There are many reasons to consider a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. Some people choose a vegetarian diet because they want to minimize cruelty to animals. Others do so to lessen the environmental impact of growing food animals. Still others enjoy a vegetarian diet because of the health benefits. The American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada listed several of these benefits in its position paper on vegetarian diets. Some of the benefits listed in the report include: lower levels of saturated fat, cholesterol and animal protein and higher levels of beneficial carbohydrates, fiber, magnesium, boron, folate, antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, carotenoids, and phytonutrients (nutrients used by the body to help fight diseases).
These nutritional benefits reveal themselves in the many ways. Some of these are:
Obesity: Vegetarians have a lower Body Mass Index (BMI) on average than non-vegetarians.
Cardiovascular Disease: An analysis of over 76,000 subjects showed that death from heart disease was 31% lower among vegetarian men than non-vegetarian men and 20% lower among vegetarian women than non-vegetarian women. Even when comparing obese vegetarians to thin non-vegetarians, the vegetarians had much lower cholesterol.
Hypertension: Several studies have demonstrated that vegetarians routinely have lower blood pressure than non-vegetarians. They also have much lower incidence of hypertension than non-vegetarians.
Diabetes: Rates of self-reported diabetes among vegetarians were less than half the rate of the general population.
Cancer: Non-vegetarians have a 54% increased risk for prostate cancer, and an 88% increased risk for colorectal cancer.
Dementia: A study in the United States revealed that those who ate meat were twice as likely to develop dementia as those who did not.
Gallstones: Non-vegetarians are more than twice as likely as non-vegetarians to develop gallstones.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): This type of arthritis is believed to be an autoimmune disease involving inflammation of the joints. A vegetarian diet may contribute successfully to treatment of RA, according to a study conducted in Finland.
Until researching the many health benefits of a vegetarian diet, I was a meat-eater myself but the more evidence I accumulated from various studies on the subject, the more I lost my carnivorous appetite. If you want to reap the benefits yourself, you don’t have to go ‘cold turkey.’ You can gradually decrease your meat intake. Even a partial reduction will gain some health benefits, so pass the salad!
These nutritional benefits reveal themselves in the many ways. Some of these are:
Obesity: Vegetarians have a lower Body Mass Index (BMI) on average than non-vegetarians.
Cardiovascular Disease: An analysis of over 76,000 subjects showed that death from heart disease was 31% lower among vegetarian men than non-vegetarian men and 20% lower among vegetarian women than non-vegetarian women. Even when comparing obese vegetarians to thin non-vegetarians, the vegetarians had much lower cholesterol.
Hypertension: Several studies have demonstrated that vegetarians routinely have lower blood pressure than non-vegetarians. They also have much lower incidence of hypertension than non-vegetarians.
Diabetes: Rates of self-reported diabetes among vegetarians were less than half the rate of the general population.
Cancer: Non-vegetarians have a 54% increased risk for prostate cancer, and an 88% increased risk for colorectal cancer.
Dementia: A study in the United States revealed that those who ate meat were twice as likely to develop dementia as those who did not.
Gallstones: Non-vegetarians are more than twice as likely as non-vegetarians to develop gallstones.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): This type of arthritis is believed to be an autoimmune disease involving inflammation of the joints. A vegetarian diet may contribute successfully to treatment of RA, according to a study conducted in Finland.
Until researching the many health benefits of a vegetarian diet, I was a meat-eater myself but the more evidence I accumulated from various studies on the subject, the more I lost my carnivorous appetite. If you want to reap the benefits yourself, you don’t have to go ‘cold turkey.’ You can gradually decrease your meat intake. Even a partial reduction will gain some health benefits, so pass the salad!
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