The Vegetarian

Vegetarianism is described as the act of following a diet based solely on plants like vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and cereal grains. Dairy products and eggs may or may not be added to the diet. A vegetarian avoids shellfish, meat, fish, poultry, game or other products of animal slaughter. There are other variations of the vegetarian diet.

Other Types

For example the lacto-vegetarian takes dairy products but does not eat eggs. The ovo-vegetarian consumes eggs but stays away from dairy products. Lacto-ovo-vegetarians consume vegetables, eggs and dairy products. A vegan does not eat all animal products, like honey, dairy products and eggs. Vegetarianism can be acquired by a person for various reasons like ethics, economy, religion, health, environmental, culture, aesthetics and politics.

Semi-vegetarians eat vegetables, but may also eat poultry, eggs, fish and dairy products. Meat may only be referred to as red meat or mammalian flesh. The pescetarian diet eats fish but stays away from meat. There are several groups available today that focuses on helping individuals form their daily diets and how they can fully convert to vegetarianism.

The Benefits

Vegetarianism is a very healthy and viable diet. The ADA or American Dietetic Association and other big groups have devised many plans and diets that will help suffice all the needs of the average individual without having to resort to meat. Mortality rate from common diseases and serious problems that affect the liver, kidneys and heart have reduced significantly among vegetarians. Some of the important nutrients, amino acids and proteins can now be found in grains, nuts, milk, eggs, cheese and vegetables, without the added risks and health hazards.

More Advantages

Vegetarians will discover that they can keep their figure and body weight within normal levels. They can also reduce the risk for developing osteoporosis and heart disease. Some of the other diseases that can be avoided include prostate cancer, breast cancer and colorectal cancer. Vegetarianism can lower cholesterol, saturated fat and animal protein levels. You also get to have the essential vitamins and minerals present in most plant-based foods.

The Numbers

About 12.4 million individuals in the United States are vegetarians. There are more female vegetarians than males. Vegetarian women are also more likely to have female babies. Some other countries popularly known to have a lot of vegetarians include India, the United Kingdom and Turkey. More and more individuals at present are becoming vegetarians with more efforts and programs being focused on the advantages of the veggie way of life. Of all vegetarians residing in the United States, about 70% are female.