The Benefits of Vegetarianism
Based on data collected in 2012, 2% (1.2 million) of adults and children in the UK reported that they were vegetarian. A 2011 survey suggested that 6% of individuals ate fish but no meat, and there is research that predicts huge rises in both vegetarianism and 'flexitarianism' in the next few years. The 'meat-free' and 'free-from' market was valued at £949 million in 2012. In other words, vegetarianism is a big deal, and it's only going to get bigger.
But why are so many people turning toward vegetarian and reduced-meat diets?
Health Benefits
The core reason behind this shift is the health benefits of a lifestyle that includes less meat.
A 2013 study with almost 450,000 participants between 35-69 years of age (at the start of the study) found that those who ate more than 160g of processed meat a day (about two sausages and a slice of bacon) were 44% more likely to die in the next 13 years than those who ate only 20g of meat. On the other side of the pond, it is estimated that vegetarians add about 13 healthy years to their lives compared to those eating a standard American diet.
Cutting meat out of your diet hugely reduces your chance of getting cardiovascular diseases and cancer. The increased vegetable intake for vegetarians and 'flexitarians' provides them with more fibre and antioxidant-rich foods while removing animal fat and significantly reducing cholesterol.
Weight Loss
Cutting down on meat on your plate also helps cut down on fat round your waist. A study conducted from 1986 to 1992 found that following a low-fat, vegetarian diet helped overweight people lose an average of 24 pounds in one year. The best part about the study? Most of those who lost weight had kept the weight off 5 years later, showing that vegetarianism can be part of a sustainable push toward a healthier lifestyle. Going veggie also helps you build strong bones, avoid toxic chemicals, have more energy and even eases the symptoms of menopause.
Other Benefits
Beyond the physical benefits, vegetarians find that they have more money, as meat is extremely expensive considering its nutritional and caloric value. Vegetarianism also significantly reduces pollution and helps the environment. Trees have to be cut down and grain has to be grown to feed cattle and other animals that end up being eaten – it is much more efficient, and much more environmentally friendly, to just eat the food that comes out of the ground. Fewer cattle also means less methane, which is a significant contributor to global warming.
Vegetarians don't have to deal with the guilt of killing animals, and they get to have a colourful plate full of healthy, delicious food. It's so easy to be vegetarian now and it is much more culturally accepted in the UK than in the past. If you want to cut down on meat or remove meat from your diet, there's literally nothing stopping you.
But why are so many people turning toward vegetarian and reduced-meat diets?
Health Benefits
The core reason behind this shift is the health benefits of a lifestyle that includes less meat.
A 2013 study with almost 450,000 participants between 35-69 years of age (at the start of the study) found that those who ate more than 160g of processed meat a day (about two sausages and a slice of bacon) were 44% more likely to die in the next 13 years than those who ate only 20g of meat. On the other side of the pond, it is estimated that vegetarians add about 13 healthy years to their lives compared to those eating a standard American diet.
Cutting meat out of your diet hugely reduces your chance of getting cardiovascular diseases and cancer. The increased vegetable intake for vegetarians and 'flexitarians' provides them with more fibre and antioxidant-rich foods while removing animal fat and significantly reducing cholesterol.
Weight Loss
Cutting down on meat on your plate also helps cut down on fat round your waist. A study conducted from 1986 to 1992 found that following a low-fat, vegetarian diet helped overweight people lose an average of 24 pounds in one year. The best part about the study? Most of those who lost weight had kept the weight off 5 years later, showing that vegetarianism can be part of a sustainable push toward a healthier lifestyle. Going veggie also helps you build strong bones, avoid toxic chemicals, have more energy and even eases the symptoms of menopause.
Other Benefits
Beyond the physical benefits, vegetarians find that they have more money, as meat is extremely expensive considering its nutritional and caloric value. Vegetarianism also significantly reduces pollution and helps the environment. Trees have to be cut down and grain has to be grown to feed cattle and other animals that end up being eaten – it is much more efficient, and much more environmentally friendly, to just eat the food that comes out of the ground. Fewer cattle also means less methane, which is a significant contributor to global warming.
Vegetarians don't have to deal with the guilt of killing animals, and they get to have a colourful plate full of healthy, delicious food. It's so easy to be vegetarian now and it is much more culturally accepted in the UK than in the past. If you want to cut down on meat or remove meat from your diet, there's literally nothing stopping you.
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