In all the years I've read the Collegian, I've never found a letter as fraught with misinformation as Chris Kovalchick's ("Eating meat natural; essential part of diet," Oct. 21) on vegetarianism. As an individual who has chosen vegetarianism primarily for health reasons, I feel an obligation to clear up a few things. Although we are in fact omnivores, whether humans are carnivorous by nature is irrelevant. Even if eating meat is natural doesn't mean it's good. Rape and murder are naturally occurring phenomena, yet we abhor such activities.

Kovalchick has his facts wrong. He claims that humans cannot fulfill their nutritional requirements without meat, but this is simply not true. While no vegetable by itself is a complete protein, defined by providing all 20 necessary amino acids, eating enough different vegetable sources is as good as eating meat. In fact, it's better, because vegetables usually contain far less fat.

He further wrongly states that vegetarians will have health problems in old age. Quite the contrary: according to numerous medical studies, a proper vegetarian lifestyle significantly decreases the risk of heart disease, stroke, many cancers, obesity, diabetes and other diseases. Vegetarianism is not only more environmentally friendly and more ethical, but it is indeed healthier for you.