Benefits of being vegetarian?

[theresaj]

I'm not vegetarian but I am curious as to your thoughts in relations to the benefits of eating vegetarian? I'm not vegetarian yet I don't look down on it, I am just curious as to the benefits you see from it.

thanks

[5guinea5pig5]

I myself am a vegetarian and I think the extra 7(I think) years maybe for just some people. But, ever since becoming a vegetarian I've gotten in better shape and it feels good knowing you save lives by doing a simple thing.

[AnimalHouse36]

I beleive in becoming a veggie you get an added 3 years to your life span, maybe seven.

I feel so much healthier and just feel all around better about saving a life. The more I learn about animal cruelty, the bigger my hearts get. ( <--wow doesn't get much more hallmark than that!)

I think there are much more health benefits than that but I never looked into it.


Oh I just remembered one! We have like a 20% less chance of obesity!

[Seelie]

There are tons of benefits, including getting rid of that horrible guilt you get when biting into a burger.

When I was younger I had severe headaches all day, every day. As soon as I stopped eating meat they were gone. Also, I get sick maybe once a year, while my meat-eating buddies get sick dozens of times. Plus, it's much easier to stay slim and in shape!

It's very nice to see someone interested in this sort of thing! Kudos to you!

[ChelseaNoel]

I was over weight, and I still am a little bit but I have lost loads of weight since I cut out meat. Plus you have less chance of getting heart disease

[guineapigluver1]

The biggest benefit to me is knowing I'm not giving money to people who abuse animals. The second is it helps with my cholestorol. I feel healthier then I was then, too (I mean I rarely ate meat anyways, but still).

[PiggieMamaKelly]

The position statement on vegetarian diets from the American Dietetic Association:
Elsevier

Links for articles from the FDA and ADA:

FDA Consumer Reprint--More People Trying Vegetarian Diets

Going vegetarian? American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada officially say it can be healthy

Vegetarian Eating Plans Contain Health Benefits

[MCR_Rox]

This is a page from PETA's website GoVeg:

GoVeg.com // Health Issues

According to Mercy for Animal's Vegetarian Starter Kit, vegetarians have a considerably less risk for obesity, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and more. Vegetarianism also helps the environment.

According to the Humane Society of the United State's Vegetarian Starter Kit, "The American Dietetic Association, the leading nutrition authority in the United States, states that 'appropriately planned nutritionally vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegan and other types of vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence...'"

[Tserisa]

Aside from obvious health benefits everyone has commented on here, well supported by scientific evidence and studies (there are tons of sites and books and journal publications on the subject, and all of them show that vegetarianism leads to fewer health complaints and a longer life span; I can suggest books and links if you're interested) it is also much better for the environment!

Livestock farming takes far far more land than grain farming. Why? Not only do the animals need pasture, they also need their food grown for them on separate land. So that means fields of corn, grain and hay (that goes to feeding livestock instead of directly feeding humans, much less efficient). In addition, water must be used to irrigate those crops as well as water for the animals.

Livestock produces tons of waste annually, that needs to be disposed of, has been known to contaminate water supplies and food supplies with deadly bacteria, and pollutes the air and water.

In addition, livestock raising takes a lot more fossil fuels than raising plants. It also contributes to global warming! Meat-eating means a huge carbon footprint. The Nobel Prize winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports that abstaining from meat is one of the most important things a person can do to stop global warming. "Studies have shown that producing one kilo (2.2 pounds) of meat causes the emissions equivalent of 36.4 kilos of carbon dioxide. In addition, raising and transporting that slab of beef, lamb or pork requires the same amount of energy as lighting a 100-watt bulb for nearly three weeks."

Livestock produces more greenhouse gasses than all worldwide transportation combined. (Dr. Henning Steinfeld, Livestock's Long Shadow: Environmental Issues and Options, Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO] of the United Nations, Rome, 2006)

The UN also reported that meat eating is also the *main reason* for deforestation -- over 70% of the rain forest is cut down for meat production.

Here are some great videos and documents further explaining the huge impact meat production has on climate change.