By Stephen Harrison--Smashwords Edition
www.eBooksForEnglish.com
Video about vegetarian from Ted-ed
Vegetarianism
© Olgalis
1. Delicious roast chicken, juicy steaks, mouth-watering beef… Do these foods sound good to you?
Many people all around the world would love to eat these dishes. However, there is one group of
people who wouldn’t eat them – vegetarians.
2. A vegetarian does not eat red meat, fish or poultry. In fact, they do not eat the meat of any animal,
instead they only eat foods that come from plants. The number of vegetarians is growing and in 2012
there were approximately 12 million in the United States. So why do people become vegetarians? Are
there any health risks? How do they eat a balanced diet?
3. One of the most popular reasons for becoming a vegetarian is animal cruelty. Many vegetarians
believe that it is cruel to kill animals for food. Furthermore, modern farming can be very cruel. For
example, cows and chickens are often kept in very cramped conditions. One theory says that by going
vegetarian, a single person will save the lives of 95 animals each year.
4. Another reason many people become vegetarian is for the environment. It takes over 5000 gallons of water to produce one pound of meat but only 25 gallons for a pound of wheat. Over 80% of the
agricultural land in America is used to grow food for farmed animals. These same farm animals
produce over 130 times the amount of excrement as the entire human population in America each
year. This then pollutes lands and waterways.
5. While many people in the Western world choose one, or both, of the reasons to become a vegetarian, there are some people who are vegetarian for religious reasons. Jains (of the religion Jainism) follow a strict vegetarian diet. They do this because they believe that all animals have souls. There are also some sects of Hinduism, as well as Mahayana Buddhism sects, which encourage vegetarianism. Other religions that advocate a vegetarian diet include: the Seventh-day Adventists, the Rastafari movement, the Ananda Marga movement and the Hare Krishnas.
6. Protein is an essential part of the human diet, however many sources of protein come from animals. Therefore, vegetarians have to make sure that their diet includes protein. Good sources of non-animal protein are: beans, lentils, tofu, nuts, seeds, tempeh, chickpeas and quinoa.
Another important part of the human diet is iron. Iron is required for the production of red blood cells
(a process known as haematopoiesis). It's also part of haemoglobin (part of the red blood cells), which helps transport oxygen around the body. There is a lot of iron in meat. Good non-animal sources of iron are: dried fruits, baked potatoes, mushrooms, cashew nuts, dried beans and spinach. To increase the amount of iron absorbed at a meal, vegetarians can eat a food containing vitamin C, such as citrus fruit, juices, tomatoes, or broccoli.
7. However, there is another group of people who have an even more restrictive diet than vegetarians –vegans. A vegan does not eat any food that comes from an animal. This includes: milk, cheese, other
dairy items and eggs. Vegans do not use animal products in their clothes and so they do not wear
clothing made from wool, silk, and leather. A vegan would not have a leather sofa in their home.
Both veganism and vegetarianism are increasing in popularity each year. Will people still be eating
meat in one hundred years? Or will we only see cows, pigs and sheep in zoos?
Click here to watch a video about vegetarianism.
-Glossarymouth-
watering – delicious.
poultry – domestic birds, e.g. chickens.
balanced diet – a diet which includes all food groups.
animal cruelty – treating animals badly.
cramped – no space, squashed.
agricultural – farming.
excrement – waste matter, faeces.
pollutes – ‘to pollute’, to make the environment dirty.
sects – religious groups.
advocate – ‘to advocate’, to publicly recommend or support something.
sources – places where something comes from.
to make sure – to establish something without doubt; make certain.
required – ‘to require’, to need.
transport – ‘to transport’, to carry, take somewhere.
baked potatoes – potatoes cooked in an oven.
absorbed – ‘to absorb’, to take in.
restrictive – limited.
increasing – growing, getting bigger.
Questions about the text.
1. Name three religions which believe vegetarianism is a good thing.
2. Do vegans eat yoghurt?
3. Why is broccoli useful to vegetarians?
4. Apart from religion, what two reasons often make people choose vegetarianism?
5. Why are chickpeas good for vegetarians to eat?
6. Why don’t Jains eat meat?
7. According to the text, why are farms often cruel places for animals?
8. What job does haemoglobin do?
9. What percentage of land is used for farming in America?
10. True or false? - Vegetarians eat chicken.
Check your answers.
1. Name three religions which believe vegetarianism is a good thing.
Three from – Jainism, Hinduism, Mahayana Buddhism, the Seventh-day Adventists, the Rastafari
movement, the Ananda Marga movement and the Hare Krishnas.
2. Do vegans eat yoghurt?
No because it is a dairy product.
3. Why is broccoli useful to vegetarians?
It contains vitamin C which helps vegetarians absorb iron.
4. Apart from religion, what two reasons often make people choose vegetarianism?
Animal cruelty and the environment.
5. Why are chickpeas good for vegetarians to eat?
They contain protein.
6. Why don’t Jains eat meat?
Because they believe every animal has a soul.
7. According to the text, why are farms often cruel places for animals?
Because the animals have little space to move.
8. What job does haemoglobin do?
It helps transport oxygen around the body.
9. What percentage of land is used for farming in America?
80%
10. True or false? - Vegetarians eat chicken.
No – chicken is poultry, which is meat.
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