Opponents of vegetarianism believe that having a plant-based diet will result in a vitamin deficiency. For example, Kris Gunnars, medical student, personal trainer, and blogger at the Authority Nutrition website, explains that vegetarians are often lacking Vitamin B-12, which comes from eating animal products, helps make blood, and carries out the functions of the brain (Gunnars par. 15). In Gunnars’ views, lacking Vitamin B-12 is common: “A whopping 92% of vegans are deficient in this critical nutrient” (par. 17). This means that nearly all vegans are lacking Vitamin B-12. Therefore, vegetarians who believe that their eating habits are 100 percent healthier are incorrect because they have a vitamin deficiency. In addition to the absence of Vitamin B-12, vegetarians also lack the proper amount of other nutrients such as amino acids and calcium for bone health, creatine for brain functions, carnosine to prevent aging, and cholesterol to make testosterone (Gunnars par. 21-23, 26; “Vegetarianism” par. 10). Although Vitamin B-12, amino acids, and a plethora of other vitamins and nutrients are not sufficiently provided with a plant-based diet, supplements can be taken to prevent the deficiencies.
Aside from the supplements taken, vegetarians also have substantial health benefits comparatively to omnivores. Palmer supports the advocates for vegetarianism; she explains information from the popular Adventist Health Study, which is a study conducted by Linda Loma University that is based on religious study of the benefits of vegetarianism (par. 4). This study focuses on a lifestyle based on eating plants such as whole grains and soy for improved health (Palmer par. 2, 4). “Vegetarianism” states, “Supporters of vegetarianism note that these deficiencies can be overcome with a carefully selected diet and argue that specific vitamin deficiencies pose less of a health risk than heart disease, high blood pressure, and other illnesses associated with eating meat” (par. 10). The health risks that vegetarians avoid by following a plant-based diet outweigh the vitamin deficiency because of the availability of the nutrients. Adventist Health Study argues that a person who follows a plant-based diet will live longer, be less prone to cancer and heart disease, will weigh less, and will have a lower carbon footprint (Palmer par. 3). Although critics are concerned about the lack of vitamins a vegetarian receives, a person who follows the plant-based diet not only receives the proper amount of vitamins through supplements but is also exponentially healthier.
Critics have closely looked at both extremes of the vegetarian spectrum: flexitarian to veganism. Opponents of vegetarianism believe that if the vegans chose to be flexitarians instead, then the plant-based lifestyle would be accepted. According to “Vegetarianism,” the believers of an omnivorous diet including plants and animal products support the flexitarians:
To obtain the benefits seen from a vegetarian diet, [the supporters of flexitarian] argue, a person can simply consume meat in moderation rather than eliminate it from their diet completely. Indeed, studies have shown that subjects consuming only occasional meat tend to enjoy many of the same health benefits seen in vegetarians. A term has even been coined to refer to those who eat meat infrequently but are not vegetarian: flexitarian. (par. 12)
Opposers of vegetarianism support flexitarians because they recognize that flexitarians still receive similar benefits to vegans such as weight loss and an increase in energy even though they still eat meat. Luc Rinaldi, author of "They Go Both Ways: Cheeseburger-loving Flexitarians Are Driving a Vegan Boom--to the Ire of Some," himself writes that a high percentage of people who consider themselves vegetarians or vegans are often flexitarians because they enjoy meat products every now and then (par. 2). The essence of Rinaldi’s argument is that for people who have trouble committing to a strict diet, flexitarianism is the path to take because the diet is flexible: hence the name. Traditional vegetarians do not consider flexitarians a part of the plant-based eating family, but flexitarians firmly believe they are because they exclude meat from their everyday meals. Flexitarianism, although not a strict diet, is still considered a form of vegetarianism.
On the other hand, there is a rigorous strain of vegetarianism known as veganism. “Vegetarianism” states that vegans tend to stray away from all animal products completely. Some supporters of flexitarianism look down on utmost vegetarians, vegans, because they are claimed to be animal rights activists (par. 11). Yes, there are vegans who are animal rights activists, but commonly, vegans choose their eating habits for the healthy benefits they receive and not for the rights of the animals. Juliet Gellately, director of the vegan and vegetarian group Viva, states that even men are straying away from the common “manly” diet, which includes the heavy consumption of meat, because they are wanting to turn to a healthier lifestyle ("Introduction to Vegetarianism: Current Controversies" par. 5). Palmer said that the bottom line is that no matter the person or gender, veganism is becoming popular and more people are choosing the lifestyle because of the benefits; vegans show the most impressive health benefits comparatively to other vegetarians or omnivores (par. 22). Yes, excluding all animal products from a diet is difficult, but the lifestyle can be done and is worth the struggle. Overall, the extreme vegetarians, vegans, who cut out meat products are healthier.
Aside from the supplements taken, vegetarians also have substantial health benefits comparatively to omnivores. Palmer supports the advocates for vegetarianism; she explains information from the popular Adventist Health Study, which is a study conducted by Linda Loma University that is based on religious study of the benefits of vegetarianism (par. 4). This study focuses on a lifestyle based on eating plants such as whole grains and soy for improved health (Palmer par. 2, 4). “Vegetarianism” states, “Supporters of vegetarianism note that these deficiencies can be overcome with a carefully selected diet and argue that specific vitamin deficiencies pose less of a health risk than heart disease, high blood pressure, and other illnesses associated with eating meat” (par. 10). The health risks that vegetarians avoid by following a plant-based diet outweigh the vitamin deficiency because of the availability of the nutrients. Adventist Health Study argues that a person who follows a plant-based diet will live longer, be less prone to cancer and heart disease, will weigh less, and will have a lower carbon footprint (Palmer par. 3). Although critics are concerned about the lack of vitamins a vegetarian receives, a person who follows the plant-based diet not only receives the proper amount of vitamins through supplements but is also exponentially healthier.
Critics have closely looked at both extremes of the vegetarian spectrum: flexitarian to veganism. Opponents of vegetarianism believe that if the vegans chose to be flexitarians instead, then the plant-based lifestyle would be accepted. According to “Vegetarianism,” the believers of an omnivorous diet including plants and animal products support the flexitarians:
To obtain the benefits seen from a vegetarian diet, [the supporters of flexitarian] argue, a person can simply consume meat in moderation rather than eliminate it from their diet completely. Indeed, studies have shown that subjects consuming only occasional meat tend to enjoy many of the same health benefits seen in vegetarians. A term has even been coined to refer to those who eat meat infrequently but are not vegetarian: flexitarian. (par. 12)
Opposers of vegetarianism support flexitarians because they recognize that flexitarians still receive similar benefits to vegans such as weight loss and an increase in energy even though they still eat meat. Luc Rinaldi, author of "They Go Both Ways: Cheeseburger-loving Flexitarians Are Driving a Vegan Boom--to the Ire of Some," himself writes that a high percentage of people who consider themselves vegetarians or vegans are often flexitarians because they enjoy meat products every now and then (par. 2). The essence of Rinaldi’s argument is that for people who have trouble committing to a strict diet, flexitarianism is the path to take because the diet is flexible: hence the name. Traditional vegetarians do not consider flexitarians a part of the plant-based eating family, but flexitarians firmly believe they are because they exclude meat from their everyday meals. Flexitarianism, although not a strict diet, is still considered a form of vegetarianism.
On the other hand, there is a rigorous strain of vegetarianism known as veganism. “Vegetarianism” states that vegans tend to stray away from all animal products completely. Some supporters of flexitarianism look down on utmost vegetarians, vegans, because they are claimed to be animal rights activists (par. 11). Yes, there are vegans who are animal rights activists, but commonly, vegans choose their eating habits for the healthy benefits they receive and not for the rights of the animals. Juliet Gellately, director of the vegan and vegetarian group Viva, states that even men are straying away from the common “manly” diet, which includes the heavy consumption of meat, because they are wanting to turn to a healthier lifestyle ("Introduction to Vegetarianism: Current Controversies" par. 5). Palmer said that the bottom line is that no matter the person or gender, veganism is becoming popular and more people are choosing the lifestyle because of the benefits; vegans show the most impressive health benefits comparatively to other vegetarians or omnivores (par. 22). Yes, excluding all animal products from a diet is difficult, but the lifestyle can be done and is worth the struggle. Overall, the extreme vegetarians, vegans, who cut out meat products are healthier.