Many people believe that being vegetarian is bad for you but it’s actually quite the opposite. Evidence found by scientist suggest that a vegetarian diet can reduce the risk of diabetes,obesity, heart disease, and even certain types of cancer. Katie Marsh from Northside Nutrition & Dietetics in Sydney Australia and Jennie Brand-Miller a Molecular and Microbial Biosciencetist Write in there article,”Vegetarian diets are typically lower in fat, particularly saturated fat, and higher in dietary fiber. They are also likely to include more whole grains, legumes, nuts, and soy protein, which together provide micro-nutrients and protective factors at higher levels than most Western diets”(Marsh Brand-Miller 1). They explain that because of these protective factors eating a healthy vegetarian diet can reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes or reduce complications with existing diabetes. This has been very true in my family. My uncle suffers from diabetes and was having a lot of complications with it. He was also becoming over weight. His doctor suggested he ate a vegetarian diet for awhile. After just two months of eating vegetarian he had lost 13 pounds and his diabetes was more under control. Not only did it help his diabetes and weight but also his cholesterol!
Another benefit from eating vegetarian is the reduces risk of cardiovascular disease and obesity. These two play hand in hand since a major cause of cardiovascular disease is obesity. Obesity can not only be a problem for you but also your blood pressure, heart health, and it can put you at risk of diabetes. Not only have scientist found that vegetarians have a lesser risk for diabetes and CVD but they also tend to have a better blood pressure and cholesterol further decreasing their risks for heart complications. “Studies found that vegetarians have a 32% lower risk or coronary heart disease than non-vegitarians”(Marsh Brand-Miller 139).
In these times people are most fearful of the big C. Cancer, and being vegetarian could help lower your risks of colon cancer. “The World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research second report on diet and physical activity as causes of cancer found meat consumption to be the only convincing dietary association with colon cancer” (Mann 526). Although it is not a guarantee that you will not get colon cancer from eating vegetarian it helps reduce your risk. “A total of 1,660,290 new cancer cases and 580,350 deaths from cancer are projected to occur in the US in 2013” (Simon 1). I not only enjoy eating a vegetarian diet but it makes me happy that it has so many health benefits.
Overall I believe that all people at all ages can benefit from eating a healthy vegetarian diet.
Rajaram, S., and J. Sabaté. “Health Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet.” Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) 16.7-8 (2000): 531-3. Print.
“Vegetarian Diets and Diabetes.” American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine 5.2 (2011): 135-43. Print.
Mann, Jim. “Vegetarian Diets.” BMJ: British Medical Journal 339.7720 (2009): 525-6. Print.
Simon, Stacy. “Facts and Figures Report: Declines in Cancer Deaths Reach Milestone.”Facts and Figures Report: Declines in Cancer Deaths Reach Milestone. American Cancer Society, 17 Jan. 2013. Web. 12 May 2013.
Vegetarianism 