Post by Blog Editor Erin Ogden
Although countless diets and eating plans are out there, the vegetarian diet continues to maintain steady growth in America and around the world. Within the United States, 7.3 million Americans call themselves vegetarians. Furthermore, an additional 22.8 million roughly follow this diet as well (1). Maybe you’ve seen food products labeled as “vegetarian,” but what does it mean?
Someone who follows a vegetarian diet does not consume meat, poultry, of fish. In other words, they do not eat animals. However, this diet should not be confused with a vegan diet, which cuts out all animal byproducts including eggs, milk, and even honey. The vegetarian diet has been noted by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to be perfectly healthy and safe for all population groups and lifestyle stages including pregnant and breastfeeding women, children, the elderly and athletes (2).
So what makes individual “go veg?”
Here are only a few benefits of this diet and lifestyle choice:
1. Reduction of risk for chronic disease: A vegetarian diet helps reduce the risk of obesity, heart disease, and cancer, and can even reverse the effects off other chronic diseases. Because of this, vegetarians have lower mortality rates from these diseases. This benefit is due to the fact that vegetarians are eating more variety of fruits and vegetables while eliminating many sources of fats and cholesterol (3).
2. Decreased chances of food-borne illnesses: Food sources from animal proteins are the most common sources for the bacteria that make us sick including e. coli. Thus, cutting out these risky food choices will leave you safer in the long run (3).
3. Longer life: This benefit ties into reducing your risk for developing chronic disease as well as contracting food-borne illnesses. Avoiding meat has also been shown to give you more energy, retain cognitive function, and boost your immune system, so not only will you live longer but the quality of your life will also be improved (3).
4. Refusal to partake in a cruel industry: Due to the high demand of meat the industry implements factory farming practices which include small cages, weights and chains to reduce animal movement, removal of body parts on live animals including the tails of cows and the beaks of chickens, and the literal grinding up of male chicks since they do not lay eggs. Vegetarians can have a clearer conscience knowing that they don’t support these inhumane practices (4).
5. Reduction of pollution and other environmental issues: Factory farming uses extensive amounts of water, land, and fossil fuels. It is far more sustainable to consume plant proteins directly than to grow crops needed to feed animals bound for slaughter to eat. Factory farming has also led to deforestation and less biodiversity (5).
Image source: http://budapestcookingclass.com/vegetarian-cooking-class-budapest-2/
References
1. "Vegetarianism In America." Vegetarian Times. Cruz Bay Publishing, 17 Nov. 2016. Web. 05 Dec. 2016. <http://www.vegetariantimes.com/article/vegetarianism-in-america>.
2. Craig, Winston, and Ann Mangels. "Position of the American Dietetic Association: Vegetarian Diets." Journal of the ADA Volume 109 Number 7. Journal of the ADA, July 2009. Web. 5 Dec. 2016. <www.vrg.org/nutrition/2009_ADA_position_paper.pdf+>.
3. "Why Go Veg?" Vegetarian Times. Cruz Bay Publishing, n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2016. <http://www.vegetariantimes.com/article/why-go-veg-learn-about-becoming-a-vegetarian>.
4. Leader, Jessica. "9 Facts About Factory Farming That Will Break Your Heart (GRAPHIC PHOTOS)." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 4 Dec. 2014. Web. 05 Dec. 2016. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/17/factory-farming-facts_n_4063892.html>.
5."Get Ready to Save the World." ChooseVeg.com. Mercy for Animals, n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2016. <http://www.chooseveg.com/environment>.
Although countless diets and eating plans are out there, the vegetarian diet continues to maintain steady growth in America and around the world. Within the United States, 7.3 million Americans call themselves vegetarians. Furthermore, an additional 22.8 million roughly follow this diet as well (1). Maybe you’ve seen food products labeled as “vegetarian,” but what does it mean?
Someone who follows a vegetarian diet does not consume meat, poultry, of fish. In other words, they do not eat animals. However, this diet should not be confused with a vegan diet, which cuts out all animal byproducts including eggs, milk, and even honey. The vegetarian diet has been noted by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to be perfectly healthy and safe for all population groups and lifestyle stages including pregnant and breastfeeding women, children, the elderly and athletes (2).
So what makes individual “go veg?”
Here are only a few benefits of this diet and lifestyle choice:
1. Reduction of risk for chronic disease: A vegetarian diet helps reduce the risk of obesity, heart disease, and cancer, and can even reverse the effects off other chronic diseases. Because of this, vegetarians have lower mortality rates from these diseases. This benefit is due to the fact that vegetarians are eating more variety of fruits and vegetables while eliminating many sources of fats and cholesterol (3).
2. Decreased chances of food-borne illnesses: Food sources from animal proteins are the most common sources for the bacteria that make us sick including e. coli. Thus, cutting out these risky food choices will leave you safer in the long run (3).
3. Longer life: This benefit ties into reducing your risk for developing chronic disease as well as contracting food-borne illnesses. Avoiding meat has also been shown to give you more energy, retain cognitive function, and boost your immune system, so not only will you live longer but the quality of your life will also be improved (3).
4. Refusal to partake in a cruel industry: Due to the high demand of meat the industry implements factory farming practices which include small cages, weights and chains to reduce animal movement, removal of body parts on live animals including the tails of cows and the beaks of chickens, and the literal grinding up of male chicks since they do not lay eggs. Vegetarians can have a clearer conscience knowing that they don’t support these inhumane practices (4).
5. Reduction of pollution and other environmental issues: Factory farming uses extensive amounts of water, land, and fossil fuels. It is far more sustainable to consume plant proteins directly than to grow crops needed to feed animals bound for slaughter to eat. Factory farming has also led to deforestation and less biodiversity (5).
Image source: http://budapestcookingclass.com/vegetarian-cooking-class-budapest-2/
References
1. "Vegetarianism In America." Vegetarian Times. Cruz Bay Publishing, 17 Nov. 2016. Web. 05 Dec. 2016. <http://www.vegetariantimes.com/article/vegetarianism-in-america>.
2. Craig, Winston, and Ann Mangels. "Position of the American Dietetic Association: Vegetarian Diets." Journal of the ADA Volume 109 Number 7. Journal of the ADA, July 2009. Web. 5 Dec. 2016. <www.vrg.org/nutrition/2009_ADA_position_paper.pdf+>.
3. "Why Go Veg?" Vegetarian Times. Cruz Bay Publishing, n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2016. <http://www.vegetariantimes.com/article/why-go-veg-learn-about-becoming-a-vegetarian>.
4. Leader, Jessica. "9 Facts About Factory Farming That Will Break Your Heart (GRAPHIC PHOTOS)." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 4 Dec. 2014. Web. 05 Dec. 2016. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/17/factory-farming-facts_n_4063892.html>.
5."Get Ready to Save the World." ChooseVeg.com. Mercy for Animals, n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2016. <http://www.chooseveg.com/environment>.