Vegetarianism is harmful to the human body, and is wrong

First, I must say that if you are a participant in vegetarianism, that's your choice and I support your act of free will. I will in no way make an attempt to disengage you from your practices. Anyways, on to the debate.

To start off, any dietitian will tell you that meat is an essential part of anyone's diet. People are omnivores we eat BOTH meat, and vegetation. Our bodies weren't made to live without meat. It contains a substantial amount of protein which we need to grow (especially us teenagers). Dating back all the way to the first hominid species, we ate meat. And as much of it as we could. Now, I AM against the way some slaughterhouses do away with the lives of animals. But keep in mind...not ALL the meat manufacturers prepare meat this way. I'm not sure which ones do and don't, but it could easily be found out. I imagine it's more the underground companies that can't afford humane methods of slaughtering. Slaughtering isn't humane you say? Well, I agree it isn't when the rip the throat out of a cow, and slam a chicken up against a wall. But if it's just a quick twist of the neck, or an injection, they don't feel a thing. And America is a heavy meat eating country. We love meat, simply stated. There's no way we could just rely on natural occurring deaths of animals to eat, they must be killed according to the demand.

That's all I have for my opening statement, I look forward to seeing whomever chooses to take up my debate.

I'm not a vegetarian, I don't think animals should have rights, and I love meat. That being said, you are still wrong.

"Vegetarianism is harmful to the human body, and is wrong." As the Pro of the resolution, the burden of proof is on you to demonstrate that vegetarianism is harmful to the human body. Let's go down the line by line:

"To start off, any dietitian will tell you that meat is an essential part of anyone's diet."
The problem with this statement is that it's just…wrong. The American Dietic Association as well as the Dietitians of Canada issued a statement that "appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases." (1)

For those of you who don't know, the American Dietetic Association (ADA) is the United States' largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, with nearly 67,000 members. Approximately 75 % of ADA's members are registered dietitians and about 4 % are dietetic technicians, registered. The remainder of ADA's members include researchers, educators, students, clinical and community dietetics professionals, consultants and food service managers.

"People are omnivores we eat BOTH meat, and vegetation."
While it is true that we CAN ear both meat and vegetation, it does not mean we HAVE to eat both.

"Our bodies weren't made to live without meat."
It's not the meat that the human body can't live without; it's the nutrients in the meat. If you can the get the nutrients meat contains from another source, you can live just fine.

"It contains a substantial amount of protein which we need to grow (especially us teenagers)."
This argument assumes meat is the only source of protein. The American Dietetic Association states that "plant sources of protein alone can provide adequate amounts of essential amino acids if a variety of plant foods are consumed and energy needs are met."(2)

Some good examples of Protein that is not found in meet are:
1)BEANS: are protein-rich, and contain a good amount of iron

2)CHICKPEAS: are a helpful source of zinc, folate and protein. They are also very high in dietary fiber and hence a healthy source of carbohydrates for persons with insulin sensitivity or diabetes. Chickpeas are low in fat and most of this is polyunsaturated. (3) (4)

3)LENTILS: Aside from a high level of proteins, lentils also contain dietary fiber, vitamin B1, and minerals. Red (or pink) lentils contain a lower concentration of fiber than green lentils (11% rather than 31%). Health magazine has selected lentils as one of the five healthiest foods. (5)

4)TOFU: is relatively high in protein, about 10.7% for firm tofu and 5.3% for soft "silken" tofu with about 2% and 1% fat respectively as a percentage of weight. Tofu is also low in calories, contains beneficial amounts of iron (especially important for women of child bearing age) and has no cholesterol

5)ALMONDS: One ounce of almonds contains 12 percent of your daily allowance of protein, with no cholesterol; you'll also get 35 percent of your daily allowance of vitamin E, that valuable antioxidant with so many cancer-fighting qualities. And most of the fat in almonds monounsaturated fat, one of the two "good" fats responsible for lowering LDL cholesterol.

Of course there's MUCH, MUCH more. I could go on all day about all the different non-meat foods that contain a sufficient amount of protein, but unfortunately, there is an 8k character limit.

You have no evidence whatsoever to show how a PROPERLY PLANNED ( as opposed to poorly planned) Vegan diet is harmful to the human body. In fact, I can show you evidence that a Vegan diet is actually healthier for the human body than a diet that includes meat:

The US department of agriculture conducted an interesting study which concluded that vegan women may have a higher rate of bone formation than women who eat meat.

The science behind it is very interesting. Unlike proteins in plant foods, meat contains proteins that may be rich in sulfur. As we digest animal proteins, the sulfur in them forms acid. A slight, temporary acid overload: called acidosis may result. The body needs a buffer to regain the natural balance of acidity to alkalinity. One buffer is Calcium Phosphate, which the body can borrow from its bones. The body's taking of Calcium phosphate from the bones increases the risk of osteoporosis, it also unhealthily increases the porosity of the bones.

Here is the study: http://www.ars.usda.gov...

And everything you have said about Animal rights have NOTHING to do with the debate resolution, this is straight up nutrition. Not only is vegetaranism not harmful to the human body, it's arguably healthier than a meat diet.

Sources:

(1)http://www.adajournal.org...
(2)Messina VK, Burke KI (1997). "Position of the American Dietetic Association: vegetarian diets". Journal of the American Dietetic Association 97 (11): 1317-21.
(3)www.vegsoc.org, Zinc, retrieved 31 January 2008
(4) www.vegsoc.org, Protein, retrieved 31 January 2008
(5)Raymond, Joan (March 2006). World's Healthiest Foods: Lentils (India). Health Magazine.

Your turn.

Oh ok. Well..That's cool I guess. I'm sure your buisy and all. Just put something in round 3 allright?

Wow, what a waist of time.

It seems that you not only have no evidence, you also have no argument.

My humble apologies to anyone viewing this debate for it being such a waist.