These days, quite a few people are becoming vegetarians due to several reasons, including health and a strong drive to consume food without using too many resources that harm the environment. From my perspective, I agree that this tendency can only bring benefits, and I am going to discuss why in this essay.
First and foremost, majority of people that give up eating meat or fish in favor of a plant-based diet are induced to do so because of health reasons. It is undeniable the amount of heart diseases and other illnesses that a meat-based diet can cause to humans, as it is one of the top causes of death in both Europe and the U.S. Whereas, by conducting a plant-based diet the risks of contracting a cardiovascular disease or a premature death are significantly lower.
Furthermore, I believe that the mass production of meat and fish has a negative impact on the environment. Of all the people that decide to become vegetarian and vegan, a smaller fraction does so while thinking about the environment. Many documentaries show that small-scale farmers turned forests into grasslands and by doing so there is a usage of massive amounts of water and land, which leaves behind devastating amounts of pollution and greenhouse gases. Cutting back on meat consumption might help lessen the strain on forests and land needed to produce animal feed. I also think that the way that animals are treated must be added to this. Due to the increasing demand for meat and fish, there is an increasing need for this product that can be fulfilled by factory farms where animals, perceived as machines, are operated and maimed and kept alive at the lowest cost possible only for the benefits of human consumers.
In conclusion, it is undeniable that intensive animal production releases fatal chemicals into the environment, polluting the land, water and oceans. Consequently, choosing a plant-based diet can help not only your health but also the world in which we live and the animals that co-habit it.