Why does people become vegetarians

A study conducted from to by Dean Ornish, MD, president and director of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, California, found that overweight people who followed a low-fat, vegetarian diet lost an average of 24 pounds in the first year and kept off that weight 5 years later. They lost the weight without counting calories or carbs and without measuring portions or feeling hungry. If you switch from the standard American diet to a vegetarian, health-focused diet, you can add about 13 healthy years to your life, says Michael F.

Animal products clog your arteries, zap your energy, and slow down your immune system. Meat eaters also experience accelerated cognitive and sexual dysfunction at a younger age. Residents of Okinawa, Japan, have the longest life expectancy of any group in Japan and likely the longest life expectancy of anyone in the world, according to a year study of more than Okinawan centenarians.

Their secret: a low-calorie diet of unrefined complex carbohydrates, fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, and soy. The metabolic result is that our skeletons will become porous and lose strength over time. Foods also supply other nutrients such as phosphorus, magnesium and vitamin D that are necessary for the body to absorb and use calcium.

People who are mildly lactose-intolerant can often enjoy small amounts of dairy products such as yogurt, cheese, and lactose-free milk. But if you avoid dairy altogether, you can still get a healthful dose of calcium from dry beans, tofu, soy milk, and dark green vegetables such as broccoli, kale, collards, and turnip greens.

The CDC reports that food-borne illnesses of all kinds account for 76 million illnesses a year, resulting in , hospitalizations and 5, deaths in the United States. According to the US Food and Drug Administration FDA , foods rich in protein such as meat, poultry, fish and seafood are frequently involved in food-borne illness outbreaks.

People usually begin this process for one of the three reasons mentioned, but they are clearly contributing to all three, sometimes without thinking about it. The consequences of a vegetarian diet are more positive than negative, although it is often difficult because of the context in which we develop. When it is decided to live in consciousness, it is a little more complex than living in ignorance or importculism, as they say, because we begin to question actions and habits that were deeply rooted in us since we were little and that society itself is continually emphasizing.

Sometimes it can feel like swimming against the tide, however, if the reasons for the decision are very clear and strong for each person who makes the decision, this change of life will be simple. This reaffirms the premise that such actions serve a greater purpose, taking into account that it is not just to stop eating meat, it is a stir of life completely that will impact your inner and outer world.

Saturday, 13 November Home Opinion - Editorial Columnists. It's not just stop eating meat, it's a stir of life that will impact your inner and outer world. Also read: January was the warmest month in history Finally, there is the fact of going beyond our own body, reflecting on the whole process that comes with bringing a plate of meat to the table.

Source: UC Davis. Search for:. Science Health Culture Environment. Share this Article. You are free to share this article under the Attribution 4.

Eating plants over protein may cut heart disease risk. Lacto-ovo vegetarians also get protein from eggs and dairy products. B12 is an essential vitamin found in animal products, including eggs and dairy.

Fortified milk alternatives, fortified breakfast cereals, and nutritional yeast also have this important vitamin. It's hard for vegans to get enough vitamin B12 so you may need a B12 supplement. Besides vitamins and minerals, vegetarians need to keep an eye on calories and fat. Vegetarian diets tend to be high in fiber and low in fat and calories. That may be good for people who need to lose weight or lower their cholesterol, but it can be a problem for kids and teens who are still growing.

High-fiber diets tend to be more filling, so some vegetarians may feel full before they've eaten enough calories to keep a healthy weight. Some vegetarians may not get enough healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fats are good for heart health and are found in fish and eggs. Plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids include some vegetable oils such as soybean, canola, and flaxseed , chia seeds, ground flax seeds, and walnuts.

Let your doctor know if you eat a vegetarian diet or are planning to. Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size.