Throughout the last decade, a growing trend toward vegetarianism has swept the United States. Today, approximately 13% of Americans eat a diet free of meat, poultry, and seafood, and that number continues to skyrocket. Along with becoming more popular, vegetarianism has become more accessible due to the growing influence of plant-based foods, more vegetarian dining options, and year-round produce availability. While there are many reasons why people choose a vegetarian lifestyle, the most common reasons are due to the increasing awareness of human health, concern for the environment, and animal welfare in the meat industry.

A common misconception about a vegetarian lifestyle is that it leads to nutrient deficiencies, such as protein and iron deficiencies, However, this could not be further from the truth, according to the American Dietetic Association. The ADA states that appropriately planned (well balanced) vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Compared with those who eat meat regularly, vegetarians generally consume more dietary fiber, vitamins C and E, folic acid, potassium, and magnesium, and consume less saturated fat and cholesterol. This leads to a lower BMI, lower blood pressure, and lower LDL cholesterol. These factors reduce an individuals risk for many chronic diseases, like heart disease, type two diabetes, and certain types of cancer.

Along with personal health benefits, vegetarianism also benefits the environment. Beef, one of America’s most popular foods, produces some of the highest greenhouse gas emissions of any food production - 19.89lbs of greenhouse gas per 1000 calories of beef. One cow’s annual output of methane is approximately 100 kilograms, which is equivalent to the emissions generated by a car burning 235 gallons of gasoline. That’s just one cow out of the 31 million found in the American beef industry. Along with methane gas, the meat industry also generates a whopping 65% of human-related nitrous oxide, which has 300 times the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of CO2.

The amount of water required to produce a kilogram of meat is also much more than the amount of water needed to produce a kilogram of plant-based foods, like wheat – up to 100 times more in some circumstances. Vast amounts of land are also used for the livestock industry. 26% of the planet’s ice-free land is used for livestock grazing, while 33% of croplands are used for livestock feed production. The grazing of livestock destroys natural habitats, causes soil erosion, and is a main reason for deforestation and loss of biodiversity. Our waterways are also harmed due to the large amount of pollution that comes from the meat industry, such as manure, hormones, fertilizers, antibiotics, and pesticides, which all reek havoc on the environment around them.

Animal welfare is also a motive for some to choose a vegetarian lifestyle. 99% of meat produced in America comes from the abusive practices of factory farms. Animals raised for meat never see sunlight, and are cramped in cages so small it’s impossible to turn around. They’re kept in disease ridden warehouses where they’re only kept alive due to a complex cocktail of antibiotics and hormones. Many animals still die to their horrendous living conditions, but if not, they’re then slaughtered in painful and inhumane ways. These factory farm animals suffer for the sake of maximum production needed to feed our country nearly 100 billion pounds of meat every year.

We should all strive for a meat free lifestyle. Not only does is prevent many chronic diseases and promote good health, but it slows the damage to the planet that humans have created, and consumes less natural resources. It saves millions of innocent animals whose lives are pure hell, just for the sake of food we can live without. For healthier and happier humans, planet, and animals, vegetarianism is the right choice. Vegetarianism is the future.