Can people live without meat at all?

Arianna Rivas

Currently, meat consumption is a topic that generates many questions as well as controversy. While
the food is rich in high quality protein and bioavailable essential nutrients, some argue that meat is
unhealthy and harmful to the environment, and that it is not necessary to take it as part of a diet.
Which begs the question whether this animal-based food is indispensable in human life.

Of course, it is possible to live without meat and st

other things.

In spite of the information mentioned in the previous paragraph ,

this food (meat) has been an important part of the di
. According to the latest nutritional research
, Western dietary patterns are characterized by a high consumption of refined grains, sugar,
and meat. But this type of diet has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of certain types
of cancer, coronary artery disease, diabetes and obesity. Based on the research of The Journal of the
American Heart Association, diets that include mostly plant-based foods may be 16% less likely to
suffer from cardiovascular disease, 32% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease, and up to 25%
less likely to die prematurely (2019).

Meat does not only affect health, but also the environment. The United Nations Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has produced a report by more than 100 scientists, which confirms
that excessive consumption of beef and dairy products, especially in high-income countries, is
contributing to the climate crisis (2020). But you may wonder how it is influencing this crisis as cattle
release methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and deforestation. Despite the need to ease animal food
consumption, beef consumption in some parts of the world, especially China, continues to grow as
incomes rise. However, replacing 20% of beef with mushroom-based alternatives could reduce
deforestation of the world's forests by half by 2050. That's according to a new analysis led by the
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) published in the journal Nature.

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"The food system is at the root of one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, and ruminant meat
production is the largest source," says Florian Humpenöder, PIK researcher and lead author of the
study.

Of course, meat could be replaced by other foods such as legumes, lentils, beans, chickpeas, and others.
Another food is soybeans, the derivatives that are obtained from this legume even surpass in
proteins to the foods of animal origin. Therefore, it is possible to stop consuming meat, and this would
also help animal welfare, since cruelty against animals is found primarily in the meat, dairy, and egg
industries, and results in the confinement, mutilation, and death of millions of animals a year.
According to UN statistics, each year, factory farming sends a number of farm animals to slaughter
equivalent to eight times the human population of planet Earth (2007).

In conclusion, many people consider that meat consumption has a high impact on the environment and
may agree with the complete cancellation of meat consumption. Nevertheless, others may have the
solid idea that it is not necessary to stop consuming this food completely, citing lack of habit, not
knowing recipes to replace meat, and the fact that meat makes food taste good. You don't have to
become vegan overnight, but you should rethink what you eat, why, and the impact your diet has on
other beings and the planet.

words: 589
Introduction creates interest and is well developed. Contains detailed debatable statement. =10
Arguments presented have some organization and logic. Arguments are somewhat appropriate for the
task.=13
Some opposing views are presented in parts of the essay. = 6
Transitions are present and direct readers from one example to the next though not to the level of
excellent. They may be basic and/or confusing. =8
Arguments are presented with enough detail and examples as to persuade readers. =8
Punctuation, spelling, grammar, and capitalization are generally correct with few errors. = 40

85/100=14

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