Has all the recent attention on vegetarianism got you wondering what it's all about? It seems like it is more than just a way of eating, doesn't it?  Environmental, religious and economical issues all play a part in why some choose to be a vegetarian. Curious about the whole idea and way of life?  Or, are you considering becoming a vegetarian? There are many factors to consider before jumping right in, so if you are serious about becoming a vegetarian, whatever your reason(s), learn as much as you can before you do.  First, learn about the different types of vegetarians, there's sure to be one that fits into your lifestyle:^{1, 2, 5, 6}

• Vegetarian: diet does not include animal flesh of any kind
• Lacto-ovo vegetarian: diet includes dairy products and eggs
• Lacto vegetarian: diet includes dairy products, but no eggs
• Semi-Vegetarian: diet excludes red meat and pork products, but includes poultry or fish
• Flexitarian: diet is mostly vegetarian with occasional meat consumption
• Vegan: diet avoids consumption of animal products (no dairy, eggs, or honey), use of leather, wool and other animal products, and cosmetics and house-hold products tested on animals, or that include animal ingredients or by-products
• Raw/Living Foodist: eat only raw foods, heated to no more than 116^O F
• Fruitarian: diet includes only fruit, fruit-like vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers), and occasionally seeds and nuts
• Macrobiotic: diet includes most whole grains and beans, is usually spiritually and seasonally based (local, seasonal foods are frequently the center of this diet)

Why Become A Vegetarian?
For some, becoming a vegetarian is a personal, moral or ethical choice, for a variety of reasons (see below).  For others, it's all about health.  Whatever your reason, there are numerous benefits - the choice is yours!

• Religious
  Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Jainism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam are all religions that lean toward a vegetarian lifestyle.
  

• Environmental
  Many vegetarians believe that meat and/or animal products manufacturers are environmentally unsustainable, and that many, if not all, components of meat production have a negative affect on water and land, and contribute to global warming.

  *Some vegetarians argue that the American consumption of beef may be contributing to global warming, by the large amounts of fossil fuels used in its production.  The South American rainforest is being cleared to support America's beef consumption, as the United States yearly imports 300 million lbs of meat from central and South American.  The production of meat has been estimated as causing up to 85% of the loss of topsoil of America's farmlands.5

   

• Economic
  Many vegetarians consider the meat industry economically unsound, and usually a vegetarian diet is less expensive than one that includes frequent meat consumption.
  

• World Hunger
  Did you know it is estimated that 1.3 billion people could be fed with the amount of grain that America uses to feed livestock? And one acre of land can grow approximately 40,000 lbs of potatoes or 250 lbs of beef, and it takes 50,000 gallons of water to produce 1 lb of California beef, but only 25 gallons of water to produce 1 lb of wheat.  Half of all water used in America is for livestock consumption.⁵
• Ethical &/or Animal Rights
• Aesthetic & Emotional
• Social or Cultural

• Health &/or Weight Loss
  
  Did you know…^{4, 5, 6}
  
  

  The American Cancer Society has found that people whose diet consists of large amounts of red meat are at an increased risk of colorectal cancer

   

   

  • Colorectal cancer is the 3rd leading cause of death in both men and women
  • Diets high in fat, particularly saturated fats, have been linked to an increased risk for certain cancers (especially colon and prostate)
  • Heart disease, cancer and diabetes, which cause 68% of all deaths in America, are believed to be influenced by the traditional 'American diet' (typically high in animal fats and unhealthy saturated and hydrogenated fats, low in fiber and plant-based foods, and high in processed foods)
  • Increased fruit and vegetable consumption has been linked to lower risk of numerous cancers, including:  lung, mouth, esophagus, stomach and colon

  • In 1997, the Vegetarian Resource Group conducted a poll that showed 13 million, or 5% of Americans identified themselves as vegetarians

     

Benefits of Living the Vegetarian Lifestyle

Countless benefits have been reported for those who chose the live a vegetarian lifestyle. So many that, the vegetarian way of life has been recommended to many individuals to lessen the risk of several common ailments, including:

• Heart disease
• High cholesterol
• Type 2 diabetes
• Stroke

Also, vegetarianism has been recommended to help combat obesity, osteoporosis, arthritis, allergies, asthma, environmental illness, hypertension, gout, gallstones, hemorrhoids, kidney stones, ulcers, colitis, premenstrual syndrome, anxiety, and depression.  Vegetarians often report higher energy levels, better digestion and mental clarity.⁵

The American Cancer Society recommends choosing most of the foods you eat from plant sources and limiting your intake of high-fat foods, particularly from animal sources.  By doing so you may be able to ward off common ailments associated with high fat diets:

• Reduce the risk of heart disease
• Dramatically lower cancer rates and the risk of cancer
• Avoid obesity
• Lower cholesterol and blood pressure
• Strengthen immunity
• Lesser chance of developing diabetes

Worried about getting adequate nutrition? Don't be. All the nutrients your body needs can be found in foods other than meat and/or dairy:

• Protein
  Legumes: beans and nuts
  Grains: rice, corn, whole wheat breads and pastas
• Calcium
  Broccoli, kale, collard greens and fortified juices
• Iron
  Chickpeas (garbanzo beans), spinach and pinto beans
• Vitamin B12
  Fortified foods or supplements

NOTE:

• Vegetarians who choose to consume dairy and/or eggs, should be aware of cholesterol and saturated fat levels.
• Before making any lifestyle changes, be informed and get educated. 
• Arise & Shine recommends a vegetarian lifestyle continuously, but especially while cleansing, because when your diet is right, cleansing is easier.