27 June, 2008

Turn Vegetarian



If you want to achieve good health, turning vegetarian is one great option. Vegetarian foods are satisfying, delicious and healthy.
Lets look at few definitions
Vegetarian: Avoids meat, fish and poultry.
Lacto-ovo vegetarian: Include dairy products and eggs in their diet.
Vegans: They are pure vegetarians and eat no meat, fish, poultry, eggs or dairy products.

Advantages of turning vegetarian

Lower Cholesterol Vegetarian meal is typically low in saturated fat. Since Cholestrol is found only in animal products such as meat, dairy and eggs, vegans consume a cholesterol free diet. Also replacing animal protein with plant protein lowers blood cholesterol levels. Low fat, vegetarian diet has a clear advantage over other diets.

Low Blood Pressure:When patients with High blood pressure eliminate meat from their diet, the results are very favorable.

Controls Diabetes:Best dietary prescription for controlling diabetes is a diet high in complex carbohydrates which are found in plant foods and low in fat. Avoiding fat, reduces the high risk of heart disease too. Plant based diets can also help to reduce insulin needs.

Cancer Prevention: Breast cancer rates are dramatically lower in countries where diets are typically plant based. Vegetarians also have significantly less colon cancer than meat-eaters. This is so because vegetarian diet is lower in fat and higher in fiber than meat based diet. Also vegetarians consume more of plant pigment beta-carotene. This explains why they have less lung cancer also. Natural sugars in dairy products may raise the risk of ovarian cancer in women. Researchers have still not been able to explain why vegetarians have more of certain white blood cells, called natural killer cells, which are able to seek out and destroy cancer cells.

Less Kidney stones and gallstones:Vegetarians reduce their risk of having kidney stones and gallstones. They also lower the risk of osteoporosis. High intake of animal protein leads to loss of calcium from bones.

In my next article I will give you some very interesting Tips for switching to a vegetarian diet.

1 comment:

  1. I've been veg from a young age on. (lacto-ovo)
    I have no desire to eat meat and never have, so it's never really been a sacrifice...
    Most people can't believe that I've never had a hamburger or a stake in my life... :-D
    One thing I really like in India is that there are so many veg dishes and people don't look at you funny when you tell them you're veg.
    I'm learning so much from your blog, Kiran.
    I must tell you that I am a sinner when it comes to healthy eating.... I mean I try but I really love cheese cake and choc mousse and I probably eat more sweets than I should.... I am not overweight but I find that I feel better when I stay away from sugar...

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