Pros and cons of going vegetarian
Maybe you don't know what kind of vegetarian you want to be. Here is a list of common types of vegetarian diets:
Flexitarians
People who eat a mainly meat-free diet, but do eat meat occasionally.
Pollo-Vegetarians
People who eat no meat other than poultry.
Pescatarians
People who eat no meat other than fish.
Ovo-Vegetarians
People who eat no meat or milk, but do eat eggs.
Lacto-Vegetarians
People who eat no meat or eggs, but do consume milk and milk products.
Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarians
People who eat no meat, but do eat eggs and consume milk and milk products.
Vegans
People who do not eat meat, eggs, milk or any other animal products.
Pros
Good Health
Right off the top, there is the irrefutable fact that adopting a meat-free eating plan is good for certain aspects of your health. According to Registered Dietitian Noelle Martin. "Without red meat, the intake of saturated fat is lower and the risk of heart disease is reduced." Additionally, studies from The American Medical Association, The Canadian Medical Association and The American Diabetic Association found that those who ate vegetarian diets had far fewer instances of diabetes and certain cancers.
Ethical and Environmental Implications
Another influential factor on the choice to become a vegetarian is the ethical and environmental implication of consuming animals. Some people simply don't agree with killing animals for human consumption, and for some people with this viewpoint, being a vegetarian just makes sense. Some groups attribute climate change to the breeding of large numbers of livestock who pollute the air with their waste. The idea is that if less people eat meat, product demand will go down and corporate farming on such large scales will be reduced, thus saving the atmosphere from further damage.
Cons
Cost
One of the major drawbacks, and something that certainly limits some people from eating a vegetarian diet, is the added expense. A local family (who wished to remain anonymous) — comprised of a husband and wife in their late 40s, two teenaged sons and a teenaged daughter — recently converted to a vegan lifestyle. They noted that their cost of living has increased substantially. "We used to spend around $1,000 on food, and now the average is $1,800. That's per month," the wife explained. The reason behind the increase is simple: "Animal-free food is expensive. Now we spend $9 on a jar of vegan mayonnaise."
Necessity of Supplements
"People who are vegetarian need to be extra cautious about their iron, B12 and calcium levels, depending on the level of animal based products that person consumes," Martin emphasized. She warned that if they neglect this, "they will be at a high risk for nutritional deficiencies." Martin suggested multiple food choices for vegetarians to fulfill their dietary needs, such as "milk or milk alternatives, eggs, quinoa and soy."
Numerous resources are available to those interested in adopting a new eating style. For further information on the health factors of vegetarianism, visit the Canadian Medical Association, cma.ca; the American Medical Association, ama-assn.org; and the American Diabetes Association, diabetes.org.
Flexitarians
People who eat a mainly meat-free diet, but do eat meat occasionally.
Pollo-Vegetarians
People who eat no meat other than poultry.
Pescatarians
People who eat no meat other than fish.
Ovo-Vegetarians
People who eat no meat or milk, but do eat eggs.
Lacto-Vegetarians
People who eat no meat or eggs, but do consume milk and milk products.
Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarians
People who eat no meat, but do eat eggs and consume milk and milk products.
Vegans
People who do not eat meat, eggs, milk or any other animal products.
Pros
Good Health
Right off the top, there is the irrefutable fact that adopting a meat-free eating plan is good for certain aspects of your health. According to Registered Dietitian Noelle Martin. "Without red meat, the intake of saturated fat is lower and the risk of heart disease is reduced." Additionally, studies from The American Medical Association, The Canadian Medical Association and The American Diabetic Association found that those who ate vegetarian diets had far fewer instances of diabetes and certain cancers.
Ethical and Environmental Implications
Another influential factor on the choice to become a vegetarian is the ethical and environmental implication of consuming animals. Some people simply don't agree with killing animals for human consumption, and for some people with this viewpoint, being a vegetarian just makes sense. Some groups attribute climate change to the breeding of large numbers of livestock who pollute the air with their waste. The idea is that if less people eat meat, product demand will go down and corporate farming on such large scales will be reduced, thus saving the atmosphere from further damage.
Cons
Cost
One of the major drawbacks, and something that certainly limits some people from eating a vegetarian diet, is the added expense. A local family (who wished to remain anonymous) — comprised of a husband and wife in their late 40s, two teenaged sons and a teenaged daughter — recently converted to a vegan lifestyle. They noted that their cost of living has increased substantially. "We used to spend around $1,000 on food, and now the average is $1,800. That's per month," the wife explained. The reason behind the increase is simple: "Animal-free food is expensive. Now we spend $9 on a jar of vegan mayonnaise."
Necessity of Supplements
"People who are vegetarian need to be extra cautious about their iron, B12 and calcium levels, depending on the level of animal based products that person consumes," Martin emphasized. She warned that if they neglect this, "they will be at a high risk for nutritional deficiencies." Martin suggested multiple food choices for vegetarians to fulfill their dietary needs, such as "milk or milk alternatives, eggs, quinoa and soy."
Numerous resources are available to those interested in adopting a new eating style. For further information on the health factors of vegetarianism, visit the Canadian Medical Association, cma.ca; the American Medical Association, ama-assn.org; and the American Diabetes Association, diabetes.org.
