Recent times have shown an increase in vegetarian diets, as time passes by these diets have been more normalized into our society. And maybe it’s something you should consider trying too! There are many benefits to a vegetarian diet, and even if it is something you do not see working for yourself, try it out, even if only for a day.
Let’s start with the health reasons for being vegetarian. Since vegetarians do not consume any meat product, the lifestyle has been linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. The more meat people consume, the higher the risk is. A vegetarian diet can also help you lose excess weight, research has shown vegetarians/vegans to have lower BMI than those who are not. Research has shown that on average vegetarians consume 500 calories less than non vegetarians yet eat more food on average (win, win am I right?!) This is due to vegetarians consuming more complex calories, which are starchy, fiber-rich foods that are naturally low in fat and calories.
A vegetarian diet can also help with your contribution to the negative environmental impact of meat production. Cows and sheep are responsible for 37% of methane emitted into the atmosphere, which causes about half of the planet’s human induced warming. The livestock industry also generates about 64% of ammonia, which leads to acid rain. If the entire U.S. did not eat meat or cheese for just one day a week, it would be the equivalent of not driving 91 billion miles – or taking 7.6 million cars off the road. Crazy right?
There are a multitude of different reasons as to why someone should try a vegetarian lifestyle, only a few mentioned here. Even if vegetarianism is not something you see yourself doing permanently at least try it out for a day. Or even swap out a meal in your day for a vegetarian meal instead.
Some great vegetarian recipes can be found at…
Cookie and Kate’s Best Vegetarian Recipes
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipes/87/everyday-cooking/vegetarian/
https://www.cookinglight.com/food/vegetarian/simple-vegetarian-recipes
Cristina F. Intern at Limitless Performance and Therapy
