Actually, there are different ‘types' of vegetarianism. Take a look at the following:
This is probably the strictest among the vegetarian diets. A vegan does not eat meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy and hone
An ovo-vegetarian does not eat meat, poultry, fish and dair
A lacto-vegetarian does not eat meat, poultry, fish and eggs.
A lacto-ovo vegetarian does not eat meat, poultry and fish - but consumes eggs, dairy and honey.
A Glimpse at the History of Vegetarianis
So how did the practice of vegetarianism come about? As early as the time of the ancient Greek civilization, there has already been a record of vegetarianism being a concept of including only vegetables in one's diet.
During these ancient times, the reason behind some individuals being a proponent of a vegetarian diet is that they would not like to be violent towards animals, a practice which is already being promoted by Indian religious groups and philosophers.
It was in 1847 that the first Vegetarian Society was founded in England. Other European countries followed suit. Since then, vegetarianism has spread and became even more popular from the 19th century onwards.
Health Benefits of Having a Vegetarian Diet
Whether you are a vegan, an ovo-vegetarian, a lacto-vegetarian or a lacto-ovo vegetarian, there is a multitude of benefits that you can get to enjoy by being a vegetarian.
As you may already know, vegetables are the probably the most important part of a person's diet because of the vitamins, minerals and nutrients that they contain - which bring about health benefits to anyone who consumers vegetables on a regular basis.
Here are the specific benefits that you can get to enjoy by having a vegetarian diet:
- Studies show that vegetarians have a faster metabolism, as compared to meat eaters. This means that as you age, there is a lesser possibility of your gaining a lot of weight if you are a vegetarian.
- Vegetarians enjoy the benefits of their bodies being able to burn fat and calories faster.
- Vegetarians are les likely to suffer from weigh-related issues, including diabetes, heart problems and stroke.
- The quality of life of people is generally improved once they choose to become vegetarians.
- Some studies show that there may be poison in the meat that the general consuming public is buying. There is a certain level of arsenic, which is used as growth stimulant - and when this is left on the body of the animals before they are slaughtered - the meat may actually be poisonous.
- Being vegetarians can decrease the risks of impotence in men, and menopausal symptoms in women.
- Being a proponent of a vegetarian diet will give you significant savings with your budget for food - since vegetables are generally less expensive than meat.
- There are a lot of health benefits that you can get to enjoy with a vegetarian diet - it helps lower your cholesterol level and it can help you stay well and live a generally healthier life.
- Eating no meat at all will eliminate the possibility of food poisoning. All over the world, millions of people suffer from food poisoning because meat is essentially a breeding ground of bacteria. This is especially true if the food is not cooked right.
- Overall, being under a vegetarian diet will provide your body with more nutrition - making you feel better, lessen the possibility of illness, and provide you with more energy.
What are the Things that You Need to ‘Give Up' by being a Vegetarian?
Since man in general is omnivorous - which means that his staple diet contains a combination of vegetables and meat - what are the foods that a vegetarian will essentially have to give up?
If you are a vegan, you are not supposed to eat meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy and honey. The other varieties of the vegetarian diet may or may not include the last three items - but their common denominator is that vegetarians do not consume meat, poultry, fish and eggs.
How can Becoming a Vegetarian Save the Earth?
There is actually a variety of ways by which being a vegetarian can help save the Earth.
For example, when you do not eat meat, you will not be contributing to the pollution and resource depletion that is being brought about by animal slaughter for food. You may have already heard about the fact that some vegetarians have become a proponent of this lifestyle because they object to the harsh treatment of animals which are being slaughtered for food.
Also, did you know that animals which are being raised for food consume enough grain to feed the less fortunate in the world? In addition, the raising of animals for poultry contribute to pollution due to their wastes - and meat production generally wastes fuel.
All in all, it does take more resources to produce the meat that non-vegetarians eat, than it does to grow vegetarian foods.
Vegetarians also do not consume fish because they cause an imbalance to the biodiversity of oceans, which occur when there is over fishing. If something is not done about it - the natural food resources that people have may just be lost forever if they are not used wisely.
A Final Word about Sustainability and Vegetarianism
There is no doubt that vegetarianism is a way of life that is not suitable for everyone. If you want to try this out - you should have a good motivation - otherwise, your efforts will all be for naught.
The best way to have a head start on being a vegetarian is to have a ‘no meat day' each week. This way, you can get to try out no-meat dishes and have a feel of how it is to become a vegetarian. Who knows, you may like the diet enough to be a proponent of the vegetarian lifestyle?
Finally, being a vegetarian will help save the environment, help save the lives of animals which are being slaughtered for food - and more importantly, they help restore man's natural environment.
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http://www.newint.org/features/2008/12/01/meat/
Cheers, Brian