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10 Benefits of a vegetarian diet 

I’ll be the first to admit; I haven’t always understood vegetarians. I mean, do they really have to eat so many salads? And how are we supposed to go out for Cheesesteaks after work? Relax and live a little, am I right? But as I’ve grown older (and wiser), I’ve come to recognize the 10 million benefits of a vegetarian diet.

To clarify, I’m not talking about your vegetarian coworker whose diet consists of French fries and cheese pizzas. Don’t get me wrong, Frenchfrytarians will definitely reap the financial, ethical, and environmental benefits of a vegetarian diet.

But the vegetarians who will reap all of the benefits listed below are those whose diets consist of healthy, whole grain foods and loads of fruits and vegetables. Their diets are typically lower in saturated fat and higher in fiber, complex carbohydrates, and vitamins C and E., And that adds up to loads of health benefits!

HEALTH BENEFITS OF A VEGETARIAN DIET

  • Lower risk of type 2 diabetes. One study found that the vegetarians’ risk of developing diabetes was half that of nonvegetarians. And that was even after taking body mass index (BMI) into account! Other studies have confirmed that the more meat people consume, the higher their risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
  • Lower cholesterol. Studies have also found that a vegetarian diet helps lower both total and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. In fact, one study found their tested vegetarian diet lowered cholesterol almost as well as the medication!
  • Lower blood pressure. According to Harvard Health Publishing, “Compared with meat-eaters, vegetarians tend to consume less saturated fat and cholesterol and more vitamins C and E, dietary fiber, folic acid, potassium, magnesium, and phytochemicals (plant chemicals), such as carotenoids and flavonoids.” Not only do these nutrients improve your cholesterol, but they also help to lower blood pressure!
  • Lower risk of heart disease. Reducing your cardiovascular risk factors, like cholesterol and blood pressure, will decrease your risk for heart disease and heart attacks. A study of over 76,000 participants also found that vegetarians were 25% less likely to die from heart disease.
  • Lower risk of developing certain cancers. Hundreds of studies have connected fruit-and-veggie-heavy diets with a reduced risk of developing certain cancers. However, these results may be less about going meatless and more about eating the recommended minimum of five daily servings of fruits and vegetables, which is much easier to accomplish on a vegetarian diet. It’s difficult to say for sure!
  • Lower risk of obesity. A study of 38,000 participants found that vegans, vegetarians, and fish eaters enjoyed lower BMI than meat-eaters. Other studies have shown that vegetarians gain less weight than meat-eaters over a five-year period.
  • Longer life. A vegetarian diet lends itself to lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and lower BMI, all of which decrease your risk for many chronic diseases and increase longevity (lifespan).

FINANCIAL BENEFITS OF A VEGETARIAN DIET

  • Saving money because meat is expensive! Research suggests that the average vegetarian spends at least $750 less on food per year than the average nonvegetarian. Sub in beans, lentils, or vegetarian proteins for meat just a few meals per week and watch the savings stack up.

ETHICAL BENEFITS OF A VEGETARIAN DIET

  • Avoid ethical conflict. If you’ve recently watched a documentary like Food, Inc., you could be concerned about animal welfare, the use of antibiotics and hormones in livestock, and more. A vegetarian diet provides a fantastic means of very practically supporting your beliefs!

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF A VEGETARIAN DIET

  • Save the environment. Producing vegetarian food is much more economically sustainable than producing meat. It avoids excessive use of environmental resources and reduces damage to the environment. If you’ve been a Planeteer since the 90s (“The power is yours!”), then you know that an earth-friendly diet is a win-win!

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