Close your eyes and picture a clear summer day. There is a large green meadow with tall grass swaying in the wind. Clouds are slowly passing overhead and the sun is beaming down on the mountains in the distance. You hear the cows grazing on the grass and watch their baby calves frolic around in the large open field. Everything’s happy, peaceful, and serine. Now picture a dark shed-like barn, with little to no light. It is crowded and unkempt. Cow manure is piled high and the sounds of hungry, malnourished cows are echoing off the walls. Instead of happy healthy cows, this shed is filled with tumor ridden, hormone injected animals. All this torture they endure just to be slaughtered.
There are many reasons why we should become vegetarians. You’re probably thinking, “there’s no way I can give up meat!” or “I can’t live without meat!” But becoming a vegetarian is very beneficial to your health, your skin and for the sake of animals. Website “down to earth” lists the top reasons for going veggie. The author starts off by stating how becoming a vegetarian can reduce the number one killer, which heart disease. Vegetarians have been shown to have a 24% lower risk of dying of heart disease than non-vegetarians, this reduces high cholesterol. Another point the article made was how this lifestyle change can prevent cancer. It stated, “Regularly consuming a diet that contains fruits and vegetables is strongly associated with a reduced risk of some cancer.” There is evidence that vegetarians tend to have a lower overall rate of cancer compared to the general population. This doesn’t mean that you won’t get cancer, but it lowers risk for some types. It also helps with shedding extra pounds and maintaining a healthy weight. Vegetarians tend to have a lower body mass index than those who consume meat.
According to down to earth, “Plant-based diets are generally rich in fiber, phytonutrients, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, which in turn strengthens the immune system and slows down the aging process.” a vegetarian diet can prevent and reverse certain chronic diseases, so it makes sense that vegetarians have a longer life span!
Lastly, we are causing animals pain. Animals on today’s factory farms have no legal protection from cruelty. A vegetarian lifestyle awakens our spirit of compassion and guides us towards a kinder, gentler society in which we exercise a moral choice to protect animals, not exploit them.
