knowing that vegans lack Vitamin B12 tells us that they aren’t just missing any protein and iron, but also other vitamins that negatively impact their brains and blood flow.
While people hate the thought of being vegan, people who are vegan try to support the fact that being vegan is good, stating that its diet is healthier and has benefits making you overall a better person. For instance, an article on why we should go vegan states, “Going vegan is a great opportunity to learn more about nutrition and cooking” (“Why go vegan? | The Vegan Society”). Getting rid of meat products could make room for learning how to cook plant-based dishes. In addition, the article adds on, “Getting your nutrients from plant foods allows more room in your diet for health-promoting options like whole grains, fruit, nuts, seeds and vegetables” (“Why go vegan? | The Vegan Society”). This states how vegans aren’t so worried about the lack of meat in their diets as there are other foods that they can eat to make up for it.
Although there are foods that someone can eat to make up for the lack of meat, it doesn’t mean it’s always the best option and can cause an imbalance. For instance, an article on nutritional deficiencies states, “Animal-based foods have been an important part of the human diet for at least three million years… If you want an organism to thrive, you should feed it the diet for which it’s been genetically adapted via evolution down through the ages” (O’Keefe). Meat has been an important food for millions and millions of years so trying to stop eating meat could be questionable to some. In addition, the article adds on, “Eliminating all animal foods would be like deciding you’re going to feed a tiger tofu and expect that it’s going to be healthy” (O’Keefe). Humans have adapted and ate meat for almost all of their lives, so trying to get someone on a vegan diet might not be so favorable for some people.
Vegans not only state how being vegan can benefit themselves, but also mention how it can benefit the environment. For instance, an article on why we should all be vegan states, “Vegan diets result in 75% less climate-heating emissions” (“Should we all be vegan? | Guardian Live events”). Not killing animals and processing them in factories could reduce the temperatures by a lot. In addition, the article adds that vegan diets could “cut the destruction of wildlife by 66% and water use by 54%” (“Should we all be vegan? | Guardian Live events”). Getting rid of meat could decrease factory waste and save us from things like climate change and global warming.
Becoming vegan does sound like a good idea as it takes care of both you and the environment. However if you think about it really, getting rid of meat in our diets could destroy parts of our economy. For instance, an article describing the risks of becoming vegan states, “Entire industries would collapse, taking jobs down with them. In the United States, the livestock industry employs 1.6 million people. In the United Kingdom, it’s 315,000” (Apperly). Many factories, stores, and butchers utilize meat so much that if we were to just stop eating meat, it would shut down many places that deal with food. In addition, the article adds, “Today, more than 80% of global antibiotics production is used on livestock. If there were no more animals to treat, it would be a disaster for pharmaceutical profits” (Apperly). If we never ate animals, none would be harmed and the need of a vet or medical attention wouldn’t be as necessary, harming the amount of money doctors make.
While people might say that being vegan may seem like the better option, at the end of the day what you choose to eat is all on you. You can’t fully trust something or someone without a little knowledge and common sense. People say that being vegan is the healthiest option while there are people who are just as healthy eating a regular diet that does contain meat. While being vegan is told to do good, everything always has a downside.
Works Cited
Apperly, Eliza. “Should we all be vegan?” Thames & Hudson, 22 September 2019, http://thamesandhudson.com/news/article-should-we-all-be-vegan/. Accessed 8 May 2024.
Bali, Atul, and Roopa Naik. “The Impact of a Vegan Diet on Many Aspects of Health: The Overlooked Side of Veganism.” National Library of Medicine, 18 February 2023, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10027313/. Accessed 2 May 2024.
Gunnars, Kris. “Why Vegan Diets Are a Terrible Idea.” Business Insider, 2 September 2013, http://businessinsider.com/why-vegan-diets-are-a-terrible-idea-2013-8. Accessed 8 May 2024.
O’Keefe, James. “Research Shows Vegan Diet Leads to Nutritional Deficiencies, Health Problems; Plant-Forward Omnivorous Whole Foods Diet Is Healthier.” Saint Luke’s, 8 September 2022, https://www.saintlukeskc.org/about/news/research-shows-vegan-diet-leads-nutritional-deficiencies-health-problems-plant-forward. Accessed 9 May 2024.
“Should we all be vegan? | Guardian Live events.” The Guardian, 21 November 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-live-events/2023/nov/21/should-we-all-be-vegan. Accessed 8 May 2024.
“Why go vegan? | The Vegan Society.” The Vegan Society |, http://vegansociety.com/go-vegan/why-go-vegan. Accessed 8 May 2024.
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