Does It Really Matter If I Become A Vegetarian?
As a prospective vegetarian, you probably question whether or not it really matters if you stop eating meat. You might wonder how much of a difference one additional vegetarian can make.
While it might be true that one vegetarian won’t make huge statistical difference in a world of meat-eaters, and while it is also true that one more vegetarian probably isn’t going to turn the tide in the movement, you can do a lot as an individual that will be good for you and good for hundreds of animals.
Personal Health Benefits
Heart Health
The number one cause of death in the United States and other countries with meat-centered diets is heart disease.
If it weren’t specifically for meat, eggs, and dairy products–which are the three largest sources of cholesterol–heart attacks and other heart and circulatory problems would be far less prevalent. According to EarthSave, the average vegetarian has about 1/4 the chance of having a heart attack compared to the average nonvegetarian. For people who are pure vegans, it’s even lower: they have less than 1/10 the chance of having a heart attack as nonvegetarians.
Other Health Benefits
In addition to heart health, there are numerous other health benefits to being a vegetarian. For instance, you won’t be exposed to nearly as many preservatives, which are common in meat and are linked to cancer. You won’t be exposed to various hormones that are packed into animal feed, which often disrupt normal hormonal processes in the body. And you won’t consume as much lactose, which most people cannot digest properly–and which some dietitians have suggested is a cause of digestive problems.
Reducing Suffering for Animals
Reduction in Animal Consumption
According to veganoutreach.org, the average American consumes 2,714 land animals in their lifetime. If you quit eating meat now, you could literally prevent the suffering and death of hundreds of animals over the course of a couple decades.
Impact Beyond Meat Consumption
In addition to this, if you stop eating eggs and drinking milk, you will also reduce your share in the suffering and death of battery hens and their offspring, as well as dairy cows and their offspring.
Conclusion
So the answer is yes: it does matter whether or not you become a vegetarian. It matters to the thousands of animals you could potentially save, and it matters to you as an individual because you can greatly reduce your chances of getting cancer and heart disease.
