Vegetarian vs. Meat-Eating Diets

1.  Vegetarian vs. Meat-Eating Diets • Kelsey Slough and Krysti Maronski

2. Vegetarian Diet • Why do people choose a vegetarian lifestyle? • Health and nutrition benefits • Moral objections • It’s “trendy” or “cool” • Cover up

3. Different types of vegetarianism • Fruitarian- raw or dried fruits, seeds, and nuts in the diet. • Lacto-ovo vegetarian- includes dairy, eggs, vegetables, grains, legumes, fruits, and nuts. Excludes flesh and seafood. • Lacto-vegetarian- includes dairy, vegetables, grains, legumes, fruits, and nuts. Excludes flesh, seafood, and eggs. • Macrobiotic Diet- a vegan diet composed mostly of whole grains, beans, and certain vegetables. Often taken to extremes, this diet can compromise nutrient intake. • Ovo-vegetarian- includes eggs, vegetables, grains, legumes, fruits and nuts. Excludes flesh, seafood, and milk. • Partial vegetarian- a term used to mean an eating style that includes seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy, vegetables, grains, legumes, fruits, and nuts. Excludes red meat. • Vegan- includes only food from plant sources. • Vegetarian- includes plant-based foods and eliminates some animal derived foods.

4. Nutrients: Omega-3 Fatty Acids • Children and pregnant or lactating women have a critical need for fatty acids. • Benefits of Omega-3s: cancer prevention, slow down blood clotting, and artery hardening, reduce blood pressure, and aid in growth and development in infants. • Vegetarian diets provide enough flaxseed, walnuts, and oils to supply essential fatty acids. • Many vegetarians continue to eat fish which provides the essential fatty acids. • Unless a meat eaters diet includes these essential foods containing Omega-3 Fatty Acids they will be severely lacking.

5. Omega-3 Fatty Acids

6. Nutrients • Proper vegetarian diets include the necessary amount of protein, iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin B12, Vitamin D, and Omega-3 Fatty Acids.

7. Health Benefits • Becoming a vegetarian can aid or help prevent the following: • Cancer • Obesity • Heart disease • High blood pressure • Cataracts • Diabetes • Diverticular disease • Gallstones • Osteoporosis

8. Survey – Kelsey • Six people ages 21-73 • All are meat eaters. • Taste and familiarity were the most popular reasons to eat meat. • All but one believed meat was crucial to the diet. • Only one person believed people who don’t eat meat tend to be healthier. • Two people believed meat eaters do not have more heart issues.

9. Meat-Eaters Diet • Why do people eat meat? • Convenience • Nutrients • Taste • Familiarity • Weight-control efforts

10. What is included? • Lean meat • Poultry • Seafood • Eggs • Milk

11. Nutrients – Vitamin B12 • Requirement small but critical. • Found naturally only in animal-derived foods. • Very important in pregnant women, infants, children, adolescents, and elderly. • Infants may have deficiency-related disorders if lacking. • Adults with low B12 may experience fatigue, indigestion, numbness of hands, and frequent infections. • Some adolescents lacking B12 could have nerve damage

12. B12

13. Nutrients • Meat also contains and abundance of iron, zinc, and Vitamin D. • More well absorbed then when obtained through plant foods.

14. Survey - Krysti • 5 people ages 20-21 • All meat eaters • Taste was the number 1 reason for choosing to eat meat • All believe meat is crucial to the diet • Only 2/5 believed people who do not eat meat tend to be healthier • Only one person thought people who eat meat tend to have more heart issues

15. Moderation • Meat can be good for the diet. • Moderation is key. • American Cancer Society suggests no more than 18 ounces per week. • Choose lean cuts. • Correct plate proportions.

16. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U659pvWjevg

17. Conclusion • In conclusion, we find both vegetarian and meat containing diets are healthy if nutritious foods are consumed. • However, we find the best diet is a good balance between both. • Nutrients are easier absorbed and obtained with a meat containing diet. While some diseases and health issues are slowed or prevented with a vegetarian diet. To find a happy medium with each diet, maybe eating meat twice a week rather than each night would create the perfect diet.