conclusion for vegetarian essay

Vegetarianism Health Benefits Essay

Introduction, obesity and overweight, strong bones, heart disease, cancer protection, more energy, diabetes prevention.

The term “vegetarianism” may be understood differently among different people. However, the vegetarian diet generally does not include the consumption of meat. There exist various types of vegetarian practices; ranging from the most strict to the less strict one. The most restrict group consists of vegans.

This group consumes only those foods that come from plants and these include the grains, nuts, beans, fruits and vegetables. The other group consists of the lacto-vegetarians and these ones consume dairy products on top of the foods from the plants. The third group consists of “Lacto-ovo-vegetarians” who are similar to the lacto-vegetarians but they also consume the eggs in addition.

The other group is the “pesco-vegetarians who eat similar foods to those eaten by the “lacto-ovo-vegetarians” but on top of these, they also eat fish. The least strict group consists of the “partial-vegetarians” and these consume all kinds of foods apart from the red meat. People decide to become vegetarians for a variety of motives. There are those who want to live longer, to live healthy lives, or play their part in the society of bringing down the level of pollution.

This paper is going to look at the health benefits one can obtain by becoming or being a vegetarian. It is going to be argued that; Being a vegetarian is good for health since it leads to the prevention of obesity and overweight, developing strong bones, prevention of heart disease, having cancer protection, having diabetes prevention and also enables one to have more energy in the body.

The paper is going to be arranged in sub-topics with each of them supporting the argument. The conclusion section is going to give a summary of the main points in the discussion.

Being a vegetarian enables one to reduce chances of becoming obese and overweight. It is pointed out that “64 percent of adults and 15 percent of children aged 6 to 19 are overweight and are at risk of weight-related ailments including heart disease, stroke and diabetes” (“Why go veg?”, 2012, p.1).

A research that was carried out between the period starting from the year 1986 up to the year 1992 by the director and president of the “Preventive Medicine Research Institute”, Dean Ornish, in California established that the people who were overweight and followed a vegetarian diet and which was low in fat were able to lose, on average, twenty four pounds within the first year and were able to keep off that weight five years thereafter (“Why go veg?”, 2012, p.1).

They were able to lose weight without engaging in counting the carbs or calories and also with no engagement in the measurement of the portions or having a feeling of hunger (“Why go veg?”, 2012).

Becoming a vegetarian enables one to build strong bones. Every time there is no adequate calcium in one’s blood in the body, a person’s body will have to seep the calcium from the bone that is there. Following this, the metabolic consequence will be that one’s skeletons will turn out to be permeable and in the course of time become weak.

A larger number of the practitioners in the healthcare field propose that a person should engage in increasing his or her calcium ingestion through the manner in which nature designed and this is through foods. The foods as well supply nutrients like vitamin D, magnesium and phosphorous among others which are essential to enable the body to carry out absorption as well as utilization of calcium.

It is reported that “people who are mildly lactose-intolerant can often enjoy small amounts of dairy products such as yogurt, cheese and lactose-free milk” (“Why go veg?”, 2010, p.1).However, in case one may avoid the dairy products altogether, they can still obtain healthful calcium dose from the “dry beans, soymilk, and dark green vegetable such as broccoli, kale, collards and turnip greens” (“Why go veg?”, 2012, p.1).

By one becoming a vegetarian, they reduce the risks of getting heart disease. It is pointed out that eating vegetables and fruits on a regular basis brings down the level of the risk of “ischemic heart disease” (Craig, 20034, p.1).

Following a survey that was conducted sometime back which involved surveying forty seven thousand Italian people, it was established that “persons in the highest tertile of vegetable consumption had a 21 and 11 % reduced risk of myocardial infarction and angina, respectively, compared with those in the lowest tertile of vegetable consumption” (Kafatos, A., et al, 1997, p.1882).

Moreover, the findings that were presented following a study that was conducted in Britain indicated that the day to day eating of fresh fruits contributed towards having a twenty-four percent decrease in the mortality that results from heart disease as well as a thirty-two percent decrease in mortality resulting from the “cerebrovascular disease”, in comparison to less regular eating of fruit. It was further established that the day to day raw salad eating contributed to having a reduction of twenty-six percent in deaths resulting form the heart disease (Key, et al, 1996, p.777).

Another study involved investigating the lifelong vegetarians; it was found out that this group of people had a twenty-four percent “lower incident and lifelong vegans had a 57 percent lower incident of coronary heart disease compared to meat eaters” (Thorogood, et al., 1987, p.352).

There are a number of factors in vegetables and fruits which offer achievable protection against the cardiovascular disease. Among these factors we have “folic acid, dietary fiber, potassium, magnesium, carotenoids, phystosterols, flavonoids, and other polyphenolic antioxidants” (Craig, 20034, p.1).

The vegetarian diets are usually as well somehow lower in cholesterol and in saturated fat. The people who are vegetarians usually do have the levels of blood cholesterol that are lower. The food plants that have much soluble fiber are apples, dry beans, and oats among others are helpful in bringing down the amount of serum cholesterol in the body. Moreover, a large number of flavonoids found in some plant foods have wide-ranging organic properties which bring down the chances of one developing heart disease.

The flavonoids offer the protection to the LDL cholesterol against oxidation. Moreover, it helps in inhibiting blood clots formation, and “have hypolipidemic effects and anti-inflammatory action”(Manach, et al, 520, p.520). Studies conducted in Europe indicated that the people who had the highest flavonoids consumption “had 60 percent less mortality from heart disease and 70 percent lower risk of stroke than the low flavonoids consumers” (Keli, et al, 1996, p.641)

Being a vegetarian enables one to be protected against cancer. A report that was presented by the “World Cancer Research Fund” in the year 1997 presented a recommendation that people should lower the risk of being attacked by the cancer disease by selecting mainly the “plant-based diets” which are rich in various fruits as well as vegetables and also rich in the legumes and “minimally processed starchy staple foods, and to limit the intake of grilled, cured and smoked meats and fish” (Craig, 20034, p.1).

More than two hundred studies that have been conducted have given a revelation that frequently eating fruits as well as vegetables offers remarkable protection against the cancer disease at a large number of sites. Those individuals who eat a lot of fruits as well as vegetables “have about one-half the risk of cancer, especially the epithelial cancers”(Craig, 2003, p.1). It is also pointed out that it was also found out that “the most cancers were 20 – 50 % lower in those with high versus low consumption of whole grains” (Craig, 2003, p.1).

Several plant foods have been found to have the properties that are cancer protective (Craig, 2003). These foods include the umbulliferous herbs and vegetables, the cruciferous vegetables and other vegetables and fruits. Other such foods include the several nuts, beans and several seasoning herbs.

Such foods have the cancer-protective phytochemicals like “carotenoids, flavonoids, isothiocynates, allegic acid, glucaates and phenolic acids among others” (Craig, 2003, p.1). The compounds that are beneficial change the pathways as well as the actions of the hormones which are associated with cancer development, facilitate stimulation of the immune system and they also possess antioxidant activity (Craig, 1999).

Being a vegetarian enables one to have more energy. Having good nutrition facilitates generation of more utilizable energy “to keep pace with the kids, tackle that home improvement project or have better sex” (“Why go veg?”, 2012, p.1).Having a large amount of fat in blood implies arteries will not open in an appropriate way and also that the muscles will not obtain adequate oxygen.

The consequence of this is that one will feel zapped. The balanced vegetarian diets are “free of cholesterol-laden, artery-clogging animal products that physically slows us down and keep us hitting the snooze button morning after morning” (“Why go veg?”, 2012, p.1). Therefore, since the plant foods have large amounts of complex carbohydrates, they help in giving the body much energy.

Vegetarians are at a lower risk of becoming diabetic. It is pointed out that consuming more nuts and whole grains is associated with having “lower rates of diabetes” (Craig, 2003, p.1). In one of the large studies, it was established that consumption of fruits and vegetables was associated with the occurrence of diabetes in an inverse way, especially among women (Ford & Mokdad, 2001, p.34).

Men as well as women who reported of rarely or never consuming green leafy vegetables or fruits had “higher mean HbA 1C levels than those who had more frequent consumption” (Sargeant, L.A, et al, 2001, p.344). High levels of vegetable and fruit consumption tends to make a great contribution towards facilitating the prevention of the diabetes disease.

Being a vegetarian is good for health since it leads to the prevention of obesity and overweight, developing strong bones, prevention of heart disease, having cancer protection, having diabetes prevention and also enables one to have more energy in the body.

Considering the case of obesity and overweight, it has been found out that the people with these conditions who become vegetarians are able to lose a substantial amount of weight within the first year and over time, they are able to attain healthy weight. Moreover, vegetarians develop strong bones because of the availability of adequate calcium in their bodies which are obtained from food plants such as dark green vegetables, dry beans, and turnip greens among others.

There can also be prevention of cancer through the vegetarian diet. Several plant foods have been found to have the properties that are cancer protective which include such foods as the umbulliferous herbs and vegetables, the cruciferous vegetables and other vegetables and fruits and other foods include nuts, beans and a variety of seasoning herbs. In addition, heart disease can be prevented by one making a decision to become a vegetarian.

Eating vegetables and fruits on a regular basis brings down the level of the risk of “ischemic heart disease”. Everyday consumption of fresh fruits leads to a decrease in the mortality that result from heart disease and also a reduction in mortality resulting from the “cerebrovascular disease”. Furthermore, diabetes can also be prevented by one becoming a vegetarian.

Eating fruits and vegetables was associated with the occurrence of diabetes in an inverse way, especially among women. High levels of vegetable and fruit consumption tends to make a great contribution towards facilitating the prevention of the diabetes disease. Last but not least, the vegetarian diet enables one to have more energy in the body. The foods coming from plants are rich in complex carbohydrates and they supply much energy in the body.

Craig, W.J.(1999). Nutrition and Wellness. A Vegetarian Way to Better Health . Berrien Springs, MI: Golden Harvest Books.

Craig, W. (2003). Health benefits of vegetarian diets . Web.

Ford, E.S, & Mokdad, A.H. (2001). Fruit and vegetable consumption and diabetes mellitus incidence among U.S. adults . Prev Med , 32(1),33-9.

Kafatos, A., et al. (1997). Heart disease risk-factor status and dietary changes in the cretan population over the past 30 y: the seven countries study. Am J Clin Nutr, 65(1),1882-6.

Keli, S.O, et al.(1996). Dietary flavonoids, antioxidant vitamins, and incidence of stroke: the zutphen study. Arch Intern Med ,156(1), 637-42.

Key T.J, et al. (1996). Dietary habits and mortality in 11,000 vegetarians and health conscious people: results of 17-year follow up. BMJ, 313(1),775-79.

Manach C, et al.(1996). Bioavailability, metabolism and physiological impact of 4-oxo-flavonoids. Nutr Res , 16(1), 517-44.

Sargeant, L.A, et al.(2001). Fruit and vegetable intake and population glycosylated haemoglobin levels: the EPIC-Norfolk Study. Eur J Clin Nutr , 55(1),342-8.

Thorogood, M, et al. (1987). Plasma lipids and lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations in people with different diets in Britain. Br Med J , 295(1), 351-3.

Why go veg? . (2012). Web.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2022, April 15). Vegetarianism Health Benefits. https://ivypanda.com/essays/vegetarianism-essay/

"Vegetarianism Health Benefits." IvyPanda , 15 Apr. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/vegetarianism-essay/.

IvyPanda . (2022) 'Vegetarianism Health Benefits'. 15 April.

IvyPanda . 2022. "Vegetarianism Health Benefits." April 15, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/vegetarianism-essay/.

1. IvyPanda . "Vegetarianism Health Benefits." April 15, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/vegetarianism-essay/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Vegetarianism Health Benefits." April 15, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/vegetarianism-essay/.

• Vegetarianism and Its Causes
• Vegetarianism and Health
• Vegetarian Groups by Motivation
• The Dangers of Energy Drinks
• Vegetarian Diet as a Health-Conscious Lifestyle
• Risk Cluster Linked to Child Obesity
• Food Ethics
• Correlation Between Poverty and Obesity

• IELTS Scores
• Life Skills Test
• Find a Test Centre
• Alternatives to IELTS
• General Training
• Academic Word List
• Topic Vocabulary
• Collocation
• Phrasal Verbs
• Writing eBooks
• Reading eBook
• All eBooks & Courses
• Sample Essays

Vegetarianism Essay

This is a model  vegetarianism essay .

As I always stress, you should  read the question very carefully  before you answer it to make sure you are writing about the right thing.

Take a look at the question:

Every one of us should become a vegetarian because eating meat can cause serious health problems.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Staying on topic

If you rush to start writing and don't analyse the question and brainstorm some ideas you may include the wrong information.

There are religious or moral arguments for not eating meat, but if you discuss those you will be going off topic .

This question is specifically about the health problems connected to eating meat.

So you must discuss in your answer what some of these problems are and if you think there are real health risks or not.

Knowing about the topic

And don't get worried that you do not know much about diet and health.

As part of your IELTS study it will help if you know the basics of most topics such as some health vocabulary in this case, but you are not expected to be an expert on nutrition.

Remember, you are being judged on your English ability and your ability to construct an argument in a coherent way, not to be an expert in the subject matter. So relax and work with

Organisation

In this vegetarianism essay, the candidate disagrees with the statement, and is thus arguing that everyone does not need to be a vegetarian.

The essay has been organised in the following way:

Body 1: Health issues connected with eating meat (i.e. arguments in support of being a vegetarian Body 2: Advantages of eating meat

Now take a look at the model answer.

Model Essay

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.

Write at least 250 words.

IELTS Vegetarianism Essay - Sample Answer

Vegetarianism is becoming more and more popular for many people, particularly because of the harm that some people believe meat can cause to the body. However, I strongly believe that it is not necessary for everybody to be a vegetarian.

Vegetarians believe that meat is unhealthy because of the diseases it has been connected with. There has been much research to suggest that red meat is particularly bad, for example, and that consumption should be limited to eating it just a few times a week to avoid such things as cancer. Meats can also be high in saturated fats so they have been linked to health problems such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

However, there are strong arguments for eating meat. The first reason is that as humans we are designed to eat meat, which suggests it is not unhealthy, and we have been eating meat for thousands of years. For example, cavemen made hunting implements so that they could kill animals and eat their meat. Secondly, meat is a rich source of protein which helps to build muscles and bones. Vegetarians often have to take supplements to get all the essential vitamins and minerals. Finally, it may be the case that too much meat is harmful, but we can easily limit the amount we have without having to cut it out of our diet completely.

To sum up, I do not agree that everyone should turn to a vegetarian diet. Although the overconsumption of meat could possibly be unhealthy, a balanced diet of meat and vegetables should result in a healthy body.

(264 words)

You should begin by intoducing the topi c. The introduction in this vegetarianism essay begins by mentioning vegetarians and the possible harm of eating meat .

It then goes on to the thesis statement , which makes it clear what the candidate's opinion is.

The first body paragraph has a topic sentence which makes it clear that the paragraph is going to address the possible health issues of eating meat.

Some reasons and examples are then given to support this.

The second body paragraph then has a topic sentence which makes it clear that the main idea is now about the arguments for eating meat .

The conclusion in this vegetarianism essay then repeats the opinion and gives the candidates final thoughts.

<<< Back

Next >>>

More Agree / Disagree Essays:

Technology Development Essay: Are earlier developments the best?

This technology development essay shows you a complex IELTS essay question that is easily misunderstood. There are tips on how to approach IELTS essay questions

Airline Tax Essay: Would taxing air travel reduce pollution?

Airline Tax Essay for IELTS. Practice an agree and disagree essay on the topic of taxing airlines to reduce low-cost air traffic. You are asked to decide if you agree or disagree with taxing airlines in order to reduce the problems caused.

Paying Taxes Essay: Should people keep all the money they earn?

Paying Taxes Essay: Read model essays to help you improve your IELTS Writing Score for Task 2. In this essay you have to decide whether you agree or disagree with the opinion that everyone should be able to keep their money rather than paying money to the government.

Employing Older People Essay: Is the modern workplace suitable?

Employing Older People Essay. Examine model essays for IELTS Task 2 to improve your score. This essay tackles the issue of whether it it better for employers to hire younger staff rather than those who are older.

Internet vs Newspaper Essay: Which will be the best source of news?

A recent topic to write about in the IELTS exam was an Internet vs Newspaper Essay. The question was: Although more and more people read news on the internet, newspapers will remain the most important source of news. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Return of Historical Objects and Artefacts Essay

This essay discusses the topic of returning historical objects and artefacts to their country of origin. It's an agree/disagree type IELTS question.

Scientific Research Essay: Who should be responsible for its funding?

Scientific research essay model answer for Task 2 of the test. For this essay, you need to discuss whether the funding and controlling of scientific research should be the responsibility of the government or private organizations.

Sample IELTS Writing: Is spending on the Arts a waste of money?

Sample IELTS Writing: A common topic in IELTS is whether you think it is a good idea for government money to be spent on the arts. i.e. the visual arts, literary and the performing arts, or whether it should be spent elsewhere, usually on other public services.

Multinational Organisations and Culture Essay

Multinational Organisations and Culture Essay: Improve you score for IELTS Essay writing by studying model essays. This Essay is about the extent to which working for a multinational organisation help you to understand other cultures.

Free University Education Essay: Should it be paid for or free?

Free university education Model IELTS essay. Learn how to write high-scoring IELTS essays. The issue of free university education is an essay topic that comes up in the IELTS test. This essay therefore provides you with some of the key arguments about this topic.

Truthfulness in Relationships Essay: How important is it?

This truthfulness in relationships essay for IELTS is an agree / disagree type essay. You need to decide if it's the most important factor.

Human Cloning Essay: Should we be scared of cloning humans?

Human cloning essay - this is on the topic of cloning humans to use their body parts. You are asked if you agree with human cloning to use their body parts, and what reservations (concerns) you have.

Role of Schools Essay: How should schools help children develop?

This role of schools essay for IELTS is an agree disagree type essay where you have to discuss how schools should help children to develop.

IELTS Internet Essay: Is the internet damaging social interaction?

Internet Essay for IELTS on the topic of the Internet and social interaction. Included is a model answer. The IELTS test usually focuses on topical issues. You have to discuss if you think that the Internet is damaging social interaction.

Ban Smoking in Public Places Essay: Should the government ban it?

Ban smoking in public places essay: The sample answer shows you how you can present the opposing argument first, that is not your opinion, and then present your opinion in the following paragraph.

Examinations Essay: Formal Examinations or Continual Assessment?

Examinations Essay: This IELTS model essay deals with the issue of whether it is better to have formal examinations to assess student’s performance or continual assessment during term time such as course work and projects.

Extinction of Animals Essay: Should we prevent this from happening?

In this extinction of animals essay for IELTS you have to decide whether you think humans should do what they can to prevent the extinction of animal species.

Dying Languages Essay: Is a world with fewer languages a good thing?

Dying languages essays have appeared in IELTS on several occasions, an issue related to the spread of globalisation. Check out a sample question and model answer.

Essay for IELTS: Are some advertising methods unethical?

This is an agree / disagree type question. Your options are: 1. Agree 100% 2. Disagree 100% 3. Partly agree. In the answer below, the writer agrees 100% with the opinion. There is an analysis of the answer.

IELTS Sample Essay: Is alternative medicine ineffective & dangerous?

IELTS sample essay about alternative and conventional medicine - this shows you how to present a well-balanced argument. When you are asked whether you agree (or disagree), you can look at both sides of the argument if you want.

Any comments or questions about this page or about IELTS? Post them here. Your email will not be published or shared.

Before you go...

Check out the ielts buddy band 7+ ebooks & courses.

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

• Click on the HTML link code below.
• Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

Band 7+ eBooks

"I think these eBooks are FANTASTIC!!! I know that's not academic language, but it's the truth!"

Linda, from Italy, Scored Band 7.5

IELTS Modules:

Other resources:.

• All Lessons
• Band Score Calculator
• Writing Feedback
• Speaking Feedback
• Teacher Resources
• Free Downloads
• Recent Essay Exam Questions
• Books for IELTS Prep
• Useful Links

Recent Articles

IELTS Essay: Loving Wildlife and Nature

May 10, 24 02:36 AM

Paraphrasing in the IELTS Test: Speaking and Writing

May 03, 24 10:26 AM

Fillers for IELTS Speaking: Avoid 'Eh', Uhm', 'You know'.

Apr 27, 24 05:48 AM

Important pages

IELTS Writing IELTS Speaking IELTS Listening   IELTS Reading All Lessons Vocabulary Academic Task 1 Academic Task 2 Practice Tests

Connect with us

Copyright © 2022- IELTSbuddy All Rights Reserved

IELTS is a registered trademark of University of Cambridge, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia. This site and its owners are not affiliated, approved or endorsed by the University of Cambridge ESOL, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia.

Home / IELTS, CAE, FCE Writing Samples / IELTS Writing Task 2: Vegetarianism

IELTS Writing Task 2: Vegetarianism

Everyone should become vegetarian because they do not need to eat meat to have a healthy diet. Do you agree or disagree?

As veganism trending is becoming extremely common, many people hold the view that people can maintain a healthy lifestyle without the need of meat. I agree that being a vegetarian means being healthier. However, I would argue that remove meat from daily diet can lead to variously-detrimental consequences which directly associates to our health (1) . To begin with, there are many undeniable positive aspects of having a vegetarian diet. The most significant benefit is that this diet helps reverse several chronic illnesses such as heart disease, cancer or obesity. This is mainly because plant-based foods consume less cholesterol so consequently, there will be a lower level of blood pressure and cholesterol (2) . Another advantage is that vegetarians are less likely to be overweight as the amount of fat in vegetables is extremely lower than that in meat (3) . However, meat can nourish our body more than plant-based foods can. Firstly, vegetables are deficient in protein whereas a large amount of this is found in meat (4) . The main reason why human’s body needs to consume a balanced diet of protein is to build and repair tissue as well as maintain a healthy body, which is vital when doing anything energetic (5) . Secondly, besides promoting mental health, meat also improve physical health as meat is extremely rich in various vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, B, D (6) . It has been proven that these vitamins play an important role in promoting good vision, stronger teeth and bones system (7) . In conclusion, it is true that following vegetarian diets results in many benefits such as lowering risks of getting chronic illnesses. However, I believe that meat is highly required while maintaining healthy diets (8) . 283 words

The commentaries are marked in brackets with number (*). The numbered commentaries are found below. The part in  italics  is taken from the text, the word  underlined  is the suggested correction. Words in (brackets) are the suggested addition to the original phrase or sentence.

• However, I would argue that removing  meat from daily diet can lead to variously detrimental consequences for our health . — a gerund form is needed instead of ‘remove’. You don’t need a hyphen between ‘variously’ and ‘detrimental’. I have shortened your construction because the extra words do not add anything to the text. In that case the syntax was wrong too. Using more words that do not add any meaning is bad for your final score.
• This is mainly because plant-based foods contain  less cholesterol so consequently, blood pressure will be lower. — ‘Cholesterol’ is pretty difficult to paraphrase, avoid using it twice in the same sentence.
• Another advantage is that vegetarians are less likely to be overweight as the amount of fat in vegetables is much  lower than that in meat.  — don’t forget that you are making a comparison here, a comparative adjective should be used.
• Firstly, vegetables are deficient in protein whereas a large amount of it  is found in meat. — ‘it’ should be used to refer to something mentioned just now.
• The main reason why human’s body needs (to have ) a balanced diet of protein is to build and repair tissue (what tissue?) as well as maintain a healthy body, which is vital when doing anything energetic. — ‘to have a diet’ is a better collocation . Alternatively (and preferably) it could be omitted (the text in the brackets is optional).The second part of the sentence is a bit vague — it lacks specific information and hardly adds anything new to the essay. It states the obvious like ‘you need a healthy body to do something that requires energy’. Use your essay to conduct more interesting thoughts and less trite ideas e.g. ‘A healthy, energetic lifestyle is rare nowadays as most people spend their time in front of their computers. To maintain an active life like this one has to have a balanced diet’. This is just an example of how you can use the precious writing space to convey a message.
• Secondly, besides promoting mental health, meat also improves physical health as it  is extremely rich in various vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, B, D. — ‘meat’ is singular. Also avoid using this word twice — I have replaced it with with a pronoun.
• It has been proven that these vitamins play an important role in ensuring  good vision, stronger teeth and bones  — ‘Promote’ is not the best verb for this context. I have also dropped ‘system’ as it is redundant here.
• However, I believe that meat is highly recommended  while maintaining healthy diets — ‘highly required’ is rarely used, and almost of all the uses are by foreign speakers (or so my google research indicates). Use ‘highly recommended’ or simply ‘required’.

The essay has adequate structure — both positive and negative aspects of the approach are given equal attention. The reader would be well-informed on the issue of vegetarianism. The language is fairly varied with a good range of health-related vocabulary. Occasional mistakes and inaccuracies do not stand in the way of understanding the message. The author occasionally repeats the same word — proof-reading the essay would have helped eliminating this.

Vegetarian Diet: A Boon or Bane for Health?

Varshil Mehta

Search for the other articles from the author in: Google Scholar | PubMed | JMRI Journal

A vegetarian diet is a kind of diet that involves little or non-consumption of any meat or its products, including meat from cattle, poultry, and fish and / or any other animal. There are many types of vegetarian diet which exist today, but none follows a specific pattern. This mode of food is gradually gaining popularity all over the world. One of the largest vegetarian communities lives in India (35.71%). A large percentage of people also thrive on the vegetarian diet in countries like USA (3.78%), UK (8.57%), Germany (9.02%) and Italy (9.67%). The numbers are shown in figure 1 [ 1 ].

Most of the vegetarians follow the vegetarian diet due to their religious beliefs. Most of them follow a strict pattern of veganism, involving the complete abandonment of food associated with animals, including milk, poultry eggs and other products which are made from animals or its products. Particularly, Jains (People who follow Jainism) follow even tougher diet which not only involves strict vegetarian diet but also involves non-consumption of anything which is grown underground such as potatoes and onions. Below, in figure 2 , different and most commonly practiced forms of vegetarian diets are presented with a brief explanation for each of them.

At the moment, various European nutrition advice associations condone that a vegetarian/vegan diet can be harmless and nutritionally sound, if it consists of a balanced diet. However, it should include the intake of dietary supplements, especially during pregnancy and lactation. As an example, the German Academy of Nutrition and Dietology, recommends an approximate diet of a vegan, which can be used to overcome the problems associated with the deficiency of certain macro- and micro-nutrients [ 2 ].

Benefits of having a vegetarian meal

Adopting a vegetarian diet can definitely lead to a better health. A vegetarian diet is generally associated with an increase in fiber, folic acid, magnesium, vitamins C and E, unsaturated fat, and countless phytochemicals content.

Low risk of diabetes: In a recent meta-analysis conducted by Lee and Park, concluded that a vegetarian diet is inversely proportionate to the risk of developing diabetes [ 3 ].

Reduction of blood cholesterol levels: Another such meta-analysis conducted by Wang et al., concluded that vegetarian diets could effectively lower blood concentrations of Total-Cholesterol, Low Density Lipoprotein‐C, High Density Lipoprotein‐C, and non-High Density Lipoprotein‐C [ 4 ].

Improvement of Mood: A recent study showed that by restricting meat and its products, mood improvements did happen. This is because that the vegetarian diet has low Arachidonic acid (associated with mood disturbances) [ 5 ].

Reduction in risk of developing cataracts and kidney stones: A recent study showed that by replacing the non-vegetarian diet with the vegetarian diet, will result in a higher urine pH and thus low chances of developing kidney stones [ 6 ]. Furthermore, a study by the Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine at the University of Oxford has shown a strong positive association between the risk of developing cataracts and consumption of meat products. Hence, vegetarian diet could also help in reducing the risk of developing cataracts [ 7 ].

Reduction in risk of developing cardiovascular and cancer diseases: Furthermore, a recent meta-analysis by Dinu M et al., concluded that vegetarianism is quite helpful, in reducing the incidence rate of diseases like cardiovascular (reduction in risk by 7%) and cancer diseases (reduction by 8%). The most important benefit is in reducing the risk of mortality and morbidity of the coronary heart disease (reduction by 25%). The study findings are shown in the below table 1 [ 8 ].

Also, it should be remembered that those who stick to vegetarianism usually change not only the diet but also the way of life, which means that they often do not have bad habits such as smoking or alcohol abuse and are more physically active, etc [ 9 ]. Hence, a vegetarian often have a low cholesterol level, appropriate weight, normal blood pressure, and are less prone to develop cardiovascular and cancer diseases. The benefits are depicted in figure 3 .

However, there are some concerns as well which needs to be taken care of. Vegetarian meal lacks many nutrients like vitamin B12, zinc, proteins, calcium etc. Hence, it is of utmost importance, that a well planned and appropriate diet plan should be followed. The nutrients which are known to be deficient in the vegetarian meal should be supplemented along with the food in any other form like vitamin B12 capsules. But, as we weigh the benefits vs. risk, vegetarian diet comes out to be a winner for health if the deficient is supplemented along side. One can follow the diet plan as recommended by the German Academy of Nutrition and Dietology, which can be used to overcome the problems associated with the deficiency of certain macro- and micro-nutrients [ 2 ].

Vegetarian diet is a boon to health. It can help a person to have a lower cholesterol level, lower weight, lower blood pressure, and a reduced risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. It also helps in preventing the deadly chronic diseases like diabetes and cancer. It may also help in prolonging the longevity. However, if the diet is not planned properly, it may be proved to be a bane to the health. Hence, more studies should be conducted to prove the beneficial effects of the vegetarian diet. In my opinion, I would suggest everyone to consider a vegetarian diet as an option to the adjuvant therapy if some is at a borderline of developing any of the diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, kidney stones, hyperlipidemia, and cataracts or is suffering from depression.

Comments & Peer Review

Article details, how to cite, download citation, copyrights & license.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License .

Publication history

Search panel.

IELTS Blog & IELTS Mock Test

Ielts exam preparation for a higher band score., ielts essay: everyone should adopt a vegetarian diet.

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Everyone should adopt a vegetarian diet because eating meat can cause serious health problems.

Do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.

Write at least 250 words.

Model Answer 1:

People should consume more vegetables and fruits and as little meat as possible because intake high amount of meat can cause serious health issues. In my opinion, the consumption of a vegetarian diet is a better way to live a healthy life and I agree with the notion.

Firstly, vegetarian diets are cheaper and more healthy. If the majority of people become vegetarians, a nation needs to struggle less to become self-sufficient on food production. Moreover, such diets are easily accessible both for the poor and rich citizens. Most importantly, plant-based food provides necessary vitamins and food values, especially fibre, which protect us from many dangerous diseases. Not to mention, producing vegetarian food is more ecologically sustainable, and it reduces damage to the environment.

On the contrary, a certain portion of meat is necessary for a balanced diet because it contains protein, calcium and other vitamins. Nevertheless, these can be also gained from alternative sources like beans, mushrooms and nuts. Most meats are cholesterol-rich, which is detrimental to the human body and cause diseases. On top of that, deadly illnesses like cardiovascular diseases, obesity and brain haemorrhage are increasing gradually all around the world due to a high intake of red meat in different countries and I believe a vegetarian diet is a perfect solution to all these problems.

In conclusion, a healthy diet determines our wellbeing and life expectancy. Since a vegetarian diet is far beneficial than meats, we should choose wisely and decrease our meat intake as little as possible.

[By – Amraiz Ali Shahzad ]

Model Answer 2:

When it is perfectly possible to lead a healthy life by eating plant-based food, I see no justification for killing birds or animals for our food. Therefore, I completely agree with the argument that everyone should adopt a vegetarian diet.

There are several benefits to following a vegetarian diet. To start with, plant-based food is rich in vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and other nutrients required for good health. What’s more, most fruits and vegetables contain little or no cholesterol or calories. Research has shown that vegetarians are less likely to develop health-related problems like obesity, cancer or heart diseases. Health benefits are not the only reason to follow a vegetarian diet. When we obtain our food from plants, we can also stop cruelty to animals.

By contrast, non-vegetarian foods such as fish and meat are high in cholesterol, fat and calories. Regular consumption of red meat is known to increase a person’s risk of cancer and heart disease. In addition, unlike fruits or vegetables, fish and meat cannot be eaten raw. The slaughtered animal may have some illness. If half-cooked meat is eaten, it can cause deadly infections in human beings. In fact, many cases of food poisoning are caused by the consumption of contaminated meat.

The quality of non-vegetarian food has also deteriorated over the years. Seafood has become contaminated due to the pollution in ocean water. It is a well-known fact that farm animals are given steroids to grow rapidly. When we eat their meat, the steroid also enters into our body. This leads to several problems like precocious puberty in children.

To conclude, vegetarian diets are healthy and do not constitute cruelty to animals. Therefore, I believe that everyone should adopt vegetarianism.

[Written by – Manoj ]

3 thoughts on “ IELTS Essay: Everyone should adopt a vegetarian diet ”

Excellent examples to prove to be vegetarian in IELTS essay. I need help in IELTS reading & listening in table chart completion.

Thanks for essay. My question is what is the best way to end an IELTS essay?

Wow! Read magazine to read more and learn for IELTS.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CAPTCHA 5 + four =

Introduction: Thinking Through Veganism

• First Online: 25 May 2018

Cite this chapter

• Emelia Quinn 6 &
• Benjamin Westwood 7  

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Animals and Literature ((PSAAL))

1494 Accesses

1 Citations

This introduction outlines the social, environmental, and intellectual contexts shaping the emergence of vegan theory. It establishes an understanding of veganism’s messy, contradictory aspects, which runs counter to contemporary conceptualizations of it as a faddish diet or punitive set of proscriptions. Quinn and Westwood argue that veganism is situated between two opposing, but necessary poles: utopianism and insufficiency, aligned respectively with the work of Carol J. Adams and Jacques Derrida. The importance of these coordinates derives from their opposition: veganism as a confluence of utopian impulses, and the acknowledgement of their inevitable insufficiency. This introduction shows how thinking through veganism—as a heuristic lens and topic in its own right—opens out onto a wide variety of issues and questions explored in the following essays.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

• Available as EPUB and PDF
• Read on any device
• Instant download
• Own it forever
• Compact, lightweight edition
• Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
• Free shipping worldwide - see info
• Durable hardcover edition

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Oxford English Dictionary , 3rd ed., s.v. “vegan, n.2 and adj.2. ”

See Robert McKay’s essay in this collection.

Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, “Around the Performative: Periperformative Vicinities in Nineteenth-Century Narrative,” Touching Feeling: Affect, Pedagogy, Performativity (Durham, 2003), pp. 71–72.

See Richard Twine’s essay on the “intersectional disgust ” that he suggests has divorced the question of the animal from mainstream feminism (“Intersectional disgust ? Animals and (eco)feminism ,” Feminism & Psychology 20, no.3 (2010): 397–406). While we are reluctant to conflate homosexual oppression with the oppression of animals, we do not shy away from the recognition of important analogies that allow us to theorize human social and political structures in relation to the nonhuman. As Twine concludes “It would be a shame if disgust were to get in the way of conversation” (p. 402).

As made clear by Carol J. Adams in Sexual Politics of Meat  (London, 2015) and Annie Potts, “Exploring Vegansexuality: An Embodied Ethics of Intimacy” William Lynn: Ethics and Politics of Sustainability. 9 March 2008. http://www.williamlynn.net/exploring-vegansexuality-an-embodied-ethics-of-intimacy/

See, for example, José Esteban Muñoz , Cruising Utopia: The Then and There of Queer Futurity (New York, 2009) and Judith Halberstam , The Queer Art of Failure (Durham, 2011).

See Sara Salih’s essay in this collection.

J. M. Coetzee, The Lives of Animals (Princeton, 2001), p. 67.

See, for example, Martha Nussbaum, Hiding from Humanity: Disgust, Shame, and the Law (Princeton, 2004). Nussbaum condemns disgust as reliant on fears that are “typically unreasonable, embodying magical ideas of contamination, and impossible aspirations to purity, immortality, and nonanimality, that are just not in line with human life as we know it” (p. 23).

Matthew Calarco, “Deconstruction is not vegetarianism: Humanism, subjectivity, and animal ethics,” Continental Philosophy Review 37, no. 2 (2004): 194.

Ibid., pp. 195, emphasis added.

United Nations, “World population projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050” UN.org , 29 July 2015. http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/news/population/2015-report.html

United Nations Environmental Programme, “Assessing the Environ-mental Impacts of Consumption and Production” UNEP.org , 2010. http://www.unep.fr/shared/publications/pdf/DTIx1262xPA-PriorityProductsAndMaterials_Report.pdf ; London Economic, “Vegan Food Sales up by 1500% in Past Year” The London Economic, November 2016. https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/food-drink/vegan-food-sales-up-by-1500-in-past-year/01/11/ ; Vegan Life, “Veganism Booms By 350%” VeganLife Magazine, 18 May 2016. http://www.veganlifemag.com/veganism-booms/

The UK National Health Service supports this, stating on its website that a well-planned vegan diet will provide all the nutrients the body needs. NHS, “The vegan diet,” nhs.uk. http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Vegetarianhealth/Pages/Vegandiets.aspx

Michael P. Branch and Scott Slovic, The ISLE Reader (Athens, 2003), p. xvi.

See, for example, Graham Huggan and Helen Tiffin , Postcolonial Ecocriticism (Abingdon, 2010), Carol J. Adams and Josephine Donovan, Animals and Women: Feminist Theoretical Explorations (Durham, 1995), and Val Plumwood , Feminism and the Mastery of Nature (London, 1993).

For more on Deep Ecology, see George Session, Deep Ecology for the Twenty-First Century (Boston, 1995).

Robert C. Jones, “Veganisms,” in Critical Perspectives on Veganism, eds. Jodey Castricano and Rasmus R. Simsonsen (London, 2016), pp. 15–39.

Kara Jesella, “Vegans exhibiting an ever wilder side for their cause,” nytimes.com , The New York Times, 27 March 2008. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/arts/27iht-vegan.1.11463224.html

Best et al., “Introducing Critical Animal Studies,” Journal for Critical Animal Studies 5, no.1 (2007).

Taylor and Twine, “Introduction. Locating the ‘Critical’ in Critical Animal Studies,” in The Rise of Critical Animal Studies, eds. Nik Taylor and Richard Twine (Abingdon, 2014), p. 2.

Ibid., p. 6.

Ibid., p. 12.

Pederson and Stanescu, “Future Directions for Critical Animal Studies,” in Critical Animal Studies, p. 262.

Wright, The Vegan Studies Project: Food, Animals, and Gender in the Age of Terror (Athens and London, 2015), p. 7.

Joshua Schuster, “The Vegan and the Sovereign,” in Critical Perspectives, pp. 216, 210.

Anat Pick, “Turning to Animals Between Love and Law,” New Formations: A Journal of Culture/Theory/Politics 76 (2012): 65–85.

For more comprehensive surveys of the development of animal studies, see Linda Kalof (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Animal Studies (Oxford, 2017); Garry Marvin and Susan McHugh (eds.), Routledge Handbook of Human-Animal Studies (Abingdon, 2014); Derek Ryan, Animal Theory: A Critical Introduction (Edinburgh, 2015); and Kari Weil , Thinking Animals: Why Animal Studies Now? (New York, 2012).

The French edition was published in 1999, with an extended version released in 2006. The work itself is based largely on the text of a series of lectures given by Derrida at the 1997 Cerisy-la-Salle conference on “The Autobiographical Animal.”

Derrida, “‘Eating well’, or the Calculation of the Subject,” in Points… : Interviews, 1974–1994 , ed. Elisabeth Weber, trans. Peggy Kamuf (Stanford, 1995), p. 280.

Derrida, The Animal That Therefore I Am , ed. Marie-Louise Mallet, trans. David Wills (New York, 2008), p. 111.

Ibid., p. 28.

Adams, Sexual Politics of Meat , pp. xix; emphasis original.

Ibid., p. 63.

Ibid., p. 21.

Erica Fudge, Animal (London, 2002), p. 45.

Derrida, “Eating Well, ” p. 282.

Calarco, “Deconstruction is not vegetarianism,” p. 198.

Ibid., p. 194.

Gary Steiner, Animals and the Limits of Postmodernism (New York, 2013), p. 63.

Works Cited

Adams, Carol J. 2015—1990. The Sexual Politics of Meat . London: Bloomsbury Academic.

Google Scholar  

Best, Steve, Anthony J. Nocella, Richard Kahn, Carol Gigliotti, and Lisa Kemmerer. 2007. Introducing Critical Animal Studies. Journal for Critical Animal Studies 5 (1): 4–5.

Branch, Michael P., and Scott Slovic. 2003. Introduction: Surveying the Emergence of Ecocriticism. In The ISLE Reader: Ecocriticism, 1993–2003 , ed. Michael P. Branch and Scott Slovic. Athens/London: University of Georgia Press.

Breeze Harper, A. 2010. Sistah Vegan. Black Female Vegans Speak on Food, Identity, Health, and Society . New York: Lantern Books.

Calarco, Matthew. 2004. Deconstruction Is Not Vegetarianism: Humanism, Subjectivity, and Animal Ethics. Continental Philosophy Review 37 (2): 175–201.

Article   Google Scholar  

Castricano, Jodey, and Rasmus R. Simonsen. 2016. Critical Perspectives on Veganism . London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Book   Google Scholar  

Coetzee, J. M. 2001. The Lives of Animals . Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Derrida, Jacques. 1995. ‘Eating Well’, or the Calculation of the Subject. In Points…: Interviews, 1974–1994 , ed. Elisabeth Weber, trans. Peggy Kamuf, 255–287. Stanford: Stanford University Press.

———. 2008. The Animal That Therefore I Am . New York: Fordham University Press.

Fiddes, Nick. 1991. Meat: A Natural Symbol . London: Routledge.

Fudge, Erica. 2002. Animal . London: Reaktion.

Ghosh, Amitav. 2016. The Great Derangement. Climate Change and the Unthinkable . Chicago/London: University of Chicago Press.

Halberstam, Judith. 2011. The Queer Art of Failure . Durham/London: Duke University Press.

Huggan, Graham, and Helen Tiffin. 2010. Postcolonial Ecocriticism: Literature, Animals, Environment . Abingdon: Routledge.

Jesella, Kara. 2008. Vegans Exhibiting an Ever Wilder Side for Their Cause. The New York Times , 27 March. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/arts/27iht-vegan.1.11463224.html

Jones, Robert C. 2016. Veganisms. In Critical Perspectives on Veganism , ed. Jodey Castricano and Rasmus R. Simonsen, 15–39. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Chapter   Google Scholar  

Kalof, Linda, ed. 2017. The Oxford Handbook of Animal Studies . Oxford: Oxford University Press.

London Economic. 2016. Vegan Food Sales Up by 1500% in Past Year. The London Economic , November. https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/food-drink/vegan-food-sales-up-by-1500-in-past-year/01/11/

Marvin, Garry, and Susan McHugh, eds. 2014. Routledge Handbook of Human-Animal Studies . Abingdon: Routledge.

Muñoz, José Esteban. 2009. Cruising Utopia: The Then and There of Queer Futurity . New York: New York University Press.

Nussbaum, Martha C. 2004. Hiding from Humanity: Disgust, Shame, and the Law . Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Pederson, Helena, and Vasile Stanescu. 2014. Conclusion: Future Directions for Critical Animal Studies. In The Rise of Critical Animal Studies , ed. Nik Taylor and Richard Twine, 262–276. Abingdon: Routledge.

Pick, Anat. 2012. Turning to Animals Between Love and Law. New Formations 76: 68–85.

Plumwood, Val. 1993. Feminism and the Mastery of Nature . London: Routledge.

Preece, Rod. 2008. Sins of the Flesh . Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press.

Ryan, Derek. 2015. Animal Theory: A Critical Introduction . Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

Schuster, Joshua. 2016. The Vegan and the Sovereign. In Critical Perspectives on Veganism , ed. Jodey Castricano and Rasmus R. Simonsen, 203–223. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Sedgwick, Eve Kosofsky. 2003. Touching Feeling: Affect, Pedagogy, Performativity . Durham/London: Duke University Press.

Spencer, Colin. 1993. The Heretic’s Feast: A History of Vegetarianism . London: Fourth Estate.

Steiner, Gary. 2013. Animals and the Limits of Postmodernism . New York: Columbia University Press.

Stuart, Tristram. 2006. The Bloodless Revolution: Radical Vegetarians and the Discovery of India . London: HarperPress.

Taylor, Nik, and Richard Twine. 2014. The Rise of Critical Animal Studies: From the Margins to the Centre . Abingdon: Routledge.

Twine, Richard. 2010. Intersectional Disgust? Animals and (Eco)feminism. Feminism & Psychology 20 (3): 397–406.

United Nations. 2015. World Population Projected to Reach 9.6 Billion by 2050. UN.org , 29 July. http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/news/population/2015-report.html

United Nations Environment Programme. 2010. Assessing the Environmental Impacts of Consumption and Production. UNEP.org , June. http://www.unep.fr/shared/publications/pdf/DTIx1262xPA-PriorityProductsAndMaterials_Report.pdf

Vegan Life. 2016. Veganism Booms by 350%. VeganLife Magazine , 18 May. https://www.veganlifemag.com/veganism-booms/

Vegan Society. 2017. Definition of Vegnism. VeganSociety.com . https://www.vegansociety.com/go-vegan/definition-veganism

Weil, Kari. 2012. Thinking Animals: Why Animal Studies Now? New York: Columbia University Press.

Wright, Laura. 2015. The Vegan Studies Project. Food, Animals, and Gender in the Age of Terror . Athens/London: University of Georgia Press.

Download references

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Wolfson College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

Emelia Quinn

Wadham College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

Benjamin Westwood

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and affiliations.

Wolfson College, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom

Wadham College, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Quinn, E., Westwood, B. (2018). Introduction: Thinking Through Veganism. In: Quinn, E., Westwood, B. (eds) Thinking Veganism in Literature and Culture. Palgrave Studies in Animals and Literature. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73380-7_1

Download citation

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73380-7_1

Published : 25 May 2018

Publisher Name : Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

Print ISBN : 978-3-319-73379-1

Online ISBN : 978-3-319-73380-7

eBook Packages : Literature, Cultural and Media Studies Literature, Cultural and Media Studies (R0)

Share this chapter

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

• Publish with us

Policies and ethics

• Find a journal
• Track your research

Essays About Veganism: Top 5 Examples and 10 Prompts

Veganism is on the rise. See below for our great examples of essays about veganism and helpful writing prompts to get started. 

Veganism is the practice of abstaining from animal-based foods and products. The movement originated from the philosophies against using animals as commodities and for capitalist gains. Now a booming industry, veganism promises better health benefits, a more humane world for animals, and an effective solution to global warming. 

Here is our round-up of essays examples about veganism:

1. A Brief History of Veganism by Claire Suddath

2. animal testing on plant-based ingredients divides vegan community by jill ettinger, 3. as vegan activism grows, politicians aim to protect agri-business, restaurateurs by alexia renard, 4. bezos, gates back fake meat and dairy made from fungus as next big alt-protein by bob woods, 5. going vegan: can switching to a plant-based diet really save the planet by sarah marsh, 1. health pros and cons of veganism, 2. veganism vs. vegetarianism, 3. the vegan society, 4. making a vegan diet plan, 5. profitability of vegan restaurants, 6. public personalities who are vegan, 7. the rise of different vegan products, 8. is vegan better for athletes, 9. vegans in your community, 10. most popular vegan activists.

“Veganism is an extreme form of vegetarianism, and though the term was coined in 1944, the concept of flesh-avoidance can be traced back to ancient Indian and eastern Mediterranean societies.”

Suddath maps out the historical roots of veganism and the global routes of its influences. She also laid down its evolution in various countries where vegan food choices became more flexible in considering animal-derived products critical to health. 

“Along with eschewing animal products at mealtime, vegans don’t support other practices that harm animals, including animal testing. But it’s a process rampant in both the food and drug industries.”

Ettinger follows the case of two vegan-founded startups that ironically conducts animal testing to evaluate the safety of their vegan ingredients for human consumption. The essay brings to light the conflicts between the need to launch more vegan products and ensuring the safety of consumers through FDA-required animal tests. 

“Indeed, at a time when the supply of vegan products is increasing, activists sometimes fear the reduction of veganism to a depoliticized way of life that has been taken over by the food industry.”

The author reflects on a series of recent vegan and animal rights activist movements and implies disappointment over the government’s response to protect public safety rather than support the protests’ cause. The essay differentiates the many ways one promotes and fights for veganism and animal rights but emphasizes the effectiveness of collective action in shaping better societies. 

“Beyond fungus, Nature’s Fynd also is representative of the food sustainability movement, whose mission is to reduce the carbon footprint of global food systems, which generate 34% of greenhouse emissions linked to climate change.”

The essay features a company that produces alternative meat products and has the backing of Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and Al Gore. The essay divulges the company’s investments and plans to expand in the vegan market while providing a picture of the burgeoning alternative foods sector. 

“Experts say changing the way we eat is necessary for the future of the planet but that government policy is needed alongside this. If politicians are serious about wanting dietary changes, they also need to incentivise it, scientists and writers add.”

The article conveys the insights and recommendations of environmental and agriculture experts on how to turn more individuals into vegans. The experts emphasize the need for a whole-of-society approach in shifting more diets to vegan instead of putting the onus for change on an individual. 

10 Writing Prompts on Essays About Veganism

Here is our round-up of the best prompts to create interesting essays about veganism: 

While veganism has been a top choice for those desiring to lose weight and have a healthier lifestyle, some studies have also shown its detrimental effects on health due to deficiencies in specific vitamins. First, find out what existing research and experts say about this. Then, lay down the advantages and disadvantages of going vegan, explain each, and wrap up your essay with your insights.

Differentiate veganism from vegetarianism. Tackle the foods vegans and vegetarians consume and do not consume and cite the different effects they have on your health and the environment. You may also expand this prompt to discuss the other dietary choices that spawned from veganism. 

The Vegan Society is a UK-based non-profit organization aimed at educating the public on the ways of veganism and promoting this as a way of life to as many people. Expound on its history, key organizational pillars, and recent and future campaigns. You may also broaden this prompt by listing down vegan organizations around the world. Then discuss each one’s objectives and campaigns. 

Write down the healthiest foods you recommend your readers to include in a vegan diet plan. Contrary to myths, vegan foods can be very flavorful depending on how they are cooked and prepared. You may expand this prompt to add recommendations for the most flavorful spices and sauces to take any vegan recipe a notch higher. 

Vegan restaurants were originally a niche market. But with the rise of vegan food products and several multinational firms’ foray into the market, the momentum for vegan restaurants was launched into an upward trajectory—research on how profitable vegan restaurants are against restos offering meat on the menu. You may also recommend innovative business strategies for a starting vegan restaurant to thrive and stay competitive in the market. 

From J.Lo to Bill Gates, there is an increasing number of famous personalities who are riding the vegan trend with good reason. So first, list a few celebrities, influencers, and public figures who are known advocates of veganism. Then, research and write about stories that compelled them to change their dietary preference.

The market for vegan-based non-food products is rising, from makeup to leather bags and clothes. First, create a list of vegan brands that are growing in popularity. Then, research the materials they use and the processes they employ to preserve the vegan principles. This may prompt may also turn into a list of the best gift ideas for vegans.

Many believe that a high-protein diet is a must for athletes. However, several athletes have dispelled the myth that vegan diets lack the protein levels for rigorous training and demanding competition. First, delve deeper into the vegan foods that serve as meat alternatives regarding protein intake. Then, cite other health benefits a vegan diet can offer to athletes. You may also add research on what vegan athletes say about how a vegan diet gives them energy. 

Interview people in your community who are vegan. Write about how they made the decision and how they transitioned to this lifestyle. What were the initial challenges in their journey, and how did they overcome these? Also, ask them for tips they would recommend to those who are struggling to uphold their veganism.

Make a list of the most popular vegan activists. You may narrow your list to personalities in digital media who are speaking loud and proud about their lifestyle choice and trying to inspire others to convert. Narrate the ways they have made and are making an impact in their communities. 

To enhance your essay, read our guide explaining what is persuasive writing . 

If you’d like to learn more, check out our guide on how to write an argumentative essay .

Yna Lim is a communications specialist currently focused on policy advocacy. In her eight years of writing, she has been exposed to a variety of topics, including cryptocurrency, web hosting, agriculture, marketing, intellectual property, data privacy and international trade. A former journalist in one of the top business papers in the Philippines, Yna is currently pursuing her master's degree in economics and business.

View all posts

Home — Essay Samples — Life — Lifestyle & Interests — Vegan

Essays About Being a Vegan

The importance of writing an essay on veganism.

Writing an essay on veganism is important because it helps to raise awareness about the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle. Veganism is not just a dietary choice, but a way of living that has a positive impact on the environment, animal welfare, and personal health. By writing an essay on veganism, you can educate others about the ethical and environmental reasons for choosing a vegan lifestyle, and inspire them to make more conscious choices.

Here are some tips for writing an essay on veganism:

• Research the topic thoroughly to understand the key principles of veganism and its impact on different aspects of life.
• Include statistics and studies to support your points about the environmental and health benefits of veganism.
• Address common misconceptions about veganism and provide evidence to debunk them.
• Include personal stories or testimonials from vegans to add a human element to your essay.
• Consider the opposition and address counterarguments in a respectful and informative manner.
• End your essay with a call to action, encouraging readers to consider the positive impact of veganism on their lives and the world.

By writing an essay on veganism, you can contribute to the growing conversation about sustainability and ethical living. Your words have the power to spark change and inspire others to make more conscious decisions for a better world.

Best Vegan Essay Topics

Looking for inspiration for your vegan essay? Here are 20 unique and engaging Essay Topics that go beyond the ordinary:

• The impact of veganism on the environment
• The ethics of animal testing in the beauty industry
• The rise of plant-based meat alternatives
• Veganism and social justice
• The health benefits of a vegan diet
• The portrayal of veganism in the media
• Veganism and cultural appropriation
• The future of vegan fashion
• Veganism and food accessibility
• The intersection of veganism and feminism
• Veganism and spirituality
• The role of veganism in combating climate change
• Veganism and sustainable living
• The challenges of being a vegan athlete
• The impact of veganism on global food systems
• Veganism and mental health
• The cultural significance of vegan food
• The economics of the vegan industry
• Veganism and food deserts
• The psychology of veganism

Vegan Essay Topics Prompts

Looking for a creative spark for your vegan essay? Here are 5 engaging prompts to get you started:

• Imagine a world where veganism is the norm. How would society be different?
• Write a letter to a non-vegan friend, explaining why you chose a vegan lifestyle.
• Create a dialogue between two people with opposing views on veganism.
• If animals could talk, what would they say about veganism?
• Write a persuasive essay convincing someone to adopt a vegan diet.

With these thought-provoking Essay Topics and creative prompts, you'll be well on your way to writing a compelling and impactful essay on veganism. Happy writing!

Benefits of Vegan

Meatless monday: promoting sustainability and environmental consciousness, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

Each essay is customized to cater to your unique preferences

+ experts online

Meat Eating Vs Veganism: a Comprehensive Analysis

The positive effects of being in a vegan diet, veganism - the best solution to nowadays' problems, vegan is better: the benefits of a plant based diet for health and environment, let us write you an essay from scratch.

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Vegan Lifestyle: Why Veganism is More than a Diet

How being a vegan affects us and the planet, why i chose veganism and how it changed my life, how veganism could contribute to human’s life, get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

Expert-written essays crafted with your exact needs in mind

The Physiological and Psychological Implications of a Vegetarian/vegan Diet on Endurance Athletes

A critique of an advertisement for go vegan, overview of the features of switching to a vegan diet, the environmental cost of animal farming cycle and eco-friendly meat, why vegetarianism is better than meat eating: health, environmental, and ethical reasons, the benefits of vegetarianism in contrast to meat eating, how i decide to become a vegan, vegan gains – canadian youtuber and bodybuilder, the cost of meat eating vs the benefits of vegetarianism, some advice for traveling vegans, vegetarians eat animal crackers.

Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products, particularly in diet, and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. An individual who follows the diet or philosophy is known as a vegan.

Vegetarianism can be traced to Indus Valley Civilization in 3300-1300 BCE in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in northern and western ancient India. Early vegetarians included Indian philosophers such as Parshavnatha, Mahavira, Acharya Kundakunda, Umaswati, Samantabhadra, and the Tamil poet Valluvar; the Indian emperors Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka; Greek philosophers such as Empedocles, Theophrastus, Plutarch, Plotinus, and Porphyry; and the Roman poet Ovid and the playwright Seneca the Younger. The Greek sage Pythagoras may have advocated an early form of strict vegetarianism.

Ethical vegans” also avoid the use of animal products like skin (leather or fur), feathers, and other things that cause animal suffering during production. Approximately 5% of the US is vegetarian (close to 16 million people), and about half of those are vegan - meaning about 7.5 million Americans abstain from all animal products. Vegans get their protein from products like lentils, black beans, veggie burgers, tofu, nuts, peanut butter, and soy milk.

Relevant topics

• Bucket List
• Superstition

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Does Butter Contain Lactose? Analyzing Dairy Sensitivities and Alternatives

This essay about the presence of lactose in butter explains that while traditional butter contains trace amounts of lactose, it generally does not affect people with mild lactose sensitivity. However, for those with severe intolerance or allergies, even small amounts can be problematic. The essay discusses various lactose-free alternatives like plant-based butters, ghee, modern margarines, and homemade dairy-free butters, highlighting their benefits and culinary uses to accommodate dietary restrictions.

How it works

Butter, a beloved staple in kitchens around the world, has been a part of culinary traditions for countless generations, known for its creamy texture and rich flavor that enhances everything from morning toast to the most decadent desserts. Amidst its widespread use, a critical question often arises for those with dietary restrictions: Is there lactose in butter?

Exploring the fundamentals of butter’s creation, we find that it is typically made by churning cream, a process that separates the cream into butterfat and buttermilk.

The majority of lactose, the sugar present in milk, is found in the buttermilk, which is mostly removed during this process. Thus, while the predominant component of butter is the milk fat, a trace amount of lactose might still remain.

For many people with lactose sensitivity, the minute amount of lactose in butter does not cause significant digestive issues. However, for those with severe lactose intolerance or dairy allergies, even this small amount could lead to adverse reactions.

The degree of lactose intolerance varies significantly among individuals. Some can tolerate small amounts of lactose, while others must strictly avoid any traces. For those needing to steer clear of lactose, numerous butter substitutes are available:

Plant-Based Butter: These vegan-friendly alternatives, made from various oils like coconut, olive, or avocado, replicate the taste and texture of traditional butter without any lactose. These products are often enriched with vitamins and minerals and are suitable for cooking, baking, and spreading.

Ghee: Popular in Indian cooking, ghee is clarified butter where milk solids have been removed, leaving behind a pure butter oil with a rich, nutty flavor. This process significantly reduces the lactose content, making ghee a viable option for those with sensitivities.

Revamped Margarine: Today’s margarines have evolved to be healthier than their predecessors, free from trans fats and made from natural plant oils. For those avoiding dairy, lactose-free and dairy-free margarines are available that still provide a butter-like experience.

DIY Dairy-Free Butter: For those who enjoy a culinary challenge, making butter alternatives at home can be a rewarding endeavor. Using ingredients like nuts, seeds, or legumes, you can create customized, dairy-free spreads tailored to your dietary needs and flavor preferences.

When choosing a butter alternative, it’s essential to consider not just the absence of lactose but also the nutritional value, taste, and how well it can be used in your favorite recipes. Experimenting with different substitutes can open up a world of culinary possibilities, allowing those with lactose intolerance to enjoy buttery flavors without discomfort.

In conclusion, while traditional butter does contain slight traces of lactose, the market is rich with alternative options that cater to those seeking lactose-free solutions, ensuring that the joy of butter can be enjoyed by all, regardless of dietary restrictions.

Cite this page

Does Butter Contain Lactose? Analyzing Dairy Sensitivities and Alternatives. (2024, May 12). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/does-butter-contain-lactose-analyzing-dairy-sensitivities-and-alternatives/

"Does Butter Contain Lactose? Analyzing Dairy Sensitivities and Alternatives." PapersOwl.com , 12 May 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/does-butter-contain-lactose-analyzing-dairy-sensitivities-and-alternatives/

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Does Butter Contain Lactose? Analyzing Dairy Sensitivities and Alternatives . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/does-butter-contain-lactose-analyzing-dairy-sensitivities-and-alternatives/ [Accessed: 13 May. 2024]

"Does Butter Contain Lactose? Analyzing Dairy Sensitivities and Alternatives." PapersOwl.com, May 12, 2024. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/does-butter-contain-lactose-analyzing-dairy-sensitivities-and-alternatives/

"Does Butter Contain Lactose? Analyzing Dairy Sensitivities and Alternatives," PapersOwl.com , 12-May-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/does-butter-contain-lactose-analyzing-dairy-sensitivities-and-alternatives/. [Accessed: 13-May-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Does Butter Contain Lactose? Analyzing Dairy Sensitivities and Alternatives . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/does-butter-contain-lactose-analyzing-dairy-sensitivities-and-alternatives/ [Accessed: 13-May-2024]

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs.

Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+!

Please check your inbox.

You can order an original essay written according to your instructions.

Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide

1. Tell Us Your Requirements

2. Pick your perfect writer

3. Get Your Paper and Pay

Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!

Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.

short deadlines

100% Plagiarism-Free

Certified writers

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Paul Krugman

Meat, Freedom and Ron DeSantis

By Paul Krugman

Opinion Columnist

It’s possible to grow meat in a lab — to cultivate animal cells without an animal and turn them into something people can eat. However, that process is difficult and expensive. And at the moment, lab-grown meat isn’t commercially available and probably won’t be for a long time, if ever.

Still, if and when lab-grown meat, also sometimes referred to as cultured meat, makes it onto the market at less than outrageous prices, a significant number of people will probably buy it. Some will do so on ethical grounds, preferring not to have animals killed to grace their dinner plates. Others will do so in the belief that growing meat in labs does less damage to the environment than devoting acres and acres to animal grazing. And it’s at least possible that lab-grown meat will eventually be cheaper than meat from animals.

And if some people choose to consume lab-grown meat, why not? It’s a free country, right?

Not if the likes of Ron DeSantis have their way. Recently DeSantis, back to work as governor of Florida after the spectacular failure of his presidential campaign, signed a bill banning the production or sale of lab-grown meat in his state. Similar legislation is under consideration in several states.

On one level, this could be seen as a trivial story — a crackdown on an industry that doesn’t even exist yet. But the new Florida law is a perfect illustration of how crony capitalism, culture war, conspiracy theorizing and rejection of science have been merged — ground together, you might say — in a way that largely defines American conservatism today.

First, it puts the lie to any claim that the right is the side standing firm for limited government; government doesn’t get much more intrusive than having politicians tell you what you can and can’t eat.

Who’s behind the ban? Remember when a group of Texas ranchers sued Oprah Winfrey over a show warning about the risks of mad cow disease that they said cost them millions? It’s hard to imagine that today, meat industry fears about losing market share to lab meat aren’t playing a role. And such concerns about market share aren’t necessarily silly. Look at the rise of plant-based milk, which in 2020 accounted for 15 percent of the milk market.

But politicians who claim to worship free markets should be vehemently opposed to any attempt to suppress innovation when it might hurt established interests, which is what this amounts to. Why aren’t they?

Part of the answer, of course, is that many never truly believed in freedom — only freedom for some. Beyond that, however, meat consumption, like almost everything else, has been caught up in the culture wars.

You saw this coming years ago if you were following the most trenchant source of social observation in our times: episodes of “The Simpsons.” Way back in 1995, Lisa Simpson, having decided to become a vegetarian, was forced to sit through a classroom video titled “Meat and You: Partners in Freedom.”

Sure enough, eating or claiming to eat lots of meat has become a badge of allegiance on the right, especially among the MAGA crowd. Donald Trump Jr. once tweeted , “I’m pretty sure I ate 4 pounds of red meat yesterday,” improbable for someone who isn’t a sumo wrestler .

But even if you’re someone who insists that “real” Americans eat lots of meat, why must the meat be supplied by killing animals if an alternative becomes available? Opponents of lab-grown meat like to talk about the industrial look of cultured meat production, but what do they imagine many modern meat processing facilities look like?

And then there are the conspiracy theories. It’s a fact that getting protein from beef involves a lot more greenhouse gas emissions than getting it from other sources. It’s also a fact that under President Biden, the United States has finally been taking serious action on climate change. But in the fever swamp of the right, which these days is a pretty sizable bloc of Republican commentators and politicians, opposition to Biden’s eminently reasonable climate policy has resulted in an assortment of wild claims, including one that Biden was going to put limits on Americans’ burger consumption.

And have you heard about how global elites are going to force us to start eating insects ?

By the way, I’m not a vegetarian and have no intention of eating bugs. But I respect other people’s choices — which right-wing politicians increasingly don’t.

And aside from demonstrating that many right-wingers are actually enemies, not defenders, of freedom, the lab-meat story is yet another indicator of the decline of American conservatism as a principled movement.

Look, I’m not an admirer of Ronald Reagan, who I believe did a lot of harm as president, but at least Reaganism was about real policy issues like tax rates and regulation. The people who cast themselves as Reagan’s successors, however, seem uninterested in serious policymaking. For a lot of them, politics is a form of live-action role play. It’s not even about “owning” those they term the elites; it’s about perpetually jousting with a fantasy version of what elites supposedly want.

But while they may not care about reality, reality cares about them. Their deep unseriousness can do — and is already doing — a great deal of damage to America and the world.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , WhatsApp , X and Threads .

Paul Krugman has been an Opinion columnist since 2000 and is also a distinguished professor at the City University of New York Graduate Center. He won the 2008 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his work on international trade and economic geography. @ PaulKrugman