What is a vegetarian diet?

A vegetarian diet is one that excludes meat, poultry, game and fish. Vegetarians also aim to avoid eating battery hen eggs and any slaughter house by-products. Some people incorrectly call themselves vegetarians just because they avoid red meat or eat meat only occasionally. A vegan diet excludes all animal foods and their by-products such as eggs, milk, cheese and yogurt.

Are vegetarians healthier?

Studies in the past have suggested that vegetarians have a healthier diet that is lower in fat than their meat-eating neighbors, but more recent data on the nutritional composition of convenience vegetarian meals has cast doubt on whether a vegetarian diet is in fact low in fat. This healthier image of vegetarian diets is for example thought to attract the attention of young figure conscious teenagers who take it up in the hope that it will lead to weight loss. However, recent analysis of over 200 vegetarian convenience foods has shown that they contain between 33% and 50% fat. Therefore many of these products contain a similar, and in some case a greater amount of fat, than their meat-containing counterparts. While vegetarian convenience foods may appear attractive, they are not necessarily a healthier choice and simply swapping meat for meat replacements will not guarantee a low fat diet.
Some practical advice for the vegetarian
Eggs are an excellent source of protein, but have received some bad press in the past. Up to five eggs per week can be eaten as part of a healthy diet.
Frozen vegetables are just as nutritious as fresh vegetables.
Cooking vegetables for long periods of time can diminish their vitamin content. Alternative cooking methods such as steaming, roasting, stir frying or microwaving should be used to cook vegetables in addition to boiling.

SOME ADVANTAGES OF BEING A VEGETARIAN:

. Abundance of fiber. High fiber diets are associated with lower rates of obesity, cancer, and coronary artery disease. Fiber also promotes proper bowel function, helps stabilize blood-sugar levels, and helps reduce cholesterol.
. Decreased environmental impact. It takes 25 gallons of water to produce a pound of potatoes. In contrast, one pound of beef needs 390 gallons. The production of one pound of beef requires almost 16 pounds of plant protein.
. Variety of beneficial plant chemicals.
. Avoids the suffering and slaughter of animals.
. Naturally less saturated fat and cholesterol, plus fewer hormones.
. Takes less money. A pound of beans swells when cooked. A pound of ground beef shrinks.

. Avoids increased risk of chronic degenerative diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, obesity, and high blood pressure.
. Eating lower on the food chain. Why not get nutrition directly from a plant-based diet instead of eating cows that get their nutrition from plants?

SOME DISADVANTAGES OF BEING A VEGETARIAN:

. Disadvantages to being a vegetarian would be the lack of protein you would receive.
. Another disadvantage would be all the meat you'd be missing out on. This doesn't go for all the types of vegetarians because only the strict vegetarians cut out all meet.
. Also if you were a strict vegetarian you wouldn't be able to drink some alcohol, of use stuff like soaps to stay clean because of what they contain.
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