October 1 was World Vegetarian Day, and serves as the annual kick-off for Vegetarian Awareness Month. The purpose is to bring attention to the benefits of eating a plant-based diet, not only for our own health, but also for the health of our planet earth (and of course the animals!).
According to the position statement of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) published in July 2009, appropriately planned vegetarian and vegan diets are nutritionally adequate for all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, adolescence, and even for athletes. Note that the ADA defines a vegetarian diet as one that “does not include meat (including fowl) or seafood, or products containing those foods.”
What are the health benefits of a vegetarian diet? Based on the ADA’s review of evidence-based studies, a vegetarian diet is associated with a lower risk of death from ischemic heart disease. People who follow a vegetarian diet also appear to have lower blood pressure, lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (LDL, or commonly referred to as the “bad” cholesterol), and lower rates of hypertension and type 2 diabetes than non-vegetarians. Vegetarians also tend to have a lower body mass index and lower overall cancer rates. The reasons why a vegetarian diet may reduce risk of chronic disease are that these diets contain lower amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol and higher amounts of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, soy products, and fiber.
I think lowering our risk of contracting heart disease, diabetes, and cancer ought to be reason enough to go vegetarian, but if that is not enough to motivate you, what about climate change? A lot of studies have found that eating meat produces more carbon emissions that driving our cars. For the average consumer, their diet has a bigger impact on global warming than the amount of time they drive their cars. The International Vegetarian Union has many good references on their website if you are interested in this particular topic.
According to the position statement of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) published in July 2009, appropriately planned vegetarian and vegan diets are nutritionally adequate for all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, adolescence, and even for athletes. Note that the ADA defines a vegetarian diet as one that “does not include meat (including fowl) or seafood, or products containing those foods.”
What are the health benefits of a vegetarian diet? Based on the ADA’s review of evidence-based studies, a vegetarian diet is associated with a lower risk of death from ischemic heart disease. People who follow a vegetarian diet also appear to have lower blood pressure, lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (LDL, or commonly referred to as the “bad” cholesterol), and lower rates of hypertension and type 2 diabetes than non-vegetarians. Vegetarians also tend to have a lower body mass index and lower overall cancer rates. The reasons why a vegetarian diet may reduce risk of chronic disease are that these diets contain lower amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol and higher amounts of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, soy products, and fiber.
I think lowering our risk of contracting heart disease, diabetes, and cancer ought to be reason enough to go vegetarian, but if that is not enough to motivate you, what about climate change? A lot of studies have found that eating meat produces more carbon emissions that driving our cars. For the average consumer, their diet has a bigger impact on global warming than the amount of time they drive their cars. The International Vegetarian Union has many good references on their website if you are interested in this particular topic.
And if that doesn’t motivate you, what about the inhumane treatment of so many farm animals, as well as farm workers? If you have not seen Food, Inc., I highly encourage you to. It is still playing in select theaters around the country. You can also purchase the book.
Some other interesting tidbits regarding vegetarianism, and notable people from history who were vegetarians can be found at TreeHugger.com . At the top of the list is Gandhi; his birthday was October 2, so I find it quite fitting that October was chosen as the month for Vegetarian Awareness! He once said "I do feel that spiritual progress does demand at some stage that we should cease to kill our fellow creatures for the satisfaction of our bodily wants." Nice quote. Some other notable vegetarians from the past include Plato, Da Vinci, Tolstoy, and Albert Einstein! It is said that Albert Einstein did not become a vegetarian until late in life. I find it quite interesting that Einstein, who is believed my many to be one of the greatest minds to have ever lived, is quoted as saying "nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on earth as the evolution to a vegetarian diet."
For ideas on how to celebrate Vegetarian Awareness Month, visit http://www.worldvegetarianday.org/.
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