There are many websites, videos, and even people out there that are misinformed about vegetarianism. It’s a quality of life, a diet for many people, and a way to judge someone. But, there is more to it than just that. Being vegetarian has many benefits, as well as disadvantages that everyone should know before embarking on this new ‘quality of life’ and before they judge others.
What exactly is a vegetarian? Is it someone who doesn’t eat any meat? Is it someone who just eats salads and drinks only water? Look at this definition: “a person who does not eat meat: someone whose diet consists wholly of vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, and sometimes eggs or dairy products” (vegetarian). No meat at all and chooses to have dairy products still.
However, there are several types of vegetarian. Pescatarian is one of them. Someone who chooses to not eat any meat, except for fish. “…more and more people are adopting this kind of diet, usually for health reasons or as a stepping stone to a fully vegetarian diet” (Hackett).
Then, there are ovo-vegetarian people. This “refers to people who do not eat meat or dairy products but do eat eggs” (Hackett). Then, there are vegans who don’t eat any animal’s products at all and they then have their own categories of distinct types. Like, raw vegan/raw food vegans who don’t eat cooked food.
“Research does show that vegetarians tend to be healthier overall, and even live longer” (Sifferlin). If that’s true, then why do people still eat meat when on certain diets? For protein and muscle build. And the taste. There’s nothing wrong with an occasional cheeseburger.
There are many benefits that come to being vegetarian though. “Low blood pressure; lower risk of death; better moods; less chance of heart disease; lower risks of cancer; lower risk of diabetes; less likely to be overweight” (Sifferlin). So many people suffer and even die from heart diseases, so think about going vegetarian to lessen the chances. “Another 2013 study of 44,000 people reported that vegetarians were 32 percent less likely to develop ischemic heart disease” (Sifferlin). That percentage doesn’t sound too bad.
“Research shows that vegetarians tend to be leaner than their meat-eating counterparts; and that they also tend to have lower cholesterol and body mass index (BMI)” (Sifferlin). Of course, being vegetarian doesn’t automatically make you healthy. A vegetable, fruit and grain diet is always the best, even with added meat for extra protein is okay. It all depends on the individual.
Unfortunately, with many things in life, there are disadvantages. Lack of protein and vitamin B12 has caused many issues within the vegetarian/vegan community. There are supplements that one can take, like with B12. But how do you still get the right amount of protein? Beans and supplements can help.
Do you want to go vegetarian now? It’s a great diet/lifestyle that one can ease into without making their body weak because you can still get all the necessary vitamins and fats that you need without meat. It’s up to you to decide how you want to eat and live healthy.
References
Hackett, Jolinda. “Which Type of Vegetarian Are You?” The Spruce, 21 Sept. 2017, www.thespruce.com/types-of-vegetarians-3378611.
Sifferlin, Alexandra. “7 Reasons Vegetarians Live Longer.” Men’s Health, 27 Feb. 2014, www.menshealth.com/nutrition/7-reasons-vegetarians-live-longer.
“Vegetarian.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, 8 Jan. 2018, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vegetarian.
