Reasons For Selecting A Vegetarian Diet

People become vegetarians for a variety of reasons. Each individual has their own reason for choosing a vegetarian lifestyle. Not all vegetarians follow the same diet plan. Lacto vegetarians include dairy products in their daily diet. Lacto-ovo vegetarians eat dairy foods and eggs. Pesco-vegetarians eat fish and polo-vegetarians eat poultry and wild game. Total vegetarians eat only plant products and vegans eliminate all animal products from their life, including foods and wearing materials like leather and wool.

Better Health

A large number of people adopt a vegetarian lifestyle because they wish to maintain good health and reduce their chances of developing diseases. The American Diatetic Association states that a vegetarian diet may lower blood pressure and help control obesity. Following a vegetarian diet may increase longevity and reduces the possibility of contracting foodborne diseases such as salmonella and listeria. Vegetarians are less prone to certain types of cancer and type 2 diabetes. The high fiber content found in a vegetarian diet helps the body eliminate waste and aids in the prevention of constipation, spastic colon and hemorrhoids. Following a vegetarian diet strengthens your bones, boosts your immunity and increases stamina and strength.

Environmental Concerns

One reason you may choose to follow a vegetarian diet is to reduce pollution and conserve the natural resources of our planet. Animal waste is not processed through a sewage system and often ends up in our rivers. The manure poisons the water and harms the fish in the rivers. Our air is polluted by pesticides and exhaust from the farm equipment that is used to provide feed for farm animals. Livestock release methane gas, which is partially responsible for the greenhouse effect. Following a vegetarian diet helps stop desertification that occurs due to cattle overgrazing on land. Overgrazed land can not absorb water which causes topsoil to be washed away during heavy rains. Crops require six inches of top soil to grow; it takes approximately 3,000 years for nature to produce six inches of top soil.

Compassion for Animals

Compassion and love for animals is a reason that you may decide to become a vegetarian. The demand for food increases as the population of the planet grows which, in some instances, leads to the mistreatment of animals. They are raised in overcrowded conditions, are subjected to terror, misery and suffering and must endure traumatic experiences before their death. There are laws and regulations in place to ensure a "humane slaughter," but in the haste to make a profit, these laws are not always followed and the animal suffers a cruel and painful death. A large number of food animals die each year in on their way to slaughter due to lack of water and food. Those who adopt a vegetarian lifestyle may feel that animals have rights too, that they deserve to be treated kindly and humanely and should live their lives without fear and pain.