Home | Looking for something? Sign In | New here? Sign Up | Log out

Monday, January 4, 2010

What Your Vegetarian Diet Can Do For Your Health

/ On : 2:41 AM

anu
By Alexis Martin

These days being vegetarian is becoming more and more popular. People are beginning to realize there are many health benefits associated with consuming a vegetarian weight loss diet. There are also more vegetarian options available in supermarkets and in restaurants these days, so being a vegetarian does not mean sacrificing flavor and taste.

First and foremost, ditching meat and becoming a vegetarian brings several important health benefits. Since most vegetarian diets are much lower in saturated fats, vegetarians rarely have problems with obesity or develop type II diabetes. It is estimated that vegetarians consume around 25 percent less fat in their diets than meat eaters.

Vegetarians generally have healthier diets and the low levels of animal fats that are consumed means low levels of blood cholesterol. Over time cholesterol can build up in the arteries and stop blood from flowing and circulating effectively. This places pressure on the heart that can lead to heart disease, stroke, angina, heart attack and more.

There is also irrefutable proof that eating vegetarian can prevent certain types of cancer from occurring in the body. Countless studies have shown time and time again that high consumption of fruits and vegetables and lower intake of meat can reduce cancer risk by around 50 percent. The antioxidant properties of some vegetables and especially cruciferous vegetables can protect the body from cancer causing agents.

People who have digestion problems should seriously consider changing to a vegetarian diet meal plan. Heavy and dense meat products take a long time for the body to digest, this can lead to a sluggish digestion system that is unable to fully eliminate waste. After a while, the inability to get rid of waste effectively can lead to stomach, colon or intestinal cancer. Vegetarians eat foods that are much more easily digested and therefore can avoid many digestive problems.

Aside from the health benefits associated with vegetarianism, not eating meat products is also much better for the environment. Much of the Amazon Jungle is being destroyed to make room for beef cattle farms. By not consuming red meat, you are doing your part to reduce demand for beef and help reduce the significant detrimental effects that cattle have on the environment.

Recent environmental reports have stated that meat production is one of the largest contributors to environmental pollution and habitat destruction in the world. It produces water and air pollution, land quality degradation and the loss of various endangered species. This is a clear and compelling reason to scale back your meat consumption or stop eating meat completely. - 24553

About the Author:

0 comments:

Post a Comment

ads1 336x280

ads2 336x280