Thesis Statement This paper would discuss and analyse the thesis that vegetarians do not get the proper amounts of vitamins, minerals and amino acids in their diets to sustain a healthy lifestyle. It would also cover the relevant issues. Introduction Most vegetarian diets contain fewer calories than diets that include meat. As a result, vegetarians tend to be thinner than meat-eaters. Most vegetarians also consume less saturated fat and smaller amounts of a fatty substance called cholesterol than most meat-eaters do. Lower dietary levels of saturated fat and cholesterol result in lower levels of cholesterol in the blood. Medical research indicates that a high level of cholesterol in the blood is associated with heart disease. Some studies have shown that vegetarians in the United States are healthier and live longer than other Americans. Some Americans practice vegetarianism because they believe that consumption of meat, especially beef, reduces the world food supply. They feel that grain used to fatten cattle would nourish more people if the grain were eaten directly by people. Some people also believe the land on which livestock graze should be used to grow grain. But many agricultural experts disagree. They argue that most grazing land is not suitable for farming. Vitamins Deficiency and Vegetarian Diet Large doses of vitamins A and C have been proved to prevent some cancers in animals. Many scientists believe that certain foods contain substances that may help prevent some cancers in people. Such foods include broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, fruits, spinach, whole-grain breads and cereals, and some seafood. Lessening intake of fats and increasing the intake of fibre may also help prevent some cancers from forming. (Tunick, p.33) Just being a vegetarian doesn’t mean one can be healthy, but a full balanced vegetarian diet can keep a person healthy and away from diseases. The life style that comes with being vegetarian is one of awareness to food and what should and should not go into the body, what is harmful and what quality is. It is more likely for vegetarians to cut out junk food, such as chips and sodas because of their awareness. Awareness is the key to changing any poor lifestyle habits that one might have; it is the fist step. If people are vegetarians, it can result in eating problems. The vegetarians may not have enough nutrition because of the exclusion of some food groups from their diets. Vegetarians may have deficiencies in iron, zinc, vitamin B12 and calcium (Inge, p.517). For example, all animal foods contain vitamin B12. However, vitamin B12 is not found in most plant foods (Inge, p.517). Moreover, vegetarians easily get eating disorders. “The scores on an Eating Attitudes Test showed 37 percent of the vegetarians at risk for disordered eating compared with eight per cent of non-vegetarians” (Dedyna, p.D5). Eating disorder includes anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and compulsive overeating. If people get anorexia, compulsive eating and bulimia, it will be dangerous (Dedyna, p. D5). If eating disorders can’t be controlled, they will contribute to further fatal results. If vegetarians get eating disorders, these serious problems can cause life-threatening consequences. Eating disorders are a killer for somebody, especially for women. “Some studies have shown women with eating disorders may have