The Benefits of Vegetarianism

Vegetarianism Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat. It is a lifestyle that is adopted for various reasons. Vegetarianism is also a very broad topic, and it addresses broad issues such as mental and physical health, ethics, spiritual and emotional health, and the environment. Whether it be for ethical reasons such as animal rights, religious beliefs, or other reasons, one of the most common motivations to adapting a vegetarian lifestyle is in the health benefits it offers. It has also been proven in one university study that vegetarians scored higher on exams than meat eaters. Many people find that refraining from eating meat promotes many health benefits, such as prevention against heart disease, a lower body mass index, and less incidence of Alzheimer’s disease. Heart disease has become a common killer, claiming the lives of about 50% of Americans. Adopting a vegetarian lifestyle helps to prevent this danger. Researchers have found a correlation between those who eat meat and an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome, which is a precursor to heart disease. A 2008 study in Germany showed that vegetarian men and women actually had a longer lifespan than those who ate a carnivorous diet, which is shock-full of cholesterol. Since cholesterol is found only in animal products, such as meat, dairy, and so on, plant foods are virtually cholesterol-free. The strongest and most effective cholesterol-lowering agents are soluble fiber, unsaturated fats, and phytochemicals, which are all found almost solely in plant foods. Lowering the risk of heart disease through vegetarianism is definitely a large benefit of the animal-friendly lifestyle, prolonging the life of those who adopt it. Body mass index is another big benefit of vegetarianism. With obesity on the rise all over the world, but especially in the United States, people are searching for more and more ways to keep their weight at a minimum. Vegetarianism can help one achieve this goal, with a recent study comparing people’s eating habits both before and after vegetarianism. The study results showed a change in the participants’ waist and hip measurements, as well as skin fold measurements of body fat. Although their weight did not change a great deal, they became noticeably leaner. Unfortunately, research has also proven that meat eaters have a higher body mass index than their vegetable-eating opposites, putting them the closest to the possibility of being overweight. Another great benefit of vegetarianism is the lower incidence of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s has been shown to be one of the many diseases related to the consumption of meat. According to the American Alzheimer’s Association, “…between 6 and 8% of the population over 60 has Alzheimer’s disease, and the rate has been increasing steadily”. A study conducted in 1993 found that people who ate meat, including fish and poultry, were over 50% more prone to becoming demented than vegetarians, paired with depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia. Whether it is one’s goal to lower their risk of stroke or heart disease, to lose weight and maintain a lower body mass index, or to avoid the threat of dementia, coupled with depression and anxiety, vegetarianism is definitely one of the safest routes to take when it comes to one’s health and well being. In the words of Albert Einstein, “Nothing will benefit human health or increase chances for survival of life on earth as the evolution to a vegetarian diet. It is my view that the vegetarian manner of living, by its purely physical effect on the human temperament, would most beneficially influence the lot of mankind.” Vegetarianism is a lifestyle that should be adopted by those looking for optimal health benefits, whether they are looking to improve pre-vegetarian health conditions, enhance already-ideal health, or avoid future health hazards they may bring about by the excessive consumption of animal products.