8 Best Benefits Of Being A Vegetarian
Vegetarian diet, of late, has been gaining a lot of popularity. While at first it may sound very trendy to turn ‘a vegetarian’, it is not such an easy task to sustain, especially if you have been a non-vegetarian in the past. The change requires a lot of focus and consistence to adapt into this lifestyle.
Here is an article on vegetarianism that will provide you basic knowledge about the practice of vegetarianism, how it is different from vegan and what are the major merits and demerits of becoming a vegetarian. Take a look!
What Is Vegetarianism?
Vegetarianism is a diet practice that requires a person to abstain from the consumption of all kinds of meats – red meat, poultry, seafood or the flesh of any other animal. It may or may not include abstention from by-products of animal slaughter depending upon a person’s choice.
People who are born and brought up in vegetarian families are primarily vegetarians and for them this is an easy practice. But for people who adapt to this lifestyle, it might take some time and lot of discipline! There are many reasons why people choose to be vegetarians, some of which are discussed in the following text.
Why Choose Vegetarian?
Vegetarianism is adopted for different reasons. Many people who turn into a vegetarian object to eating meat out of respect for sentient life. These ethical beliefs are derived out of various religious practices, along with animal rights. Others believing in vegetarianism choose to be so due to health-related, political, environmental, cultural, aesthetic or economic atmosphere.
Vegetarian diet is broadly classified into three kinds, viz.
- Ovo-vegetarian diet which includes eggs but not dairy products.
- Lacto-vegetarian diet that includes dairy products but not eggs.
- Ovo-lacto vegetarian diet which includes both eggs and dairy products.
How Is It Different From Vegan?
Veganism is the diet practice that requires a person to abstain from the use of any and all animal products. That means not only no meat but also no milk, butter, yogurt, cheese and honey too! Vegan philosophy also rejects the commodity status of sentient animals.
Vegetarians, on the other hand, can use animal products in their day to day life, such as leathers, and can consume all dairy products, where as a vegan would not use any sort of animal product. Vegans are more like animal rights activist in extreme form yet vegetarians are not extremists.
Benefits Of Vegetarianism:
Apart from saving some money in your daily diet (and stopping animal cruelty and trade in your own way!), below are some of the general vegetarianism benefits.
- Longevity: Vegetarians usually have a longer life span than those of meat eaters.
- Prevention Of Type 2 Diabetes: Studies have found out that vegetarians have a lower risk of developing type-2 diabetes.
- Hormone-Free Eating: Animals are injected with hormones, so to make them grow at a fast pace to meet the production standards.
- Increased Energy: Digesting meat consumes a lot more energy than digesting vegetables and fruits.
- Improved Digestion: With plenty of fiber intake, the digestive system stays clean.
- Lower Blood Pressure: Vegetarians usually have a lower or normal blood pressure.
- Skin: Helps boost your skin to healthy, clear and glowing.
- Less Chances Of Cancer: It lowers the risk of lung and colorectal cancer.
The main drawback in vegetarianism is deficiency of vitamin B12 and iron. As Vit B12 is not present in plants and is naturally found in foods of animal origin. Meat-based iron is more easily absorbed by the human body, than plant-based iron. If you take care to supplement these two nutrients, then you are all set!
Are going to become a vegetarian anytime soon? Write down your thoughts in the section below!
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