Despite the bad rap it has gotten over the years, meats provides many essential nutrients for the human body, and many of the damning yet faulty …show more content…
Although the USDA stated in 1995 that “vegetarian diets are consistent with the dietary guidelines for Americans and can meet the recommended dietary allowances for nutrients,” numerous statistics and studies have shown otherwise. Many vitamins and minerals only occur naturally in meats. For instance, the “only reliable and absorbable sources of” vitamin B12, a vitamin essential for bodily function, are animal products.(Source B) While vegetarians can obtain vitamin B12 from artificial supplements and fortified foods, many, if not all vegetarians, have “impaired vitamin B12 metabolism” (Source B), which makes it difficult to absorb this artificial and less digestible form of the essential vitamin. Consequently, “every study of vegetarian groups has demonstrated low vitamin B12 concentration” (Source B) in most of the individuals. Not only is the “ regular intake of vitamin B12 is important to meet nutritional needs” (Source H), this vitamin, along with vitamin A, which is most absorbable in animal products, also protects against “dioxins like PCBs and DDT” from animal products as well as other “environmental carcinogens” (Source E) from unavoidable everyday sources such as pollution and smoke. Without sufficient vitamin B12, vegetarians become more vulnerable to these harmful toxins, despite the common belief that “cutting meat from the diet helps purge the body of toxins.” (Source E) Contrary to popular belief, the conventionally grown vegetables most often eaten by people are loaded with toxins from pesticides, which are in fact the source of much of the dioxins in animals as they eat the contaminated plants. Moreover, vegetarian diets also tend to be “too high in carbohydrates and sugars, and can increase the risk of health problems” (Source A) such as diabetes and anemia.