Benefits of Being a Vegetarian

This world is a unique combination of meat and green lovers. While some of us just can't pass an entire day without having meat, others insist that following veganism or vegetarianism is the best way to stay healthy. Almost all of us have this weird habit of following what is the new thing and today being a vegetarian is the "New Thing".

Medical facts claim that following a vegetarian diet is the best way to stay healthy. We have reached 2010 and I can proudly say that today, we not only have advanced in technology we also have found out various ways of living a healthy and long life and being understanding some vegetarianism facts is one of them. There is no doubt that vegetarian meals are natural and the best health items as they are low in saturated fats and have also been preferred in various health programs.

Advantages of Being a Vegetarian

Following a vegetarian diet is more than just leading a life with moral values, it is about having more knowledge about the various health benefits you get when you drop meat from your daily diet. The various advantages of being a vegetarian can actually help you live a long and full life.

Lower Risk of Diseases
Following a vegetarian diet lowers the risk of many health diseases. One of the best health benefits of being a vegetarian is that those who follow a vegetarian diet seldom suffer from heart disease, various types of cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure.

A Healthier and Longer Life
Vegetarians are normally cautious about what they eat and so they often eat foodstuffs which are healthier. Most vegans or vegetarians do a lot of research before including any food products in their diet. They tend to have low cholesterol levels because they refrain from eating meat which has high levels of fats and body sugars. They generally have a healthy weight because they have a high fiber diet which protects them from getting obese.

Great Complexion
One of the best vegetarian diet benefits is to have a healthy and good-looking skin. Most of the foods in the diet of a vegetarian have a high quantity of water and antioxidants. As most vegetarian diets are full of fiber this also ensures that vegetarians have a healthy digestive and immune system.

Saving the Planet
As the global meat consumption remains high people fail to understand that a non-vegetarian diet is a threat to our home planet. Animals which are used as meat and poultry products need land and food to be raised. They need enormous quantities of food and the worst part is they produce enormous amounts of waste products. The food produced for such farm animals requires millions of amounts of water and money. So one of the best environmental benefits of being a vegetarian is you not only save enormous quantities of water but you also make sure that money spent on food for these animals goes for some social cause.

Pros and Cons of Being a Vegetarian

Facts say that more than 3% of the population in the US are vegetarians and over 20% of them said that they wouldn't mind following a vegetarian diet. So if vegetarian diet has its share of devotees it also has a many critics. So let's have a look at the various advantages and disadvantages of being vegetarian.

Upside
Many health experts agree that following vegetarianism is good for you. Vegetarian diets make sure that you have an effective digestive system which in turn ensures lower rates of heart diseases, high blood pressure and diabetes. Green eaters have a healthy immune system than most meat eaters. Vegans or vegetarians on average live 6 to 15 years longer than meat eaters. According to latest research eating 1 pound of meat emits the same amount of greenhouse gases as driving an SUV for 40 miles. The best part about being a vegetarian is the support that you offer for the humane treatment of animals because as a vegan you don't support the meat industry that slaughters more than a million animals every year.

Downside
According to many health reports a vegetarian diet is far from ideal, it lacks many essential fats and proteins which are a must for the body. Doctors have also observed that being a strict vegetarian is damaging to human health. A diet which includes eggs, dairy products, organic vegetables and fruits, nuts, legumes and grains is a better option than a strict vegan diet which doesn't offer enough protein which is in abundance in meats. You also refrain yourself from saturated fats which is the most essential nutrient for the heart if taken in adequate quantities. Humans have been meat eaters and tropical oil consumers since thousands of years and the new processed vegetable oil is the main reason for various digestive system diseases affecting the human health.

Well after reading the various vegetarianism pros and cons the decision of being a vegetarian or a non-vegetarian is totally your call, but if you are still confused on which path to follow I recommend you to consult a nutritionist and seek expert advice.