Becoming A Vegetarian
BY Vanessa Youngstrom
Most people make the decision to become a vegetarian because of health and wellness reasons. But most Hindu and Buddhists are strict vegetarians and others practice vegetarian eating habits because they are animal activists and abhor the treatment of animals during the slaughter process.
Becoming a vegetarian has gained widespread acceptance in the past 5 years as research is showing that eating a vegetarian diet will lower a persons risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
There is more than one way to become a vegetarian. You should know yourself enough to know if going cold turkey or moving into a vegetarian lifestyle slowly will be more successful. Becoming a vegetarian slowly means beginning by excluding meat and fish. Some people find that excluding one type of meat a month makes the transition easier.
Recent research has shown that vegetarians live longer and healthier lives. The American Dietetic Association (ADA) on their website states that vegetarian diets offer a number of nutritional benefits, including lower levels of saturated fat, cholesterol and animal protein as well as higher levels of carbohydrates, fiber, magnesium, potassium, folate and antioxidants such as Vitamins C and E.
Becoming a vegetarian also gives you an easier time maintaining an appropriate weight. Some criticisms include the difficulty that some people have getting all of their essential nutrients. However, eating a normal variety of whole grains, beans, nuts, and vegetables will OFTEN give vegetarians adequate amounts of the essential nutrients.
After becoming a vegetarian many people report "feeling better" and having more energy with the diet change. Your daily dietary intake should include vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and whole grains.
Becoming a vegetarian is a choice. Everyday you chose your diet, exercise, stress levels and work patterns. Sometimes we think they are chosen for us but it's just not the case. We choose. Becoming a vegetarian is a continuum effect. It's never that you are or you aren't but rather how much of a vegetarian are you?
ABOUTH THE AUTHORVanessa Youngstrom, a nurse practitioner, enjoys writing and educating on health and wellness topics. You'll find more articles at http://www.PathToYourHealth.com |
