Eating Disorders
Social media is an effective method of communication when it comes to spreading of new ideas and messages. Among these ideas are trending diets such as vegetarian, vegan, fruitarian, etc. Popular celebrities such as Ariana Grande, Ellen DeGeneres, and Natalie Portman (to name a few) are advocates for a healthier life by changing their eating habits. Although most of these dieting programs may not have been recently invented, the increased popularity of varying diets has also caused an increased concern for the effectiveness and harmfulness of different eating styles. The pros and cons of each diet can be confounding and yet predictable. Many researchers have discovered information that can help dieters stay safe and keep nutrient efficient
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Both vegans and vegetarians alike experience calcium deficiencies. Vegans are more prone to bone fractures. There have been recent studies that show how “postmenopausal Asian women showed [that their] spine or hip BMD (bone mineral density) was significantly lower in long-term vegans. Those Asian women, who were vegetarian for religious reasons, had low intakes of protein and calcium” (Craig). Although vegan diets cannot provide as much protein and calcium content, a vegan diet is efficient in providing other essential nutrients for bone health such as vitamin K, vitamin D, potassium, and magnesium. Because vegans also tend to consume more soy in products like tofu, “Soy isoflavones are suggested to have a beneficial effect on bone health in postmenopausal women” …show more content…
Vegans do not emit as much greenhouse gasses as meat-based diets do. According to a University of Chicago study, “a lacto-ovo vegetarian emits far less greenhouse gas than a counterpart adhering to the standard, meat-rich American diet—the difference is equivalent to around 1.5 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, assuming the same daily caloric intake” (Koerner). When that article compared a lacto-ovo vegetarian to a vegan who consumes zero percent animal products, the greenhouse gasses emitted are even further reduced. It takes less fossil fuel to acquire grain than beef. Cows are also a huge emitter of methane gas. When cows are not being commercially raised for the products they provide, the methane gas released into the atmosphere will be significantly
Both vegans and vegetarians alike experience calcium deficiencies. Vegans are more prone to bone fractures. There have been recent studies that show how “postmenopausal Asian women showed [that their] spine or hip BMD (bone mineral density) was significantly lower in long-term vegans. Those Asian women, who were vegetarian for religious reasons, had low intakes of protein and calcium” (Craig). Although vegan diets cannot provide as much protein and calcium content, a vegan diet is efficient in providing other essential nutrients for bone health such as vitamin K, vitamin D, potassium, and magnesium. Because vegans also tend to consume more soy in products like tofu, “Soy isoflavones are suggested to have a beneficial effect on bone health in postmenopausal women” …show more content…
Vegans do not emit as much greenhouse gasses as meat-based diets do. According to a University of Chicago study, “a lacto-ovo vegetarian emits far less greenhouse gas than a counterpart adhering to the standard, meat-rich American diet—the difference is equivalent to around 1.5 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, assuming the same daily caloric intake” (Koerner). When that article compared a lacto-ovo vegetarian to a vegan who consumes zero percent animal products, the greenhouse gasses emitted are even further reduced. It takes less fossil fuel to acquire grain than beef. Cows are also a huge emitter of methane gas. When cows are not being commercially raised for the products they provide, the methane gas released into the atmosphere will be significantly