A vegetarian is “a person who does not eat or does not believe in eating meat, fish, fowl, or, in some cases, any food derived from animals, as eggs or cheese, but subsists on vegetables, fruits, nuts, grain, etc”. Vegetarianism is growing tremendously all over the world. Famous men and women who advocate this lifestyle attract many others to follow them.

Vegetarianism could be traced as far back as thousands of years ago. This term was first used in 1847. There are several versions of the history of vegetarianism, depending on the culture of the place. There are some places that consider this lifestyle as a way of or a choice that someone makes in life. Other cultures would look at it as something that is unusual or even peculiar.

As vegetarianism evolved through time, it has already created its own place especially in the world of diet and nutrition. Today vegetarians are classified into four types: (1) lacto-ovo vegetarian, one who eats dairy and egg products, but does not eat meat; (2) ovo vegetarian, one who eats eggs but does not eat meat, fish, fowl or dairy products; (3) lacto vegetarian, one who eats dairy products, but does not eat meat, fish, fowl or eggs; and (4) vegan, one who neither eats nor uses animal products.

The real reason or reasons why people become vegetarian are not clear, but some of these are health, ecological and religious concerns, dislike of meat, compassion for animals, belief in non-violence, and economics.

There are advantages if being a vegetarian.  The first and foremost advantage is lesser chances of developing heart diseases. Instead of animal protein, vegetarians eat more nuts. These nuts contain fats such as omega-3 and omega-6 which are considered “good”. By unclogging arteries and reducing “bad” cholesterol, eating plenty of nuts as part of a vegetarian diet promotes good health for the heart.

Promoting good skin health is another advantage of being vegetarian. Fresh fruits and vegetables are a major portion of vegetarian diet. It is already proven that these foods contain essential vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamins A and E which are directly related to good skin health. Also, getting rid of toxic materials is not a problem. Fruits and vegetables have lots of fiber that aids in proper digestion and elimination of wastes and toxins in the body. Without the opportunity for toxins to “overstay”, better skin health is assured.

The third advantage of being vegetarian is that it helps prevent cancer. By eating vegetarian diet that is composed mostly of foods that contain antioxidants like vitamins C and E, free radicals are destroyed thereby promoting healthy skin.

However, some disadvantages have to be noted. The major disadvantage is that without proper diet plan, a vegetarian runs the risk of not getting enough protein, and some other vitamins and minerals. There are some places that may have very limited or no options for vegetarians. When it comes to shopping, a vegetarian would waste plenty of time moving around in order to find foods that are not animal-based.

Among the famous names who are vegetarians include musician Paul McCartney, cereal maker John Harvey Kellogg, and actresses Drew Barrymore and Kim Basinger.

By: Kaung | ChitChat247.com | KMKBlog.com

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