Holla my lovelys!I had quite an interesting past weekend. Its was almost like Musical/Drama heven? I finnished Stage Directing my School Play "A Midsummer's Nights Dream" last Friday and on Saturday night i went and saw Wicked at the Oriental Theater in CHICAGO!!!!Dude, i love Chicago! It has everything there!Amazing food = China Town and Greek Town, plus who doesn't love Chicago style Pizza! i swear its the best shit you will ever eat, Deep Dish Veggie pizza, YUMMY!!!!!Music = Allstate, Sears, and United Theaters. OH and dont forget the HOUSE OF BLUES BABY! Chicago is known for its amazing Music and art, FOR A REASON!Art! = EVERYWHERE, you can find original pieces of art made by PICASSO himself everywhere! he made at least 4 HUGE statues in Chicago that are still standing! Plus they have an amazing Art Museum, I totally recommend.Theater = the Goodman, Oriental, and Rosemont Theaters are amazing, the place is B-E-A-Utiful! Plus they always have the most interesting Plays and Musicals. The set for Wicked was awesome!I mean isnt that enough to just make you want to go on a road trip there?Well it is for me. I mean i was born in Chicago myself, so ive gotten to live threw the magic of the Big Windy City.Any ways........I have recently gotten into a recent Debate with a few of my friends on the Vegetarian diet. I for one am a Vegetarian, and PROUD OF IT!But others seem to think differently. so i have made a list of Pros and Cons... Pros:*you'll be healthier- high fiber, low-fat diets help lower your chances of getting heart disease and certain cancers*you'll have more energy- if you have a balanced diet with enough vitamins, nutrients, protein, etc.*You are at a lower risk of getting foodborne illnesses from improper handling or cooking (meat requires refrigeration and to be cooked to proper temperatures for it to be safe to eat, as well as proper clean-up after handling). Of course, we had the spinach, green onion and scallion recalls, but that was caused at the grower, not because these items were handled improperly by the distributors.* I think that when you become vegetarian, you have to read all the labels of food you eat to be sure there's no meat in it. You'd be surprised by how many other offensive ingredients you'll notice by reading labels (colorings, preservatives, chemicals I couldn't pronounce). It really helped me become more aware of everything I put in my body- whether it was meat or not. I don't eat as many processed foods because of this.* Depending on how you feel about the politics of the meat industry, you may feel better about the fact that no animals were harmed in the making of your meal. * Groceries are cheaper, in general. Unless you buy a lot of specialized, pre-made mixes and meals. Meat is a more expensive source of protein than beans, for example.Cons:*Going out to dinner with friends becomes a little interesting. Some will support your eating habits, some will still want to go to the steakhouse to eat.*When you eat at other people's house you may not have very many options. Or if there is a vegetarian meal, you may feel like you made more work for the host, or that other people aren't eating what they'd really like to eat* Grocery shopping takes longer initially because you have to check labels* Ordering at restaurants will be more difficult- you'll have to see what has meat (ex. a lot of cream of broccoli soup uses a chicken stock base). Sometimes the server will know, sometimes they will have to check with the cook. And you'll still end up having to send stuff back from time to time.*People have a problem with vegetarians for some reason (probably because they don't understand it). You'll have a lot of people that think their vegetarian Joe's are funny, people that want to argue, people that try to get you to eat meat... I have also found this article at Doityourself.com
The Pros And Cons Of VegetarianismCurrently2.96/5 Stars
by Alden Smith
Everything that we do has consequences. Eating junk food makes us
fat, raises blood pressure and puts the threat of cancer into our lives. Following a vegetarian lifestyle irresponsibly can lead to malnutrition and health problems. Anything that we do has an impact on our lives. It is our responsibility to ensure that we make wise choices and see to it that we are educated about our own particular brand of lifestyle. Doing so keeps us healthier, happier and lets us live longer. The focus of this article will be on the pros and cons of the vegetarian lifestyle.
The Case for MeatWe cannot make a case for vegetarianism without discussing meat as a dietary choice. You cannot make an informed decision without the facts. Eating a diet heavy in meat serves as a fabulous source of high quality proteins. The essential amino acids that the body requires are contained in a diet rich with red meat. Red meat contains very high quantities of iron. The phosphorus content of meat is much more easily absorbed than the phosphorus in cereals and legumes. Meat is the main source for the intake of vitamin B12.
The Case for a Vegetarian Based DietNow that we have looked at meat, let's take a peek at vegetable based diets. We then have a basis of comparison. Vegetables also contain protein, the same as meat. There is no difference. What is important here is to balance the vegetarian diet to insure that proper nutrition is achieved. A vegetarian diet is different from an omnivorous diet in that it relies on beans and lentils for its source of proteins. Soy products, such as tofu and tempeh, are used to provide isoflavins, such as genistein and daidzein, which help to diminish bone loss, inhibit tumor growth and lower cholesterol. By following a plant based diet, we limit our chances of cancer, according to the World Cancer Research Fund.
Disadvantages Of A Meat Based DietNow that we have discussed both vegetarian and omnivorous diets, we can make an educated choice in which would work best for us. A meat based diet is generally high in fat. Hamburger, a favorite staple of many, is made from cows with the four D's – dead, disabled, diseased, and dying. This is why so many children are becoming ill from eating hamburger. We also retain the chemicals, hormones and antibiotics that are fed to cattle to accelerate growth and cause weight gain. Meat also works to raise cholesterol levels. It is suspected that meat-eaters are prime candidates for degenerative diseases, such as arthritis and gout. Fish and prawns and other crustaceans are preserved using boric acid, which attacks the liver and the brain. Boric acid is known to cause fits and coma before the victim dies of liver damage.
Disadvantages of a Plant Based DietA plant based diet also has disadvantages. One of the most serious side effects of a plant based diet is that some vitamins and minerals may be lacking from the diet if people don't eat a wide variety of foods. Some studies have found that vegans have a low intake of the vitamin riboflavin (B2), which is important in converting protein, fats and carbohydrates into energy. Vitamin B12 is found in meats, and not present in a vegan diet. Some plants, such as seaweed, fermented soy products and algae are reported as being high in B12, but some feel that any B12 present in plant foods is likely to be in a form unavailable to humans. The formation of red blood cells and the maintenance of a healthy nervous system are accomplished by B12. Vitamin D is not found in a plant based diet.
In conclusion
As we can see, both meat based and plant based diets have
advantages and disadvantages.
For someone on a plant based diet, the lack of vitamins and minerals can be gained by good dietary choice and the use of supplements. With a meat based diet, the needed vitamins and minerals may be there, but we have to deal with higher cholesterol and issues with cancer and heart disease. No diet is perfect. However, to my way of thinking,
it is much easier to take vitamin and mineral supplements than to have to deal with high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Certainly, we can add things such as vitamins and minerals in, but it is extremely hard to take out the effects of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and a colon packed with red meat. Armed with this information you can make an intelligent choice. It is up to the reader to decide what is best for him or herself.
SO HA!!!!I personally think healthy is better.Alright im done for now.
So Dont forget to Clean behind your ears,
Save the planet
and Peculate your brain!!!
Midnight@Noon
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