Health Benefits of Vegetarian Diet

CEBU, Philippines – The Holy Week may be a good time for some positive changes in one’s life. As it consists of a string of days without work or off the regular routine, if offers an opportunity for thinking things over for the better. And since it’s been a Lenten tradition – especially in this mainly Catholic country – to slow down on food intake during the week, diet may a good place to start.

It may be a good time to think of adopting a vegetarian diet. According to Dr. Edward Group, writing at www.globalhealingcenter.com, it can be a fantastic entry into experiencing better health. He explains that a vegetarian diet is associated with a higher consumption of fiber, folic acid, vitamins C and E, magnesium, unsaturated fat, and countless phytochemicals. This, he continues, often results in vegetarians having lower cholesterol, being thinner, having lower blood pressure, and reduced risk of heart disease.

Dr. Group enumerates the other benefits of adopting a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle.

It may improve mood. Dietary animal sources contain arachidonic acid andvegetarian diets do have this substance. This can be beneficial, as research has shown a link between arachidonic acid and mood disturbances. Researchers at Benedictine University performed a study to investigate the impact of restricting animal products and mood, and confirmed that mood improvements do happen when eating meat, fish, and poultry are restricted.

Additionally, Croatia’s Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health conducted mental health surveys amongst vegetarians and found them to have lower levels of neuroticism.

It may improve symptoms of psoriasis. Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes skin redness and irritation and can be debilitating for those who suffer from it. However, according to research published by Brazil’s Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, a vegetarian diet may positively improve symptoms.

It may reduce the incidence of diabetes. According to Loma Linda University School of Public Health, vegetarian diets are associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of diabetes. Information published by George Washington University School of Medicine has also confirmed that vegetarian diets offer an important benefit for the management of diabetes and can even reduce the likelihood of development by one half.

It reduces the risk of cataract development. Oddly enough, research released by the Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine at the University of Oxford has shown a strong relation between the risk of developing cataracts and diet; with a higher risk falling on meat eaters and the lowest risk groups being vegetarians and vegans.

It reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. According to the JCU University Skin Cancer Research Clinic, there is a relationship between a vegetarian diet and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Why? Most vegetarian diets are full of antioxidant-rich foods. Antioxidants are molecules that can reduce the damage caused by oxidative stress, including atherosclerosis.

Vegetarians usually have low cholesterol. There’s no health benefit, at all, to eating animal fat. It should come as no surprise that when you remove it from your diet, you will also remove the detrimental effects it has on your health life. After examining the long term effects of following a vegetarian diet, Korean researchers very comfortably concluded that body fat and cholesterol levels were lower in vegetarians than in omnivores.

It makes for less risk of stroke and obesity. There are always exceptions but, in general, vegetarians and vegans tend to be much more deliberate in their food choices and far less likely to binge eat or choose foods based on emotions – the two habits that greatly contribute to obesity. According to the University Hospital Ghent Department of Pediatrics in Belgium, following a vegetarian diet is a good way to reduce your chance at having a stroke or being obese.

It makes for less chance of developing kidney stones.New York University Langone Medical Center reports that eliminating animal protein consumption in favor of vegetables will result in a higher urine pH; while low urine pH has been associated with stone formation.

It can satisfy all your nutritional requirements.If you think vegetarians and vegans are nutritionally deficient or always hungry, think again! The official position of The American Dietetic Association is that a comprehensive and well-designed vegetarian, or vegan, diet can be nutritionally sound and appropriate for all ages and stages of life, including infants, the elderly, and even athletes. Good health, reduced incidence of disease, and better management of existing health problems are all associated with following a vegetarian diet.

Those good points about vegetarianism pointed out by Dr. Group certainly warrants serious consideration. Luckily, the Holy Week affords a good time for that.