Vegetarian vs Meat-based Diets

      I want you to do something for me..... Yes, right now. Take a minute and think about the words 'vegetarian diet'. What comes to mind? Probably lettuce and carrots, right?

      If you answered Yes, you've been misinformed somewhere along the line, or you just have the wrong idea.

      Vegetarian diets are full of flavour, essential nutriants and everything else needed to maintain a healthy body. Dishes can also be very fun to make!! When done properly, a vegetarian or vegan diet can be more healthy than a diet including meat. Before you laugh at me for saying that, continue to read on for some proven facts:

• Vegetarians and vegans have 1/3 to 1/2 the cancer risk of omnivores.*

• Being able to control your weight is a natural outcome of a low-fat vegan diet.*

• An American male meat-eater has a 50% chance of dying of a heart attack, compared to virtually no chance for a pure vegetarian (vegan).**

• The incidence of high blood pressure is generally greater among meat-eaters than among vegetarians. Cancer of the breast, colon and prostate are most common among people on a high-meat, high-fat, low-fiber diet.**

• If you eat fish for 'health reasons', you may want to re-think that decision: The flesh of fish can accumulate toxins up to 9 millions times as concentrated as those in the waters that they live in.**

• Shrimps and scallops have more cholesterol than beef.**

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 325,000 people get sick and some die every year in the U.S. from eating contaminated fish and other sea animals.**

• Raising farm animals for food products is taking its toll on the planet. Overgrazed land leads to topsoil erosion, demand for beef has led to clearing of rainforests for grazing land. Feces and urine spill from animal factories and pollute fresh water supplies for humans and wildlife. Animal food items are produced at the expense of the environment.***

• For every pound of meat produced, the slaughtered animal consumed up to 16 pounds of grain. When millions of people die of famine each year, it's apparent that meat is a poor choice for humanity because producing meat is inefficient compared to feeding grain directly to people.***

• In a recent test, there was found to be more bacteria on a piece of store-bought chicken than there was in a used public restroom.

      The above facts are just a small sampling of reasons why a vegetarian lifestyle really is better!

      For more helpful information, please go to my Suggested Reading page.