Being a Healthy Vegetarian

Vegetarianism

Vegetarianism is a popular method of dieting, although these days it could be described more as a way of life rather than simply a method of eating. True vegetarianism is known as veganism, and actually excludes all animal byproducts, including dairy products, eggs, and even honey. Typical vegetarianism revolves around an individual following a plant-based diet that includes fruits, vegetables, cereal grains, nuts and seeds, while generally consuming some form of dairy products and eggs. Many vegetarians do not eat any form of red meat, game, poultry, fish, crustaceans and shellfish, or any type of product that was a result of animals being killed. Some vegetarians actually consume fish and poultry. For example, pescetarian diets include fish, but no other kind of meat. However, this has led to vegetarian groups such as the Vegetarian Society rising up to proclaim any diet not within their guidelines as a pseudo vegetarian diet.

Vegetarianism can be adopted by an individual as a result of ethical reasons, or because of religious reasons. Some followers claim that they are vegetarians because of the health benefits, while still others subscribe to the method because of cultural, aesthetic, or economic reasons. Some diets, such as the Mediterranean Diet, have existed for thousands of years and traditionally rely upon dairy products, whole grains, breads, fruits, vegetables, olive oil, and fish as the main source of protein, while red meat is generally not included. There are also options such as fruitarianism, macrobiotic diets, raw veganism, or dietary veganism.

Pros and Cons

While there is definitely some truth to the fact that certain types of vegetarianism can produce some significant benefits as a result of healthy eating, it should also be noted that there are some pretty serious detrimental side effects should an individual choose to follow such a strict vegetarian diet due to religious or other reasons that they throw common sense to the wind. Any sort of diet – that is, a daily intake of food to provide sustenance – must include a healthy balance of complete nutrition for the body to survive in a normal manner. It is physically impossible for certain types of vegetarianism to provide all those necessary nutrients to the body, which is why it is extremely important for people to understand that if they choose to become a vegetarian, their lifestyle choice will need to include incorporation of a wide variety of premium vitamin and mineral supplements to continue providing the body what it needs without running the risk of potentially harming the natural balance.

As a whole, the American Dietetic Association and the Dietitians of Canada have shown that vegetarianism is considered a healthy, viable diet that satisfies the nutritional needs for all stages of life, and there have been literally hundreds of studies over the years which have shown that high levels of leafy greens and fruits and vegetables in your diet are directly linked to lower risks of cancer, heart disease, and other serious degenerative diseases. Vegetarianism can also help an individual keep their body weight under control. According to the two groups, “Vegetarian diets offer a number of nutritional benefits, including lower levels of saturated fat, cholesterol, and animal protein as well as higher levels of carbohydrates, fiber, magnesium, potassium, folate, and antioxidants such as vitamins C and E and phytochemicals.”

Perhaps the largest risk of a vegetarian diet is the potentially deadly risk of vitamin B and calcium deficiencies. In particular, vitamin B deficiencies can be fatal, especially regarding vitamin B 12. Thus it becomes essential for a vegetarian to ensure that they are taking daily supplements as a means of obtaining sufficient calcium and vitamin B 12. It is physically impossible to replace some of the nutrients found in eating meat without supplements. Human beings were meant to be omnivores; this is a scientifically proven fact given that our teeth contain incisors for cutting meat as well as teeth for the chewing of plants. However, many people have ethical reasons or religious reasons for why they choose not to consume meat. While this is a choice every individual has to make on their own, it is important to understand that there are serious consequences that could arise if an individual does not maintain the proper balance. If you are planning on participating in a vegetarian diet, you should definitely discuss it with a licensed physician or licensed nutritionist who can guide you in the right direction regarding which supplements are required to continue maintaining a perfect balance of nutrients.

The Choice

Being a vegetarian means consuming mostly raw foods, a fairly exciting way to live because your body is inundated with enzymes that would otherwise be destroyed through the cooking process. Enzymes are considered the building block of our lives, and they are the reason why so many studies have shown the benefits of a vegetarian diet, ranging from reduced heart disease risks to considerably longer life spans to benefits such as reduced rates of cancer, lower weight, higher levels of energy, to name just a few. However, choosing the right kind of vegetarian diet depends largely upon what you want to achieve.

These days, many people choose to follow a vegetarian diet not only for the health benefits, but because of ethical reasons dealing with the treatment of animals as they are mass slaughtered to feed humanity. It is important to understand that vegetarianism is a choice that everyone should be allowed to make on their own. Just as much as someone who eats meat has the right to do so, you have a right to make that choice on your own as well. Regardless of whether or not you choose to be a vegan or a semi-vegetarian there are a wide variety of benefits to consuming higher quantities of fruits and vegetables, and there is absolutely no reason why you should not start today.

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