What are the Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet?

Why go vegetarian?  If not for religious purposes, why have some decided to take the no-meat route? Many vegetarians cite their concern for animal welfare, environmental impact, and the health benefits that come from being a vegetarian. It may seem absurd to give up meat and/or meat products if you have been eating meat and meat products your whole life, but new studies have shown the many benefits of going vegetarian. Here are a few good reasons:

You will live longer. Vegetarians live an average of seven years longer, and vegans (no meat products) fifteen years longer than the average meat eater, according to a study conducted by Loma Linda University.

It’s good for your heart. Heart disease is the number one killer in the U.S. today. Saturated fats in meat and dairy are a large contributor to the rise in cardiovascular disease. An average American male eating a meat-based diet has a 50% chance of dying from heart disease. That rate drops to 15% for those on vegetarian diets. Also, cholesterol levels of vegetarians are 14% lower than those of meat eaters.

You’ll reduce your risk of cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, women who ate meat every day were 4 times more likely to develop breast cancer. On the other hand, women who consumed at least one serving of vegetables a day reduced their risk of cancer by 20-30%. Other studies have found that a plant-based diet helps protect against prostate, skin, and colon cancers.

You’ll help reduce famine. Did you know that it takes 15lbs of feed to get 1lbs of meat to the table? 72% of all the grain produced in the U.S. is used to feed the animals raised for slaughter. If the grain were given directly to people to consume, imagine how many mouths we could feed!

You can fit into your skinny jeans! Vegetarians are on average slimmer than meat eaters. Since vegetables and fruits are high in fiber and low in fat, vegetarians are also at lower risk for diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

You’ll be doing your bones a favor. On average, the bone loss of a vegetarian women at the age of 65 is 18%.  For non-vegetarians, its 36% or more! In the U.S., the average woman consumes 144% over the daily-recommended amount of protein. The excess protein interferes with the absorption and retention of calcium, which can lead to osteoporosis.

You can avoid toxic chemicals. According to the EPA, about 95% of pesticide residue in our diet comes from meat, fish, and dairy products.

You’ll be more “regular.” Vegetables and fruits contain plenty of fiber, which helps move waste through the body. On the other hand, meat contains no fiber. Those who consume a lot of vegetables also have a lower risk of constipation, hemorrhoids, and spastic colon (IBS).

Fight the hot flashes. Phytoestrogen, which can by found in grains, plants, legumes, and particularly soy, are believed to help balance fluctuating hormones. Therefore, vegetarian women going through menopause experience fewer problems with depression, mood swings, weight gain, hot flashes, and sleeping problems.

Save money. You can cut the cost of your annual grocery bill by as much as $4,000 by simply replacing meats, chicken, and fish with fruits and vegetables.

Give your body a spring cleaning. By giving up meats, you can help rid your body of toxins such as pesticides, preservatives, and environmental pollutants that can build up in your system. When you replace meat and dairy products with fruit and vegetables, the phytochemicals help the body naturally detoxify.

You’ll save the animals. Each day, 22 million animals are slaughtered to support the American appetite for meat. It is estimated 39% of the fish population is over harvested. The Food & Agriculture Organization reports that 11 of 15 of the world's major fishing grounds have become depleted.

As you can see, there are many benefits of a vegetarian diet, from animal welfare, environmental impact, and the abundance of health benefits. Studies have shown a vegetarian diet has a great impact on your health, the rate of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, colon cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and the number one killer in the U.S., heart disease.

These days, it is easier than ever to make the switch and follow a vegetarian lifestyle. “It’s easy to make the switch since there are so many new vegan/vegetarian friendly products that even kids seem to enjoy, such as ice cream, cookies, and vegan jerky,” says Clare Albarado, manager of La Sierra Natural Foods. “Since the store opened in 1962, there are many different options  available to those who are on vegetarian diet.”

Restaurants have also caught onto the vegetarian craze; many have begun to offer vegetarian friendly dishes that are actually very tasty. Many vegetarian cookbooks are also becoming more popular and easier to find. So instead of asking, “Why go vegetarian?” maybe you should be asking yourself, “Why shouldn’t I go vegetarian?”

Call or Visit La Sierra Health Foods in Riverside to learn more about starting a vegetarian diet. Clare Albarado can be reached at (951)785-5763. La Sierra Helath Foods also offers weekly health lectures and an amazing vegeterain café.