The diet of a vegetarian or a vegan seems to be one that sparks interesting discussions and heated debates. Do vegetarians have a healthy diet? Are they actually helping save the environment? Is it inhumane to consume meat or dairy products? Why go veggie?

There are three main classifications of a vegetarian: vegans, lacto-vegetarians and lacto-ovovegetarians. Vegans exclude all animal products from their diets. Lacto-vegetarians exclude all meat products and eggs. Lacto-ovo-vegetarians only exclude meat products.

There are many different reasons vegetarians have for not consuming animal products: personal health issues, compassion for animals, food preferences and religious beliefs are just a few. Before adopting a vegetarian diet, be sure you fully understand your personal reasons behind the choice.

What about the health risks associated with cutting out animal products from your regular diet? It is true that some vegetarians may experience lower nutritional intakes than Health Canada recommends. Without the proper nutrient supplements or calorie intake, the diet of a vegetarian can become dangerous. Vitamin B-12, vitamin D, protein, iron and calcium supplements are recommended for vegetarians. Each of these five needs can be found in plant-based foods as well as in meat products.

There are also benefits of a vegetarian diet. If planned correctly, a veggie diet is typically low in fat and high in fibre. The American Dietetic Association suggests that vegetarians are at a lower risk for heart disease, diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure.

It is also argued that vegetarians believe their diet is eco-friendly. A report from a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) found that livestock production was responsible for 18 per cent of greenhouse gas pollution. However, the same report said that the industry's potential to solve environmental issues is equally large. The report suggested that there is no way to prove, without a doubt, that vegetarianism is ecofriendly, but there is also no way to disprove it.

Vegetarianism is a controversial topic for many reasons, one of them being the debate of whether or not raising and killing livestock is humane. Is it right to consume animal products? The answer to that is solely a personal belief and will vary among everyone. However, because livestock animals are not protected by anticruelty laws in North America, most vegetarians believe that all commercially- raised livestock are treated poorly.

Dr. Neal Barnard, an American doctor who is also the Founder and President of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, said that both vegetarians and meat-eaters should make an effort to buy organically raised or grown products. He said he believes that organic farming is cleaner, more efficient and healthier for humans and the animals. Organic products consist of more nutrients and are free from pesticide and hormone residues, making it healthier to consume.

It is important to understand the facts and reasoning before choosing a vegetarian diet or before debating the ethics of it.

Talk to a health care professional for more information on vegetarianism.