Some people choose to eat no meat or fish. They believe that this is not only better for their own health but also benefits the world as a whole. Discuss this view and give your own opinion.

The argument that avoiding meat and fish improves personal health is broadly supported by nutritional evidence. Diets low in animal fat and rich in vegetables, legumes and whole grains are consistently associated with reduced risks of heart disease, obesity and certain cancers, since regular consumption of processed and red meat has repeatedly been linked to elevated cholesterol and chronic inflammation. For this reason, many people who eliminate meat from their diet subsequently report improved energy levels, clearer skin and better long-term physical wellbeing.

Equally, proponents highlight the environmental case, since livestock farming is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, widespread deforestation and excessive water consumption. Producing a single kilogram of beef requires substantially more land, feed and water than growing an equivalent quantity of plant-based food, meaning that a large-scale shift away from meat could meaningfully ease pressure on natural resources and slow the pace of global climate change if adopted widely enough.

Nevertheless, I believe the benefits of this diet depend heavily on how it is implemented. A poorly planned vegetarian diet lacking sufficient protein, iron or vitamin B12 can itself cause health problems, and individual dietary change alone cannot offset environmental damage caused by industrial agriculture without accompanying policy reform. Consequently, avoiding meat is beneficial chiefly when it is nutritionally balanced and paired with broader environmental measures.

In conclusion, avoiding meat and fish can genuinely improve both personal health and environmental sustainability, yet these benefits remain conditional rather than automatic. I therefore largely agree with the view, provided the diet is followed responsibly, planned with care, and supported by wider systemic change.