Vegetarian Options?

Vegetarianism simply defined, is the abstaining from eating the flesh of warm-blooded animals. The term is derived from the latin term vegetare, meaning "to enliven."

There are many reasons why a person may become a vegetarian - research shows benefits to health generally, moral issues, animal rights, the misuse of land leading to a strain on resources, belief in non-violence and spiritual reasons. The main reason that people become and remain vegetarians is because of the incontrovertible health benefits shown by hundreds of studies.

Vegetarians are at a lower risk for developing diseases such as heart disease, colorectal, ovarian and breast cancers, diabetes, obesity and hypertension (high blood pressure). The saturated fat and cholesterol found in high quantities in meats have been linked to breast and colon cancer. These bad fats also contribute to hardening of the arteries and heart disease - the number one killer in Canada and the United States.

A vegetarian diet, as any other diet, must be well balanced with proper protein maintained, in order to ensure good health. There are many easy, healthy and delicious vegetarian recipes available now more than ever before. You may want to get information from a nutritionist before deciding if vegetarianism is for you.

There are other choices you may want to consider such as the different types of vegetarians, some regimes are easier to follow than others. Benefits vary depending on the regime you choose.

Vegans or strict vegetarians exclude all animal products including red meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, cheese and honey.

Lacto vegetarians exclude red meat, poultry, fish and eggs but eat dairy products.

Lacto-ovovegetarians exclude red meat, poultry, and fish but include dairy and eggs. Pesco-vegetarians allow fish in their diets and Pollo-vegetarians eat poultry while still omitting red meat.

While some people consider vegetarianism radical, incorporating several vegetarian meals weekly appears to be a wise thing to do for many reasons. For more information please check out the following resources:
www.garynull.com
www.vegweb.com
References: Null, Gary The Vegetarian Handbook, St. Martin's Press, NY

Karen Hillier, B.A., M.Ed. Candidate, is an adult educator and has practiced vegetarianism for the past seven years.

 

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