The diet we choose affects all aspects of our health and affects our environment. People from different backgrounds and cultures have opted for vegetarianism, and the diet is fast becoming mainstream. In fact, some suggest that the question should no longer be, "Why are you vegetarian or vegan? But why not?"
Research has linked a vegetarian diet to longevity. "According to a Loma Linda University study, vegetarians live about seven years longer and vegans about fifteen years longer than meat eaters" (The Compassionate Diet).
A vegetarian or vegan diet, as long as it consists of nutritious whole foods, has a significant impact on health. Choosing foods that do not contain animal products is not enough to ensure good health. After all, some of the best-selling cookies are vegan! Fruits and vegetables are always a better choice to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Choosing a vegetarian diet not only protects our health, but also helps the environment. In our quest to feed the 8 billion people on our planet, we must protect our water supplies, air quality and the interconnectedness of life.
Vegetarian food
Frequently asked questions about the reasons for choosing a whole food, plant-based diet:
Is it true that vegetarianism could help mitigate global warming?
If current dietary habits and trends continue, by 2050 we will experience a 51% increase in current levels of environmental indicators such as greenhouse gas emissions, CO2, rising temperatures and the increased carbon footprint associated with food production.
These factors are based on current trends in world population growth and the fact that as populations become wealthier, people tend to eat more meat. Between now and 2050, a global shift to a diet that relies much less on meat and much more on vegetables, fruits and other plant-based foods could cut food-related greenhouse gas emissions by two-thirds.
What are the health benefits of vegetarianism?
According to Harvard Medical School, “plant-based diets are recognized not only as nutritionally adequate, but also as a way to reduce the risk of many chronic diseases.” (Harvard Health, December 4, 2017). In one of the largest studies, which combined data from five studies involving more than 76,000 participants, vegetarians were 25% less likely to die from heart disease. Research has also suggested that a mostly plant-based diet could reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by 50%.
Eating a vegetarian diet is definitely healthier than eating a standard American diet. Plant foods are low in saturated fat and high in essential vitamins and minerals needed for optimal health. Many studies have also shown that a plant-based diet can reduce the likelihood of cancer and Alzheimer's disease, as well as reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
How does becoming a vegetarian support mental and emotional health?
A vegetarian diet has a calming effect and improves mental and emotional health. Two studies published in the Nutrition Journal (2010 and 2012) reported that after 2 weeks, people who regularly ate meat or chicken daily experienced better mood and less stress after switching to a vegetarian diet.
One study published in the Nutrition Journal looked at the mental health and mood of vegetarians and meat eaters. This study found that vegetarian participants had healthier mood profiles and were less likely to report depression than participants who ate meat.
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