Though most Americans are aware of the Great Depre Essay Example For Students

Though most Americans are aware of the Great Depre Essay ssion of 1929, which may well be the most serious problem facing our free enterprise economic system,( ) few know of the many Americans who lost their homes, life savings and jobs. This paper briefly states the causes of the depression and summarizes the vast problems Americans faced during the eleven years of its span. This paper primarily focuses on what life was like for farmers during the time of the Depression, as portrayed in John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath, and tells what the government did to end the Depression. In the 1920s, after World War 1, danger signals were apparent that a great Depression was coming. A major cause of the Depression was that the pay of workers did not increase at all. Because of this, they couldnt afford manufactured goods. Whilethe factories were still manufacturing goods, Americans werent able to afford them and the factories made no money (Drewry and Oconnor 559). Another major cause related to farmers. Farmers werent doing to well because they were producing more crops and farm products than could be sold at high prices. Therefore, they made a very small profit. This insufficient profit wouldnt allow the farmers to purchase new machinery and because of this they couldnt produce goods quick enough (Drewry and Oconnor 559). A new plan was created called the installment plan. This plan was established because many Americans didnt have enough money to buy goods and services that were needed or wanted. The installment plan stated that people could buy products on credit and make monthly payments. The one major problem with this idea was that people soon found out that they couldnt afford to make the monthly payment(Drewry and Oconnor 559). We will write a custom essay on Though most Americans are aware of the Great Depre specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now In 1929 the stock market crashed. Many Americans purchased stocks because they were certain of the economy. People started selling their stocks at a fast pace; over sixteen million stocks were sold! Numerous stock prices dropped to fraction of their value. Banks lost money from the stock market and from Americans who couldnt pay back loans. Many factories lost money and went out of business because of this great tragedy (Drewry and Oconnor By the 1930s, thirteen million workers lost their jobs which is 25 percent of all workers. The blacks and unskilled workers were always the first to be fired. Farmers had no money and werent capable of paying their mortgages. Americans traveled throughout the country looking for a place to work to support themselves and their family (Drewry and Oconnor 560-561). John Steinbeck, born in 1902, grew up during the Depression near the fertile Salinas Valley and wrote many books of fiction based on his background and experiences during that time and area of the country. One of his great works would be the Grapes of Wrath In this book, Steinbeck describes the farmers plight during the Great Depression and drought. When the rains failed to come, the grass began to disappear. As the farmers watched their plants turn brown and the dirt slowly turn to dust they began to fear what was to come. In the water-cut gullies the earth dusted down in dry little streams. As the sharp sun struck day after day, the leaves of the young corn became less stiff and erect; then it was June and the sun shone more fiercely. The brown lines on the corn leaves widened and moved in on the central ribs. The weeds frayed and edged back toward their roots. The air was thin and the sky more pale; and every day the earth paled. (qtd. Steinbeck 2-3). The farmers worst fears were realized when their corn and other crops began to die. The dust became so bad they had to cover their mouths with handkerchiefs so they could breath (Steinbeck 3- When the drought hit the Great Plains and the soil turned to dust, many farmers moved to California because they could no longer farm their land(Drewry and OConnor 561). The drought began to affect other parts of the country.In 1930, Virginias belt of fertile land dried up. Ponds, streams, and springs all dried up and the great Mississippi River water level sank lower than ever recorded. Small farmers every-where began to feel the drought. Their small gardens were ruined and their corn crop was cut almost down to nothing. The hay and grass needed to feed their livestock was no longer available. They now faced a major problem -how to feed their livestock. The silos were rapidly emptying and the barns in many cases were empty. The farmers were terrified that the government feed loans wouldnt be available to keep the livestock from dying. In many cases, the Red Cross was making allowances for feed to keep alive livestock (Meltzer 121). The small farmers of fruit trees and vegetable plants depended on others wh o ran canneries to bottle and can their produce. The people they depended upon were the same people that hired scientists to experiment on the fruits and vegetables to come up with better tasting and yielding produce. Thus the small farmers were dependent on these same rich landowners for almost everything. They couldnt harvest their produce on their own so they sold it to the rich landowners and thus made very little money on their produce (Steinbeck 444-447). The farmers found themselves in debt caused by the purchase of land, tools, animals and other items bought on credit. This credit was due to the bank and when the farmers found them- selves unable to repay the debts the bank took away everything they had their land, homes, animals and equipment. When the banks took over, they went in with tractors and destroyed everything on the farms which included their homes and barns. This is best por- trayed in Steinbecks description of how the tractors destroyed everything in its way. The iron guard bit into the house corner, crumbled the wall, and wrenched the little house from its foundation, crushed like a bug (50). .u15b31bf2b7a0fc072b2997dfd0ba692a , .u15b31bf2b7a0fc072b2997dfd0ba692a .postImageUrl , .u15b31bf2b7a0fc072b2997dfd0ba692a .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u15b31bf2b7a0fc072b2997dfd0ba692a , .u15b31bf2b7a0fc072b2997dfd0ba692a:hover , .u15b31bf2b7a0fc072b2997dfd0ba692a:visited , .u15b31bf2b7a0fc072b2997dfd0ba692a:active { border:0!important; } .u15b31bf2b7a0fc072b2997dfd0ba692a .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u15b31bf2b7a0fc072b2997dfd0ba692a { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u15b31bf2b7a0fc072b2997dfd0ba692a:active , .u15b31bf2b7a0fc072b2997dfd0ba692a:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u15b31bf2b7a0fc072b2997dfd0ba692a .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u15b31bf2b7a0fc072b2997dfd0ba692a .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u15b31bf2b7a0fc072b2997dfd0ba692a .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u15b31bf2b7a0fc072b2997dfd0ba692a .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u15b31bf2b7a0fc072b2997dfd0ba692a:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u15b31bf2b7a0fc072b2997dfd0ba692a .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u15b31bf2b7a0fc072b2997dfd0ba692a .u15b31bf2b7a0fc072b2997dfd0ba692a-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u15b31bf2b7a0fc072b2997dfd0ba692a:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The great gatspy EssayIn the little houses the tenant people sifted their belongings and the belongings of their father and of their grandfathers (Steinbeck 111). This describes how after many generations of farming on their land these people had to gather their property and memories and then try to sell whatever they could. The farmers were so desperate for money that they had to sell for literally pennies.Steinbeck describes the desperate conversation of a farmer to a persepective buyer Well, take it-all junk-and give me five dollars. Youre not buying only junk, youre buying junked lives (Steinbeck 112). The desperation for work and money became so bad that they were wil ling to work for as little as was offered just so they could have some sort of job and make any amount of money. Soon it was a fight for life or death (Steinbeck).In a desperate search for a job farmers moved themselves and their families all over the country. As people wandered the country looking for work they were unable to live in one place. Large numbers of homeless people led to Hoovervilles. The farmers and their families had to build homes out of anything that they could acquire as Steinbeck describes The south wall was made of three sheets of rusy corrugated iron, the east a square of moldy carpet tacked between two board, the north wall a strip of roofing paper and a strip of tattered canvas, and the west wall six pieces of gunny sacking(Steinbeck 310-311). The homes were usually near water source so they could have water to drink from, cook and wash their clothing (Steinbeck 311). To cut down the number of people seeking jobs or needing help, the government decided to try to come up with some sort of relief. Among other things, they limited immigration, returned hundreds of Mexicans living here,and sought other methods to help the farmers. Hoovers Federal Farm Board urged farmers to plant less so that prices would go up but there was no encouragement to do so.From 1920 to 1932 farm production did drop 6 percent but prices fell ten times as much-by 63 percent. Farmers watched prices hit new lows-15 cents for corn, 5 cents for cotton and wool, hogs and sugar 3 cents, and beef 2.5 cents(Meltzer 123). With farm prices so low, most farmers, living under the fear of their mortgages, knew that sooner or later they will lose everything. In 1932 the farmers declared a holiday on selling. They picketed roads asking people to join the. They gave away free milk to the poor and unemployed rather then let it spoil because they refused to sell it. A thirty-day holiday on farm selling was begun August 8 and extended indefinitely(Meltzer 125). In December 1932, 250 farmers from twenty-six states gathered together for a Farmers National Relief Conference. They announced that they demand relief from creditors who threaten to sweep them from their homes and land(Meltzer 126). In May 1933, the Agricultural Ajustment Act was passed. The aim of this act was to raise the farm prices by growing less. The farmers were paid not to use all the land to plant crops. The money came from tax on millers, meat packers, and other food industries. In June of that same year the Farm Credit Act was passed. This act helped farmers get low interest loans. With this act, farmers wouldnt lose their farms to the banks that held the mortgages. The farmers who lost their farms already would also receive low interest loans(Drewry and Oconnor 569). The Great Depression was the end result of World War I. It affected the rich and poor alike, factory workers and farmers, bankers and stockbrokers. In short, it affected everyone; no one was left untouched. But of all the people hurt, farmers were the worst off. John Steinbeck chose to write about farmers hoping that Americans would recognize their plight and correct the situation. The Great Depression is known to be the worst economic disaster in U. S. history. For this reason, the Depression caused many people to change their ideas about the government and economy. .ua376a52e0610a545478b605637f608c5 , .ua376a52e0610a545478b605637f608c5 .postImageUrl , .ua376a52e0610a545478b605637f608c5 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ua376a52e0610a545478b605637f608c5 , .ua376a52e0610a545478b605637f608c5:hover , .ua376a52e0610a545478b605637f608c5:visited , .ua376a52e0610a545478b605637f608c5:active { border:0!important; } .ua376a52e0610a545478b605637f608c5 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ua376a52e0610a545478b605637f608c5 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ua376a52e0610a545478b605637f608c5:active , .ua376a52e0610a545478b605637f608c5:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ua376a52e0610a545478b605637f608c5 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ua376a52e0610a545478b605637f608c5 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ua376a52e0610a545478b605637f608c5 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ua376a52e0610a545478b605637f608c5 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ua376a52e0610a545478b605637f608c5:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ua376a52e0610a545478b605637f608c5 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ua376a52e0610a545478b605637f608c5 .ua376a52e0610a545478b605637f608c5-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ua376a52e0610a545478b605637f608c5:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: 3 Places that I would like to Visit Essay

Warhol and Litchenstein- compa essays

Warhol and Litchenstein- compa essays From a young age, both Warhol and Lichtenstein demonstrated surpassing talent in art. Andy Warhol, real name Andrew Warhola, was born in 1928 in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, to Czechoslovakian parents. Before he could walk, Warhol was coloring in coloring books. His mother noticed his exceptional skill for staying within the lines and for encouragement, rewarded her son with a candy bar each time he completed a page. During his grade school years Warhol, a chronic sufferer of Saint Vitus Dance, was frequently sick. He would lay in bed for days on end making paper dolls and copying the Maybelline ads of Hedy Lamarr. After highschool Warhol studied commercial art at the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsberg. Warhol graduated in 1949 and went to New York where he worked for the magazines Harpers Bazarr and Vogue as an illustrator. At the same time he was working in commercial advertising and in his free time drew pictures of flowers, cats, angles, ect., to charm potential clients i nto giving him a job. He soon became one of New Yorks most sought after and successful illustrators. Though Warhol was extremely focused on his commercial career, he still found time to pursue his passion for fine art and in 1952 he had his first gallery show in New York City. Litchenstein was born in 1923 in New York City. His father was a relator and his mother a housewife. His parents were very busy people and because both his parents lacked an artistic streak, Lichtenstein grew up under no specific artistic influence. At the age of fourteen he attended a painting class, on weekends, at Parsons School of Desighn. Litchenstein attended Franklin High School in his adolesent years. The school had no art program, but he drew and painted at home and in the summers enrolled in art classes at the Art Students League. After high school Litche ...

Best Practice And Best Fit Approach In HRM Management Essay

Best Practice And Best Fit Approach In HRM Management Essay 1. Introduction The discussion between promoters of best practice and best fit approaches has sparked widespread controversy in the human resource management (HRM) area. The topic has gained much scholarly attention because it not only addresses a theoretical controversy but also possesses a high degree of practical managerial significance. The essay has the aim to analyse best practice and best fit approaches in HRM of a multinational enterprise. The reader receives insight into Lincoln Electric’s organization through a case-study analysis of practical HR approaches serving as a basis for developing practical managerial implications in the last part of the paper. 2. Critical evaluation of â€Å"best practice† and â€Å"best fit† practices in HRM 2.1 Best practice approach The best practice approach claims that certain bundles of HR activities exist which universally support companies in reaching a competitive advantage regardless of the organizational setting o r industry (Redman and Wilkinson 2009). Best practice models imply a close connection between HR practices and organizational performance and are often associated with high commitment management (Paauwe & Boselie 2003). Empirical research in the best-practice field shows similar groups of HR polices which are especially suitable for maximizing performance irrespective of market and product strategies (Peffer 1998, Guest 2000). Best practice bundles of activities are characterized as mutually compatible HR activities which forge high levels of workforce competence, encourage motivation and introduce a workdesign boosting employee commitment (Maloney and Morris 2005). Based on concepts from expectancy theory (Vroom 1964, Lawler 1971) best practice HR will result in higher levels of quality, productivity and low rates of absenteeism and wastage (Guest 2000). The best practice approach suffers from a series of limitations. Firstly, when implementing best practice standards organizations run risk of introducing mutually prohibitive combinations like team working and compensation based on individual performance resulting in a deterioration of employee collaboration through overexaggerated competition (Delery 1998 in Redman and Wilkinson 2009). Secondly, high commitment management systems are generally a complex undertaking requiring large inputs of planning and top level management commitment. Thirdly, critics like Milkovich and Newman (2002) argue that best practice HR lacks direct linkages with organizational strategies and is minted by the belief that outstanding high performing human resources will influence strategy. By making HR policy precede corporate strategy an organization risks prescribing standardized sets of â€Å"one size fits all† best practice approaches which will not support the particular needs of employees and be detrimental to overall strategic objectives (Maloney and Morris 2005). Fourthly, discussions with regard to the appropriate cho ice of best practice measures resulting from an insufficient research methodology and theoretical definition exist (Marchington and Grugulis 2000 in Redman and Wilkinson 2009). 2.2 Best fit approach The best-fit model is considered as a variant from precedent models of Harvard, Michigan and York and is called â€Å"matching model† for HRM (Sparrow and Hiltrop 1994). It is based on developing HRM policies according to business strategy. Strategy involves planning future activities, performances objectives, and policies towards reaching the corporate aims. HRM strategy should be designed and applied to support the given corporate strategy (Lawler 1995). The â€Å"best-fit† approach questions the universality assumption of the best-practice perspective. It emphasizes contingency fit between HR activities and the organization’s stage of development, an organization’s internal structures and its external environment like clients, suppliers, competition and lab our markets (Redman and Wilkinson 2009). HR policy should be minted by the appropriate context of individual employees and therefore support the overall competitive strategy. Aligning HRM practices to strategies can enable companies to create potential competitive advantages (Schuler and Jackson 1987 in Redman and Wilkinson 2009).

MICROECONOMICS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

MICROECONOMICS - Essay Example It must be noted here that for the private firms, the altitude of the supply curve from the horizontal axis determines the minimum price (average) at which a specific quantity must be sold so that supplier would be able to cover the variable cost. He cannot afford to sell at any less value. It is vital to understand the meaning of demand and supply as it has been used in the micro economics models. It must be perceived as the flow of inventory, inwards for supply and outwards for demand. Demand and supply do not have a direct link between them but it is the market that decides their levels. Finding the equilibrium price A unique price exists in the market that would establish perfect equilibrium between demand and supply known as equilibrium price. This price is a great leveller for both buyers and suppliers and there is least scope for manipulation of prices driven by greed in a long run. In a perfect market, there is an equilibrium quantity that exists for the equilibrium price and either way shifts in the value of this equilibrium due to misallocation of resources (whether too few scarce resources are being used or too many scarce resources are being used) would result in dead- weight loss. ... It is more or less automatic. Trouble in the public sector This is in complete contrast to what happens in the public sector. When it comes to public services which are run by governments, there is hardly any interaction of demand and supply curve as there is absence of ‘feedback’ factor. So there is no automatic adjustment of the prices as government rely on taxes for covering the cost that is incurred in rendering these services and consumers hardly have any choice. This is why misallocation of resources is a commonplace under government led enterprises and it would be better if governments restrain themselves from getting engaged into non vital activities. Whenever government tries to control the price either by deciding the floor price or the upper cap, it runs the risk of misallocation of resources. It would result in ‘dead - weight losses and could get worse. Analysing the effects of minimum wage law indicates that it fails to achieve the objectives which it was originally devised for. It increases the supply of the unskilled labour in the market and at the same time decreasing their demand. It fails to serve the poor, worsens the problem of unemployment in the long run and increases the burden over the taxpayer in an unjustified manner. Even the ‘earned income tax credit’ program has the similar consequences though it is not as bad as minimum wage law. Under both the schemes, government seems to address the symptoms and not the root causes of the problem. It is relevant to suggest here that instead of attempting to control the prices directly, it would be much better to influence the market. Policies must be such that they help

Protection from Self Incrimination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Protection from Self Incrimination - Essay Example In this case, the defendant, Mr. Salinas was accused of having played a role in a murder that had taken place close to the position of his car. Upon questioning, the defendant answered all the questions, went further, and even submitted his gun to show that he was innocent. However, the defendant went mute when asked about some shell casing found at the scene of the crime. Moreover, the casings matched his shotgun. The defendant at that point completely ignored the questions and did not answer. Because of this attitude, the prosecutor went further and told the jury that the reason for Salinas’ silence was the fact that he felt guilty for the actions he had taken and that the silence was a sign of admission to having carried out the crime. The prosecutor had a strong case when he stated that the defendant was guilty not only because he did not comment on the questions posed to him regarding the casings but also because of the obvious fact that his gun was involved. The judge did not argue against the strong case brought by the prosecutor and this was mostly because the evidence for the case was present (Hightower). However, the judgment delayed due to the lack of motive for the action. However, upon reviewing the available information, the judge found the defendant guilty and sentenced him to 22 years in prison. Upon critical review of the case and the evidence provided, I would have offered a ruling similar to that made by the judge, in this case. The reason for the judgment is the fact that the defendant went mute and did not communicate anything regarding the questions asked. The constitution states that upon an individual pleading the Fifth Amendment they ought to receive fair treatment until substantial proof is presented (Choo 89). However, this was not the case in this particular case. Rather than pleading this right, the individual went silent and did not answer anything. This was a sign of great

Divine Comedy - The Trinity in Dantes Inferno Essay -- Divine Comedy

The Trinity in The Inferno      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Dante's Inferno, itself one piece of a literary trilogy, repeatedly deploys the leitmotif of the number three as a metaphor for ambiguity, compromise, and transition. A work in terza rima that details a descent through Nine Circles of Hell, The Inferno encompasses temporal, literary, and political bridges and chasms that link Dante's inspired Centaur work between the autobiographical and the fictive, the mundane and the divine and, from a contemporary viewpoint, the Medieval and the Modern†¹Dante's recognition of the Renaissance as our millennium's metamorphic period and of himself as its poetic forerunner (until deposition by Shakespeare).    The Inferno is a work of transition between two points, as attested by the opening lines: "When I had journeyed half of our life's way,/ I found myself within a shadowed forest,/ for I had lost the path that does not stray" (I, 1-3). Echoes of these famous lines can be heard in Robert Frost's "The Road Less Traveled"; whereas Frost's poem concerns itself with the duality and firmness of decision, Dante's tercet implies an interval of great indecision and limbo. Indeed, he is anything but entrenched in position: "I cannot clearly say how I had entered/ the wood; I was so full of sleep just at/ The point where I abandoned the true path" (I, 10-12). Dante is nearly sleepwalking, yet another fusion of two worlds, the conscious and unconscious. This division of self can best be explained by Dante's exile and his loss of national identity. He examines this alienated state through a geographic metaphor: "And just as he who, with exhausted breath,/ Having escaped from sea to shor e, turns back/ To watch the dangerous waters he has q... ...ts notion of a "third way" as an ambiguous compromise. What is most fascinating is the degree to which one of the more stable metaphors, that of past, present, and future, has come true. The Inferno repeatedly invokes past epics, especially Virgil's Aeneid, with such cries as "O Muses, o high genius, help me now," and Homer, Horace, Ovid, and Lucan welcome Dante and Virgil into Limbo. Now many modern poets, most notably T.S. Eliot, allude quite frequently to Dante's work. It seems that The Inferno will forever be canonically in the terza rima†¹originally written as a centerpiece to the Italian epic, now accepted as a framer of world literature.    WORKS CITED: Brucker, Gene A. Renaissance Florence. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1969. Mandelbaum, Allen. Inferno (translation). Berkeley: University of California Press, 1980.   

Advantages and Disadvantages of Being a Vegetarian

Today, vegetarian diet has gained extreme popularity all over the globe. It is preferred by a number of people throughout the world. It is said that a vegetarian diet is a key to healthy life. Some organizations working for the animal rights are strictly against eating meat, fish or poultry. Vegetarian diet typically consists of whole grains, vegetables and fruits. They are, no doubt, good for health. But have you ever thought whether vegetarian meals are complete? Can it fulfill all the nutritional requirements of the body? Well, there are certain advantages and disadvantages of being vegetarian.What are they? Advantages Vegetarian diet mainly includes grains, nuts, cereals, seeds, beans, vegetables and fruits. Hence, it is rich in fiber, folate and vitamin C. Vegetables and fruits provide vitamins and minerals that are essential for a healthy body. Beans, tofu, seeds are some good sources of proteins. Vegetables consist of phytochemicals, which prevent some chronic diseases. Green leafy vegetables are the rich source of antioxidants. Vegetables and fruits also provide natural sugars, beneficial enzymes and trace elements.It contains low amount of fats, cholesterol and saturated fats. As a result, it minimizes the risk of weight gain. This, in turn, reduces the possibilities of developing the health problems caused by obesity. Vegetarian diet is also helpful for healthy weight loss. A vegetarian diet lowers the blood cholesterol levels and decreases the risk of various disorders such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart diseases, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, kidney diseases, gallstones and cancer. Due to intake of high fiber diet, digestive health is improved.Vegetarianism protects you from certain food-borne diseases such as bird flu, mad cow disease, intestinal parasites, etc. Disadvantages Although vegetarian diet provides all the essential nutrients, there are certain factors that we can get in more amounts from the meat or fish. Vegetari an diet is found to be low in proteins, calcium, vitamin B12, iron and zinc. Vitamin B12 is found in soy products, fortified cereals and animal products in abundant amount. Meat is considered as the major source of vitamin B12. Soymilk, milk and other dairy products are the rich sources of vitamin D.Meat, chicken, fish and poultry contain more quantities of iron and zinc. Milk, cheese and yogurt are excellent sources of calcium. These nutrients are not found in large quantities in the vegetarian diet. Meat is a rich source of proteins and contains all the essential amino acids required by the body. Phosphorus present in the meat is easily absorbed than that present in legumes and cereals. Vegetarian diet is not recommended for bodybuilders, as they require a protein-rich diet. A diet lacking in sufficient carbohydrates and proteins can lead to anemia.Bowel irregularities can be commonly seen among the vegetarians. If your diet is totally free from fats, then it's not good, because c ertain amounts of cholesterol and fat is necessary for the development of the nervous system and normal body functioning. Although, there are certain disadvantages of vegetarian diet, it definitely offers a number of health benefits. If you properly plan your diet, you can overcome the problem of nutrient deficiencies and improve your physical fitness and overall health. After all, healthy eating is a key to healthy living.