Benefits of a vegetarian diet
A vegetarian diet can be very beneficial because it is often a lot cheaper. Studies have shown that plant based meals are more affordable than meals which involve cooking meat. They can also be easier and faster to prepare. Aswell as the cost benefits, there is also some health benefits which come with the lifestyle.
Vegetarian diets are generally both high in fibre and low in fat therefore vegetarian meals are beneficial for your diet.
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics vegetarians are at lower risk for developing:
-Heart disease
-Colorectal, ovarian, and breast cancers
-Diabetes
-Obesity
-Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Studies in countries such as Germany and England have shown that vegetarians are about 40 percent less likely to develop cancer compared to meat-eaters.
Meat and dairy products contribute to many forms of cancer, including cancer of the colon, breast, ovaries, and prostate.
Harvard studies have shown that regular meat consumption increases colon cancer risks. Vegetarians avoid the animal fat linked to cancer and also are seen to have specialised white blood cells which attack cancer cells.
Because vegetarians avoid eating meat they are avoiding a huge source of saturated fat and cholesterol. Studies have shown that a vegetarian diet is one the factors along with exercise in which result in preventing certain heart diseases.
Diets that are high in protein, especially if its found in meat, usually cause the body to excrete more calcium, uric acid and oxalate. Its because of this that vegetarian diets tend to decrease chances of forming kidney stones or gallstones.
