Why Veggie is best

I have been a total veggie for a good number of years now. I say ‘total’ because many ‘vegetarians’ eat fish and chicken. They are NOT vegetarian – a fish eater can be called a ‘pescatarian’ but those who eat chicken are ‘carnivores’!

Veggies can be classed as lacto-ovo vegetarian: those who eat dairy and egg products and vegans who don’t eat any animal products at all.

I am a lacto-ovo vegetarian because I don’t have any moral or health problem with eating honey, butter or eggs whereas a ‘true’ Vegan generally has moral objections to eating anything that is from an animal source.

Having studied vegetarianism extensively for one of my diplomas I can confidently say that this way of eating is the healthiest way and this is why:

Health Reasons

• According to the American Dietetic Association (ADA), a veggie diet offers perfect protection against diseases because of lower saturated fat, cholesterol and animal protein intake, but higher intake of folic acid, antioxidant vitamins and plant nutrients.


• You are less likely to suffer strokes caused by coronary artery disease


• Recent research suggests that dementia [Alzheimer’s] may be linked to a BSE-like ‘prion’ found in some red meat


• You are likely to have lower rates of obesity, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, bowel disorders, cancers, gallstones


• Heart disease is the No. 1 killer – but with this diet you have ½ - ¾ the risk of dying from heart disease compared to non-vegetarians


• Cancer rates are up to 50% less than non-veggies


• You are much less likely to develop diabetes than non-veggies


• The incidence of high blood pressure is as much as 50% less than for non-veggies


• It is never too late - this diet can successfully stop and reverse severe coronary artery disease


• Longer life – you are likely to live longer and suffer less from chronic diseases


• Bug free – 95% of incidences of food poisoning comes from meat and animal products


• There is a much lower incidence of caesarean section births

Nutritional Reasons

• Cholesterol – a vegatarian diet can reduce cholesterol levels [linked to heart disease] as fruit and vegetables contain no cholesterol


• Iron – there is no evidence to support the myth that vegetarians suffer a higher incidence of anaemia than meat eaters


• The US Government reports that vegetarians have excellent health and that protein is not a limiting factor


• The ADA reports that zinc levels are normal for this diet


• Antioxidants that destroy ‘free radicals’ and protect against more than 60 diseases are found mostly in fruit and vegetables, whereas cooked meat contains many free radicals

Environmental Reasons

• Stock grazing is the major cause of deserts spreading each year by an area the size of England and Scotland


• Rain forests are being felled to graze cattle for hamburgers. Going vegan saves 1 acre of forest each year


• The UN reports that 17 of the world’s major fisheries are on the point of environmental collapse because of over-fishing


• Growing 1 lb of veg used 25 gallons of water, whereas growing 1 lb beef uses 5,214 gallons


• More than 90% of all British agricultural land is used to feed animals. If Britain went vegetarian, less than half the farmland would be needed


• 1 billion gallons of 200 chemical based pesticides are used every year in Britain – 50 of these are suspected of causing cancer


• Farm animals are the second highest cause of global warming from the methane produced by flatulence and belching

If you would like to consider a change in lifestyle and/or want to save the planet through the diet you choose, then please contact me using the form below. I will be pleased to help.

	Web www.anglesey-today.com