A new diet called vegetarianism has been quite a hot topic in recent news. Surprisingly, it's not as recent as you might think. Vegetarians were first introduced to ancient Greece and India around the end of the 6th century BC. This diet was created mainly for religious reasons at that time. Recently, countless studies have been carried out proving that a vegetarian is significantly healthier than an individual who eats meat. A vegetarian is a person who does not eat meat under any circumstances. They get all the necessary nutrients from fruits, vegetables and grains. Many have adopted this lifestyle for various reasons such as “economic, religious, ethical and health considerations” (Kumar Kaushik). Becoming vegetarian not only benefits an individual for health reasons, but also benefits the planet environmentally and also reduces the number of animals slaughtered for our meals. Vegetarianism should be a global way of life, not only because vegetarians are healthier than meat eaters, but also to protect the environment in the near future. These are just a few of the many reasons why a vegetarian lifestyle is superior for health, environmental and ethical reasons. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Those who practice a vegetarian lifestyle are significantly healthier than those who eat meat. Consuming meat is not necessary for a healthy diet, all vitamins and supplements can still be obtained by eating the right vegetables, fruits and grains. "The American Dietetic Association, a fairly centrist group, has proclaimed that 'properly planned vegetarian diets are healthy, are nutritionally adequate, and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases.' Vegetarians are proven to have a much lower risk of cancer, heart disease, mortality, stroke and diabetes than meat eaters. Many fruits and vegetables have “protective properties against cancer”. Some examples of these foods are broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, tomatoes, grapes, berries, etc. These same fruits and vegetables also reduce the mortality rate caused by heart disease. Nuts and grains consumed in large quantities are linked to a lower risk of developing diabetes. Not only are vegetarians at lower risk of health problems, but this diet is also beneficial for those who want to lose weight. “A properly implemented vegetarian diet has been shown to be the most effective way to reduce body mass (expressed as BMI)…”. Obesity is more common among those who eat meat than among vegetarians. Meat is filled with saturated fats, not to mention a host of additives and preservatives, making most people tired of eating meat. The health benefits of vegetarianism are very compelling considering the lower rates of poor health conditions and reduced body weight, simply from eating fruits, vegetables and grains. Another reason why vegetarianism is considered a better lifestyle is that it is better for the environment in many ways. . In the article "There's No Reason to Eat Animals", written by Lindsay Rajt, she explains how the industrymeat is horrible for the environment. “Animal agriculture is one of the world's largest sources of CO2 and the largest source of methane, which is more than 23 times more powerful than CO2 when it comes to trapping heat in the atmosphere” . These animals produce significant amounts of these harmful gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, into the air, causing many environmental problems. One of the main environmental problems of the meat industry is global warming due to all carbon dioxide. When an individual replaces meat with vegetables, fruits and grains, it not only reduces carbon emissions and other harmful gases but also reduces the effects of climate change. Another reason why a vegetarian lifestyle is better for the environment is that the meat industry causes pollution. This pollution occurs in water and is caused by animal feces and added hormones and antibiotics. The crops used to feed these animals also generate a significant amount of pollution, from pesticides and fertilizers. According to Downtoearth.org, “Livestock produce approximately 130 times more feces than the entire human population of the United States. Since factory farms don’t have wastewater treatment systems like our cities and towns, this concentrated waste ends up polluting our water, destroying our topsoil, and contaminating our air.” Pollution caused by and from feeding these animals is extremely dangerous to our waterways and ecosystems. When these pollutants enter waters, it can lead to algae blooms, killing large amounts of fish and negatively affecting human life. The effects that the meat industry causes on the environment are not only extremely dangerous, but also preventable by switching to a plant-based diet. The final reason why vegetarianism is superior is for ethical reasons involving animals. In the meat industry, the way animals are treated is inhumane. These animals are given medications to accelerate their growth and stay alive. The conditions they are held in would kill them, but the drugs they are forced to take keep them alive. Some examples of medications administered to these animals include: penicillin, erythromycin, and inorganic arsenic. According to Downtoearth.org, this explains how these antibiotics/medications negatively affect humans. “USDA researchers found that “...eating two ounces of chicken per day – the equivalent of one-third to one-half of a boneless breast – exposes the consumer to 3 to 5 micrograms of inorganic arsenic , the most toxic form of the element. » Daily exposure to low doses of arsenic can cause cancer, dementia, neurological problems and other conditions in humans. » The risks associated with eating meat are extremely dangerous for an individual. Not only are the animals fed harmful medications and antibiotics, but they continually suffer in these places and are treated inhumanely. These animals have feelings almost identical to humans, so they suffer a lot of pain. In the book Vegetarianism, Miller explains some examples of how these animals are treated inhumanely. “In an egg factory, male chicks (of no economic value) are summarily passed through a crusher” (Miller pp. 135). “Dairy cows are impregnated several times by artificial insemination, confined in stalls.