Opinion

Consider Your Health: Why You Should Be Vegetarian

25 million farm animals are killed each day in America.

Emma Matson, Staff Writer
March 10, 2021

“If slaughterhouses had glass walls, we’d all be vegetarians.” This quote from Paul McCartney could not be more truthful. To be straightforward and frank, slaughterhouses are disgusting — they are taking a toll on our environment, and animal meat is badly affecting our health.

Nine billion animals are killed in slaughterhouses each year. With this many animals being killed, production has to be fast and easy, despite what may be safe. The dangerous conditions of slaughterhouses have led to problems such as water contamination, greenhouse gas emissions, and disgusting disposal of the waste produced. Nitrogen and phosphorus are being polluted into the air, which is suffocating aquatic life and making water unsanitary. Slaughterhouses and farming the livestock are one of the main reasons for climate change.

Everybody knows that in slaughterhouses animals are killed. But, sadly, there is so much more that goes on. Footage of these places shows workers punching, kicking, and hurting the animals for no reason. Throughout their time at the slaughterhouses and before, they are packed tightly together into small spaces with no water or food. “Humane” slaughterhouses simply do not exist, as all animals are beaten, tortured, and treated as nothing, no matter where they are.

Animal agriculture is responsible for 14-18% of human-caused greenhouse gases. (Erik Mclean)

Slaughterhouses are also super hard on the workers. Although they sign up for the job, many workers have suffered from PTSD and psychological trauma from what they see on a daily basis. If people stop eating meat, the demand for animal products and slaughterhouses will decrease.

Since childhood, we have been bombarded by food charts and graphs and such that tell us for every single meal there should be meat as your protein. Sure, meat is one of the best sources of protein, but what about legumes, quinoa, seeds and nuts, beans, and much more? These foods will not increase your risk for a heart attack.

There are many health benefits of being vegan and vegetarian. Multiple studies have shown that animal-free diets reduce the risk of certain types of cancer, prevent type 2 diabetes, lower blood pressure, decrease asthma symptoms, and promote bone health. These diets will also help you lose weight the healthy way.

The vegetarian diet is better for human health than a diet that includes meat. (Brooke Lark)

As a vegetarian, you are missing some of the nutrients you get from eating meat. These include B-12 and iron. These can be added into your diet by taking a simple supplement each day, which is much easier than slitting the neck of a pig. More foods you must include in your diet include a lot of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and the proteins mentioned above.

Being a vegetarian is not as hard as one may think. Restaurants serve meals without meat. Cooking for yourself can be fun and rewarding. People (usually) won’t make fun of you. There are so many reasons to become a vegetarian, and they far outweigh the list of cons. Think about yourself and the animals you are helping. This should be your motivation.