Pros & Cons

Vegan Talk
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[size=150]Green Health Drinks[/size]

Green health drinks vary a great deal, from thick juices made from organic sprouts and added nutrients, to thin, watery substances that come in convenient single serving bottles. There are powdered mixes, shakes, and even frozen concentrates available.
Most of these drinks claim to be a substitute for five to ten servings of vegetables and fruits. Some of them offer extra calories, added fiber, or even “energy” in the form of natural stimulants. They have become extremely popular with the diet and fitness crowd.

Pros of Green Drinks
Some of the positive aspects of green health drinks include:
* An easy way to get several servings of fruits and vegetables.
* They can be convenient and portable.
* Additions of fiber and calcium offer added value.
* They are a good way to get a wide array of vitamins and minerals from a variety of different vegetables in a single serving.
* Some forms of these drinks can store well and last longer than fresh veggies.


Cons of Green Drinks
Health drinks do have their downside. Here are some cons of green drinks:
* They often taste grassy or otherwise unpleasant.
* They can be thick and difficult to swallow.
* Many don’t have the fiber that raw vegetables offer.
* They are usually expensive.
* They are not as filling as “real” food would be.
* You have to read labels carefully to be sure of the ingredients and where they come from.

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[size=150]Raw Vegetables[/size]

Raw vegetables are widely available, and their nutritional benefits are well known. Eating vegetables in their raw state preserves the natural vitamins, minerals, and other good-for-you elements that cooking and processing can destroy.

Pros of Raw Vegetables
Some of the positive aspects of eating raw vegetables include:
* They are undeniably good for your health.
* They contain natural sources of nutrients, and there’s no need for label-reading.
* Vegetables are filling and tasty.
* You can find vegetables at any supermarket, and when they’re in season, they are inexpensive.
* You can grow your own vegetables, making them even more cost efficient.
* They are full of natural fiber.
* Vegetables are easy to prepare and serve.

Cons of Raw Vegetables
It may be hard to believe that there are any drawbacks to raw veggies, but here are a few to consider:
* They have a shelf life that is often only a few days.
* You have to eat lots of them to get the recommended daily serving amounts.
* Some people just don’t enjoy eating vegetables.
* While some are quite portable, such as carrot and celery sticks, others don’t lend themselves to convenience.

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[size=150]Vitamin Supplements[/size]
The body must have vitamins and minerals, also called micronutrients, for normal growth, to function, and for overall health. Since the body cannot make the micronutrients it needs, these essential nutrients must come from food and in some instances, supplements. For some, taking vitamin supplements does offer benefits. For others, however, there are disadvantages to consuming vitamins and minerals in supplement form.

Pros of Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

Vitamins and minerals help protect the body from disease, and those who do not consume enough micronutrients on a daily basis may suffer the side effects of a vitamin deficiency and are at an increased risk of developing certain illnesses. Supplements can offer added “insurance” that one is meeting daily recommendations of vitamins and minerals needed by the body, especially in those who do not eat a healthy, balanced diet.

Those who do not eat enough throughout the day may benefit from a supplement that contains water-soluble vitamins. Since water-soluble vitamins dissolve in the watery fluids of the body and any excess is flushed out, it’s easier for this type of vitamin deficiency to occur.

Cons of Vitamin Supplements

One potential drawback of vitamin and mineral supplements is the cost. Planning and preparing healthy, nutritious meals is usually less costly than purchasing a quality supplement, and when following a healthy diet, it is easy to get enough micronutrients from food.

Taking supplements may increase the risk of megadosing. It’s nearly impossible to eat enough food to overdose on vitamins, so the likeliest way to consume excess vitamins and minerals is through taking supplements. Large doses of certain vitamins and minerals can cause nausea, vomiting, nerve damage, weight loss, muscle weakness, and other illnesses.

Oftentimes a multivitamin that contains all of the essential nutrients one needs on a daily basis comes in a large pill. Those who have trouble swallowing pills can buy liquid vitamin supplements, but liquid supplements typically cost more than supplements in pill form. Also, those who have difficulty swallowing large pills may end up buying more than one supplement because individual supplements come in a smaller form. This is a drawback since mixing certain vitamins and minerals with each other can actually interfere with absorption.

Read more at Suite101: Benefits and Risks of Taking Vitamin Supplements: Pros and Cons of Consuming Vitamins in Supplement Form suite101.com/content/benefit … z1228VI0Ww

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[size=150]TOFU[/size]

Pros of Tofu

  1. One of the advantages of this food is that it contains cholesterol and helps to reduce it even better. This is because it contains lecithin, which also help in improving memory.

  2. Tofu is a natural food that has been consumed in the east for a long time. As derived from soybeans has advantages and disadvantages of this. If organic is more healthful.

  3. Tofu is easy to digest.

    Cons of tofu

  4. Coming from soy contains phyto-estrogens. These components are controversial, some people considered good for women after a certain age, others believe otherwise. The tofu in moderation is healthy as evidenced by the Asians.

  5. The taste of tofu is not exciting at first is to get used to it. But with appropriate recipes taste good.

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[size=150]Almond milk[/size]

Pros of Almond Milk

  1. It helps in the growth as well as repair functions of the body.
  2. Manganese in soy milk activates the body enzymes.
  3. Magnesium breaks down the consumed food into energy. It helps the parathyroid gland to function well. So, you have healthy bones.
  4. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant and destroys the free radicals which cause damage to the cell membrane.
  5. Selenium improves the reproductive and immune system and also helps the thyroid to function well.
  6. As there is no cholesterol, the risk of heart diseases is reduced.
  7. Potassium helps to maintain normal blood pressure.
  8. The flavanoids from the crushed skin of almonds are good for cardiovascular health.
  9. Being naturally flavored the need to add artificial flavors is nullified.
  10. It can be easily prepared and stored.
  11. There is no loss of vitamins and minerals and no boiling is involved in the making of almond milk. While, in case of soy milk, boiling of the mixture is required.
  12. It is a good substitute for people who evince lactose intolerance symptoms.

Cons of Almond Milk

  1. It is risky for those with low thyroid functions.
  2. It is an inadequate option for an infant’s diet to be replaced with breast milk.
  3. Deficiency of Iodine results in goiter. Almonds are considered as goitrogens. The chemicals present in them inhibit thyroid function as they interfere with the iodine intake.
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[size=150]Soy milk[/size]

Pros of Soy Milk

  1. The isoflavones in soy milk resemble the hormone estrogen. They maintain our health. They reduce the chances of cancer and osteoporosis.
  2. Cholesterol is absent. So there is less risk of heart diseases.
  3. It enriches the body with high quality proteins and carbohydrates. Soy protein is as good as protein from milk, eggs or chicken.
  4. It is preferred for a diabetic diet because of the variety of carbohydrates present in it.
  5. It helps to reduce the fat which enters into our body when there is consumption of animal fat or oil.
  6. It is best for people with milk allergy symptoms.
  7. There is no lactose (milk sugar).
  8. The isoflavones in soy milk help in lowering of cholesterol and also help women to reduce the side effects of menopause.
  9. Soy milk does not contain the protein casein. Many people are allergic to casein.

Cons of Soy Milk:

  1. Excessive use of soy leads to breast cancer and also other cancers.
  2. Many brands manufacturing soy milk contain more sugar and chemicals than required.
  3. Isoflavones from soy milk are held responsible for thyroid disorder, leukemia and breast cancer.
  4. Phytic acids in soy milk lead to low absorption of vitamins and minerals.
  5. The high level of phytoestrogen decreases the testesterone in males. The production of sperms is affected.
  6. Early onset of puberty as well as adolescence in males can be attributed to the phytoestrogen from soy milk.
  7. In women, soy milk can produce abnormalities in the reproductive tract which can lead to infertility.
  8. Estrogen in soy milk is harmful for babies.
  9. Fatigue, fever and wheezing are some of the reactions to soy milk.
  10. Consumption of soy milk sometimes leads to sudden skin problems like eczema, acne and swelling.
  11. The toxic aluminum in soy milk affects the nervous system and kidneys.
  12. Excessive consumption of soy milk generates stomach problems such as abdominal cancer.
  13. Sometimes, it develops allergies like coughing, sneezing and congestion. Read more on soy milk dangers.
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[size=150]Intensive Farming[/size]

Pros of Intensive Farming

One of the major advantages of intensive farming is that its yield is high.

With the introduction of intensive farming, the farm produce such as vegetables, fruits and poultry products have become less expensive. This means that poor people can afford a balanced and nutritious diet.

Many opine, organic food is affordable only to the rich and the elite strata of the society. Apart from that, large farming spaces are required to cultivate organic crops using natural manure. However, with the introduction of intensive farming, the space requirement for farming is less.

Another advantage of intensive farming is that large productivity of food is possible with less amount of land. This would help to meet the ever-growing demand for food supplies.

Compared to the disadvantages, the advantages of intensive farming are less.

Cons of Intensive Farming

Remember, intensive farming involves the usage of various kinds of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides. Apart from this, intensive farming is also associated with farms that keep livestock above their holding capacity and this could lead to pollution and various diseases.

Reports and studies reveal intensive farming affects and alters the environment in multiple ways. Forests are destroyed to create large open fields and this could lead to soil erosion. Intensive farming affects the natural habitats in the forests. Use of chemical fertilizers contaminates water bodies such as lakes and rivers near the farming land.

The pesticides sprayed on crops not only destroy pests and contaminate the crops but also kill good insects. Eventually, these chemicals are passed on to the human beings.

The fruits and vegetables bought from farms that promote intensive farming are covered with invisible pesticide. These are not easily washed off. The residue of the pesticide affect the health of human beings.

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[size=150]SOUP DIET[/size]

Pros
One of the advantages of these soup diets is that they restrict the calorie consumption, resulting in immediate weight loss, sometimes to the extent of up to five to six pounds in a week. Another benefit of taking a soup diet once in a while is that it helps to detox the entire body system, by flushing out the unwanted, accumulated wastes.

Cons
The biggest disadvantage of taking a soup diet is that most of these diets recommend only vegetables and lean meat, making the body burn calories quickly, causing the person to feel very hungry later on. So, the possibility of a person to sustain these soup diets forever is very low. Another disadvantage of taking a soup diet is that if the soup is prepared in such a way that it has high sodium content, it will cause water retention in the body, making the person feel bloated.

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[size=150]BIODIESELS[/size]

How is biodiesel made?

It is made from vegetable oil and rapeseed oil, or it can be converted from used cooking oil and tallow (animal fat), which would otherwise be incinerated, put in a landfill or exported.

Pros of Biodiesel

* It is made from renewable resources.
* It performs just as well as the normal diesel fuel.
* It causes less pollution as compared to diesel-powered engines.
* It is relatively less inflammable compared to the normal diesel.
* It can be mixed with normal diesel fuel.
* It is biologically degradable and reduces the danger of contamination of soil and underground water during transport, storage and use.
* It contains no sulphur, the element responsible for acid rain.
* There are no extra costs for the conversion of engines in comparison to other biological fuels.
* It is suitable for catalytic convertor.
* Engines last longer when using it.
* Its refineries are comparitively simpler and environmental-friendly in design than typical petrochemical refineries.
* It produces 78% less carbon dioxide (CO2) than normal diesel fuel.
* It has a higher cetane and lubricity rating than pure petroleum-based diesel fuel, which improves engine efficiency and operating life cycle.

Cons of Biodiesel

* It is more expensive than normal diesel fuel.
* It tends to reduce fuel economy.
* It is less suitable for use in low temperatures.
* It cannot be transported in pipelines.
* It gives out more nitrogen oxide emissions.
* Only a few petrol stations offer biodiesel-fuel.
* It can only be used in diesel-powered engines.
* It can cause inner fuel tubes of older vehicles to lose their long-lasting qualities.
* It is more likely than petroleum diesel to attract moisture, which can cause problems in cold weather (fuel freezing, deposit of water in the vehicle fuel delivery system, fuel cold flow, clouding, and an increased corrosion, for example) and increase the risk of microbial growth (which can also clog engine filters).
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[size=150]BIOETHANOL[/size]

How is bioethanol made?

It is made from carbohydrate crops such as maize, sugar beet, wheat, potatoes and a variety of other starch and sugar crops. Bioethanol can also be derived from cellulose found in common vegetation (“cellulosic ethanol”). For instance, in the USA, attempts are being made to extract bioethanol from switchgrass, which grows 12feet tall. Henry Ford’s Model T car was originally designed to run on ethanol.

Pros of Bioethanol

* The use of ethanol-blended fuels such as E85 (85% ethanol and 15% gasoline) can reduce the net emissions of greenhouse gases by as much as 37.1%, which is a significant amount.
* Ethanol-blended fuel as E10 (10% ethanol and 90% gasoline) reduces greenhouse gases by up to 3.9%.
* The net effect of ethanol use results in an overall decrease in ozone formation, an important environmental issue. (The emissions produced by burning ethanol are less reactive with sunlight than those produced by burning gasoline, which results in a lower potential for forming the damaging ozone).
* Ethanol is considered a renewable energy resource because it is primarily the result of conversion of the sun's energy into usable energy. Creation of ethanol starts with photosynthesis, which causes feedstocks, such as sugar cane, to grow. These particular feedstocks are processed into ethanol.
* It benefits energy security as it shifts the need for some foreign-produced oil to domestically-produced energy sources.
* It reduces greenhouse gases.
* It burns more cleanly (more complete combustion).
* It reduces the amount of high-octane additives.
* The fuel spills are more easily biodegraded or diluted to non toxic concentrations.

Cons of Bioethanol

* Production of ethanol requires significant energy and large amounts of land.
* Fuels with more than 10% ethanol content are not compatible with non E85-ready fuel system components and may cause corrosion of ferrous components.
* It can negatively affect electric fuel pumps by increasing internal wear and undesirable spark generation.
* It is not compatible with capacitance fuel level gauging indicators and may result in erroneous fuel quantity indications in vehicles that employ that system.