The Science of Deliciously Good Health

Growing up, I was under the impression that all vegetarians wore Birkenstocks, used crystal deodorant, and recoiled at the sight of a razor. But, as I started to break out of my bubble gum pop perimeter, I realized there’s a diverse group of people that choose a vegetarian lifestyle for a variety reasons.

However, I still couldn’t shake the feeling that they were a little more “anemic” than their “machismo” meat-eating counterparts. Then I met my husband, vegetarian since birth, 6ft 4” and 200 lbs. The stereotype was shattered. You could be big and strong, sans the snaffling of a bloody sirloin.

Many people still worry that feeding children or pregnant women a vegetarian diet will somehow be nutritionally insufficient. However, last week the American Dietetic Association released a paper suggesting that a well-balanced vegetarian diet can help to prevent and treat a slew of chronic diseases – such as heart disease, cancer, obesity and diabetes – for all stages of the lifecycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, adolescence, and even the athletically gifted.

The ADA suggests that vegetarians have significant health advantages, such as lower blood cholesterol levels, lower risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure levels and lower risk of hypertension and type 2 diabetes. “Vegetarians tend to have a lower body mass index and lower overall cancer rates. Vegetarian diets tend to be lower in saturated fat and cholesterol and have higher levels of dietary fiber, magnesium and potassium, vitamins C and E, folate, carotenoids, flavonoids and other phytochemicals. These nutritional differences may explain some of the health advantages of those following a varied, balanced vegetarian diet.”

Becoming a vegetarian can seem overwhelming. So take it slow. Start by giving up or reducing your intake of red meat. Once that’s eradicated, start by eating less poultry, and then the final step, put a squash on seafood. However, if you slip up every once and a while there’s no need to feel like a tofurky, just get back up on the healthy horse, and keep steering it in the right direction.

But beware, just because you’ve said adios to Angus beef, you’re not guaranteed a clean bill of health. Don’t load up on carbs like French fries, white bread and cake just because they’re meat-free. It’s very important to eat a well-planed and balanced vegetarian diet.

Click here for info on becoming a healthy vegetarian, and how to avoid the pitfalls.

Click here to read about choosing the healthiest veggie burgers and dogs for summer grilling (steer clear of the high sodium varieties).

Tags: going vegetarian, health benefits of being a vegetarian, the american dietetic association, vegetarian diet and cancer, vegetarian diet prevents disease, vegetarian diet to treat disease