Introduction: The Purpose of it All
Vegan/vegetarian and red meat diets were found to have a multitude of effects, both positive and negative. However, through the research that I have conducted, I have found several contrasting pieces of evidence that can shed light on the misconception that all vegan or all red meat diets are particularly horrible for the human body. All of the evidence accumulated was found via different journals, each pertaining to either side of the debate, none of which gave a logical viewpoint from both sides.
An example of this would be that a particular article that agreed with meat-based diets: “Meat Science.”
Whereas the information gathered about vegan and vegetarian-based diets were found in a variety of articles, none of which were devoted solely to these types of diets. To clarify, the two diets each had separate genres that only promoted their individual views. In other words, the articles containing information about meat-oriented diets were supportive of that type of diet, and vice versa for the vegan/vegetarian articles found.
It is plausible to assume that these articles are biased and could therefore be considered genres for two different discourse communities, one supporting an omnivorous diet and the other supporting a vegan or vegetarian diet.
Here are the two contrasting elements found within the articles utilized to report on the whether or not an individual should eat meat or stick to plants. Vegan diets have been classified as the consumption of food that is not derived from animals, which includes dairy and honey.
However, there are sublevels of veganism that include vegetarian diets the consumption of food that includes animal-derived products but excludes meat and its byproducts. Conversely, red meat diets are not composed of solely red meat, they are normal diets that include animal derivates and, of course, the meat itself. This is an important topic in my discourse community because nutrition affects everything, including body composition, probability of disease and
health risk, as well as fitness level. As Fontana et al. (2013) found, consumption of a low-calorie vegan diet in combination with regular metabolic exercise significantly lowers blood pressure and BMI, whereas other studies show an intimate relationship between red meat consumption and disease, which unfortunately can lead to death.
Red Meat as a Part of the Daily Diet
Meat is not entirely unhealthy. The saying, “moderation is key,” is one of the primary ideas to keep in mind when considering any diet. As determined by Biesalski (2005), meat is in fact beneficial in the sense that it has higher bioavailability than plants. This means that there is more vitamin and protein intake and availability versus that of the traditional vegan or vegetarian diet. However, the type of meat consumed can have adverse effects on the body. There are several classifications of meat (McAfee et al., 2010) such as processed, lean, and red meats.
However, there is not a universal classification system to categorize meat (Chako et al., 2005). This factor makes it difficult to come to a conclusion on what type of meat is unhealthy and how much one needs to consume in order to feel the negative effects of eating meat. Although some discrepancies exist on whether red meat is risky business, regardless of the categorization of meat.
Regardless of the classification, risks still exist due to the high content of saturated fatty acids and hydrogenated oils, which can be naturally occurring in the meat or can be added by the manufacturer. This high level of saturated fatty acid and cholesterol is the tiebreaker in the meat vs. vegan debate. An analysis of a study involving 448,568 men and women in decent health concluded that there is a positive correlation between an increase in LDL or higher “bad” cholesterol and the consumption of meat (Rohrmann et al., 2013). Also revealed was that the more meat consumed the higher the risk of CVD (cardiovascular disease), as well as an increase in mortality rates.
The Vegan Diet and its Effects
Vegan or vegetarian diets have been used to successfully manage a number of things, including weight, diabetes, and blood pressure. According to Barnard et al. (2009) and the American Dietic Association (2009), vegan diets can be beneficial to those suffering from diabetes because of the diet’s ability to effectively lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Contrary to the popular belief that vegan or vegetarian diets are not healthy or beneficial due to their low bioavailability, the American Dietic Association found that the consumption of beans and legumes amongst other foods ensured an adequate amount of protein for muscle growth and maintenance.
Also, there was a significant difference in blood lipid levels in those who became vegans or vegetarians. This was attributed to the higher intake of fiber, soy, plant sterols and phytochemicals, which possess a protective antioxidant effect that can help prevent CVD. Barnard et al. (2009) also found that vegan diets can help reverse atherosclerosis, which is the build-up of hazardous plaque in the arteries of the body, particularly the heart. Although the evidence points toward mainly positive effects on the body, there are notable negative effects, such as vitamin deficiencies, but these can be easily avoided if a proper diet is planned and includes vitamin supplements (Hood, 2008).
Conclusion and Project Proposal: What Could Be Improved?
Both a diet consisting of meat and one consisting of mainly plant-based food both carry adverse and positive effects, as noted in the above paragraphs. However, I noticed throughout my research that there was not a significant amount of information available on specific studies performed. This may have something to do with the fact that this particular topic of study is newer than many others in the nutrition field. A longitudinal study lasting 5 to 10 years should be implemented with a sample size of 100 – 500 individuals of different ethnicities, races, and
genders between the ages of 25 and 60, with half eating a meat-based diet and the other half a vegan or vegetarian diet to study the effects of both diets on the human body. Although the sample size would not be representative of the entire population, it would give researchers a general idea of how each diet would work in a specific target group. This research would be beneficial in the aspect that it allows for scientists to have a better understanding of the function and possible outcomes of each diet and how they affect the body and whether those effects are truly helpful or harmful to one’s health.
A proposed project for this topic of conversation would be for a study composed of an adequate number of individuals who represent a reliable sample population, of which are both male and female and diverse in their origin. I have not identified the specific quantity of people due to obvious limitations with time and money. However, if time and money were unlimited I would recommend sampling 100 people from each state – half of whom already take part in a vegan or vegetarian diet and the remaining half consume a balanced diet including meat. These individuals would serve as the control group.
This would be a longitudinal study that would take place over a period of 5 to 10 years. The study would address specific outcomes, such as whether geographic, personal, religious, health, or gender-related factors contribute to an individual’s diet and how diet affects the body. At the end of each year, those who participated in the study would be sent a questionnaire that would need to be filled out and brought to their next doctor appointment. Questions such as, “What is your BMI and level of fitness?” would be up to the participant’s discretion, however specific questions such as, “What is the patient’s blood pressure, blood sugar, iron, calcium, and vitamin B12 levels?” would have to be determined by the physician. These questions would be used to measure how the diet affects the patient’s body and whether those effects are harmful or beneficial.
Ultimately the goal of this research would be to either debunk or support one diet or the other. However, the results gathered from the questionnaires and outliers like geographical region (e.g. those sampled from Alaska or other parts of the Northwest) where it takes more effort to obtain food for a vegan or vegetarian diet could skew the experiment results. Realistically, the goal would be to be able to finally put argument to rest while providing additional information to the general public that can ultimately be improved upon in the future.
