Karis Hudgins  

My vegetarian journey began at the age of 13 with a pact to eliminate meat from my diet for one month. At the time, I did it to prove to myself that I could. Little did I know it would result in a vegetarian lifestyle for the following six years (and I don’t plan on going back anytime soon). Within a single month, I noticed countless physical and mental benefits. From reducing the risk of foodborne illnesses to raising one’s energy levels, a vegetarian diet provides an immense range of health, environmental and ethical benefits.  

According to the FDA, poultry (predominantly chicken), seafood and unpasteurized dairy products are the leading cause of foodborne illnesses such as food poisoning. Those who have experienced food poisoning know it isn’t fun, but foodborne illnesses can be more severe than stomach cramps, potentially even leading to death. The CDC reports about 128,000 people are hospitalized every year due to foodborne illness with an average of 3,000 deaths per year. While counting meat out of your daily menu doesn’t entirely remove the concern for diseases through food ingestion, it is the greatest way to reduce the risk.  
 

Limiting your meat intake also wards off other diseases; most significantly preventing cardiovascular diseases like coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. Most cardiovascular diseases are caused by an excessive amount of fat and cholesterol intake. While unsaturated fats and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (found in vegetable oils, nuts and seeds) are necessary for one’s health, saturated fats and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (found in eggs and processed meat) are the source of cardiovascular diseases. Although heart diseases can be the result of other activities, such as smoking, Joel Fuhrman writes in his book, Eat to Live, that the mortality rate for cardiovascular disease is lower in vegetarians than in non-vegetarians.  

Another benefit of vegetarianism and undeniably the most noticeable result is an increase of energy levels. Within the first two weeks of cutting meat from my diet my mind cleared, getting out of bed in the morning eased, and concentrating was effortless. The EPA estimates 95 percent of pesticide residue, heavy metals, and steroids Americans ingest are a result of meat and dairy products. When one no longer consumes foods containing hormones which create fatigue, their energy levels drastically increase. A vegetarian diet allows for more complex carbohydrates, fiber, and antioxidants that provide one with more energy. A vegetarian diet also leads to stronger bones, a stronger immune system, and even soothes menstrual and menopause symptoms. 

Vegetarianism not only has positive individual effects, but also benefits the environment. The United Nations issued a code red regarding the climate crisis in 2021. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned all countries that the carbon-burning model of development is a death sentence for all economies and the planet. The entire earthly population must decrease greenhouse gas emission rates. A vegetarian diet provides a major opportunity for individuals to reduce their personal carbon and water footprint, as every step in the animal production process, from deforestation, feed production, and animal waste emits greenhouse gases. Food consumption is the leading cause of one’s personal carbon footprint. The United Nations 2021 climate report recommended plant-based diets as an opportunity to mitigate and adapt as well as aid to climate change. Guterres even advised governments to impose policies reducing meat production due to the pollution animal factories cause. 

Lastly, the ethical argument is a clear and undeniable one, as exemplified by the inhumane conditions that animals in factory farms. Once again, I hope we can all agree that animal cruelty is wrong. Animal cruelty is illegal when subjected to animals such as cats and dogs; However, there’s no federal welfare laws for those considered “food animals.” While animal meat has served as a source for food for humans for decades, factory farming conditions have only gotten worse. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reports 9 billion chickens, 120 million pigs, and 120 million cattle slaughtered each year in America alone. Choosing to eat a plant-based diet is often the biggest stance we can take against animal cruelty by reducing the demand for factory farming.  

Whether you’re motivated primarily by health, environmental, or ethical concerns, a vegetarian lifestyle change is one that benefits your personal wellbeing as well as the environment for generations to come. A vegetarian lifestyle change is more than a dietary change, it’s a proactive choice to put yourself first, commit to reducing your ecological footprint, and take a step towards a more compassionate world.