What a Vegetarian Diet Can Do for You

One day I was an omnivore and the next I was a strict vegetarian. It’s hard to believe that day happened almost twelve years ago. So, when I was given vegetarianism as the topic for this post, I felt I knew a great deal about that which I wrote. While going vegetarian has improved my health, that was not the primary reason for my switch. Twelve years ago, I decided to read a book that detailed the horrendous conditions in which factory farm animals suffer and that was the reason for my decision, as it is for many vegetarians. I simply decided I would not be a part of, what I consider to be, an unethical and immoral system.

However, a vegetarian diet not only divests you from the factory farm system, it also has numerous health benefits such as…

• Weight loss usually occurs for most people who go vegetarian (and who don’t simply eat more donuts, cookies, and ice cream). This is the result of greatly reducing the amount of saturated fat consumed and replacing it with fiber-rich foods. Also, according to one Oxford study, vegetarians had a lower body mass index (BMI) than non-vegetarians across all groups, male and female.
• A reduced risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. When we eliminate meat, especially red meat, we also eliminate the saturated fat that clogs our arterial arteries (which supply the heart muscle) which reduces our risk of heart disease.
• Lower cancer rates are also common among vegetarians when compared to non-vegetarians, especially colorectal cancer.
• Vegetarians tend to live longer than non-vegetarians. A 12-year Oxford study, published in the British Medical Journal, found that vegetarians lived six years longer than their non-vegetarian counterparts. Other medical professionals, such as Dr. Michael Roizen, claim vegetarians can live up to 13 years longer. This can be attributed to the increased amounts of antioxidants, phytonutrients, fiber, vitamins and minerals consumed by vegetarians.
• The consumption of unhealthy toxins is greatly reduced for vegetarians. Many factory farms use large amounts of hormones and antibiotics on their animals to increase their growth rate and fend off disease and infection. As a result, those hormones and antibiotics get passed on to us when we consume their flesh. Also, many types of seafood have been found to contain unhealthy amounts of heavy metals (no, not Black Sabbath or Metallica) such as mercury, arsenic, lead and cadmium.
• Stronger bones also are more frequent in vegetarians due to the fact that they tend to turn to dairy as a primary source of protein. As a result, vegetarians also get increased amounts of the vitamins and minerals that promote good bone health, such as calcium, vitamin D, phosphorus and magnesium.
• Increased energy level is another common benefit reported by those who convert to vegetarianism. This is related to the decreased levels of artery-clogging saturated fat consumed by vegetarians. Unclogged arteries allow oxygenated blood to reach your muscles quickly and in greater amounts which is responsible for increased energy levels.
• A reduced grocery bill usually accompanies vegetarianism because fruits, whole grains, vegetables, legumes and dairy are cheaper than steaks, chicken, pork, and seafood.

If you’ve been thinking about making the vegetarian leap, hopefully the above reasons are the push you need. I can only speak to my own experience and I was amazed at how easy it truly was. Now, other than when I smell cooking bacon, I no longer view meat or seafood as a temptation. As I’ve mentioned before in other posts, the term “diet” should not refer to a temporary change in your eating habits, but to a lifestyle change. And that’s what becoming a vegetarian has meant to me, a non-reversible and healthy lifestyle change.

Lastly, MagicKitchen.com offers a diverse and comprehensive vegetarian menu. If you’re interested, check it out our vegetarian menu here.