Health Benefits of Being a Vegetarian

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has been campaigning against the use of fur, leather or the use of meat or dairy as food. They are also against fish hunting and fish farming. Similarly they are against the use of animals as means of entertainment in circuses, or their use in farms, etc.

They are also campaigning against different traditions, which entail the use of animals like bull fighting, etc. In other words, they are talking about not killing or harming animals. This propaganda has had a positive effect on a number of people, who have stopped the use of fur or leather.

However, many of them have not been able to give up on their non vegetarian ways. There can be various reasons for the same. However, when people will understand, that apart from the fact that it is cruelty to animals, eating non vegetarian food has a negative effect on us as well, they will find it easier to quit eating non vegetarian fare.

The word vegetarian means, "A person who does not eat or does not believe in eating meat, fish, fowl". There is another meaning of the word, which reads, "A person who does not eat or believe in eating any of the animals or products derived from animals".

They are also known as vegans. Vegans do not consume milk or eggs or any product derived from animal sources like cheese, yogurt, honey etc. Yet they are a subset of vegetarians. No doubt, there are pros and cons of being vegetarian, however the advantages mentioned below outweigh the disadvantages.

Live Longer: The most important health benefit of vegetarianism is that vegetarians live approximately seven years longer than non vegetarians. It can be attributed to the fact, that they do not contract any harmful diseases.

Prevent Cancer: Studies have proved that people whose diet is rich in vegetables and fruits are less susceptible to cancer and can ward off the risk by about 20 to 30%. Red meat is said to cause cancer. It is alleged that the immune system of vegetarians is able to kill the tumor cells more effectively as opposed to that of the non vegetarians.

Weight Loss: One of the benefits of being a vegetarian is that it helps in the weight loss process. Vegetarian food has lower amount of fats, cholesterol and saturated fats. You will be surprised to know that weight loss can be achieved without any form of physical exercise, once you turn vegetarian. It is also able to prevent weight gain.

Less Energy Loss: One of the health benefits of being vegan is that the person feels more energetic. When one consumes only vegetables and fruits or only plant-based foods, their blood sugar levels are more stable as compared to the non vegetarians.

At the same time, the body does not spend a lot of time digesting animal protein and the energy so saved gives the person a boost to stay more active. This ensures that the energy levels are maintained and the person does not feel overloaded after meals.

Prevent Heart Disease: It is seen that a vegetarian is at a lower risk of heart diseases. Mortality rate of people on vegetarian diet is said to be much lesser as compared to people who consume meat. Vegetarians have lower cholesterol and fat levels, which often contribute to heart diseases.

At the same time, flavonoids in fruits and vegetables have biological properties, that help in reducing heart diseases risk.

Have Stronger Bones: When there is shortage of calcium in the body, calcium is extracted from the bones. This leads to the bones becoming porous. Consuming calcium rich vegetarian food is helpful in making the bones stronger.

There is often an argument, that vegetarian food does not contain enough calcium in them. However, foods like dry beans, dark green vegetables, soy, etc. are rich sources of calcium. Similarly, if you consume milk, then calcium can also be derived from milk and milk products.

Avoid Chemicals: There are a lot of chemicals, which are used when animal products are processed. Avoiding animal products will ensure your system is not a repository for the chemicals. These chemicals cannot be removed, even when animal products are cooked or frozen. Therefore, staying away from animal products is the best way to avoid these chemicals from entering into your system.

After reading the health benefits of vegetarianism, you will certainly want to give up on animal food. However, it is best to consult your health care professional so that you do not face any kind of nutritional deficiencies.

The dietitian will be able to give you a food chart, which has the right balance of all the food types. To conclude, a vegetarian diet goes a long way in improving physical fitness and overall health.