Leading health experts agree that
going vegetarian is the
single best thing we can do for ourselves and our families. A meat-free
diet
rich in complex carbohydrates, protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals
provides
optimal nutrition for both children and adults, forming the foundation
for
dietary habits that support a lifetime of good health. Leading medical
organizations, including the American Dietetic Association, agree that
balanced
plant-based diets are healthy.1 Vegetarian foods provide us
with all
the nutrients we need, minus the saturated fat, cholesterol, and
contaminants
found in meat and dairy products.
A plant-based diet has long-term
benefits, too. It protects us against some of
the leading killers in modern society. Research has shown that
vegetarians are
50 percent less likely to develop heart disease, and they have 40
percent of
the cancer rate of meat-eaters.3,4 Plus, meat-eaters are
nine times
more likely to be obese than vegans are.5
The consumption of meat and dairy products has been conclusively linked
with
heart disease, obesity, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's,
asthma,
and impotence. Scientists have also found that vegetarians have
stronger immune
systems than their meat-eating friends; this means that they are less
susceptible to everyday illnesses like the flu.7 Vegetarians
and
vegans live, on average, six to 10 years longer than meat-eaters.8
A plant-based diet is the best diet for kids, too: Studies have shown
that vegetarian
kids grow taller and have higher IQs than their classmates, and they
are at a
reduced risk for heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and other diseases
in the
long run.10,11 Studies have shown that even older people who
switch
to a vegetarian or vegan diet can prevent and even reverse many chronic
ailments.
It's never too late to turn over a new leaf—you can take control of
your health
today by going vegetarian.
