The United States (as well as other Western countries) tends to have a diverse population, but it is apparent (based on the existence of the Food Pyramid) that a majority of citizens eat a varied diet that includes both animal and vegetable products. When a person chooses a meatless lifestyle, very often that person has a clear reason for becoming vegetarian. A person might choose to be vegetarian due to health reasons, environmental concerns, or for ethicial beliefs.
There are actually several types of vegetarianism:
- Vegetarian – excludes meat from one’s diet (can also be called “ovo-lacto-vegetarian”); some people who place themselves in this category will sometimes consume fish
- Lacto-vegetarian – excludes all meat products from one’s diet except for milk-based products (cheese, sour cream, yogurt)
- Ovo-vegetarian – excludes all meat products from one’s diet except for egg products
- Vegan – excludes all animal products from one’s diet; very often, vegans also refrain from wearing animal products such as leather and other derivatives
Some of the reasons one might decide to change to a plant-based eating standard are outlined below.
People Become Vegetarians for Health Reasons
Perhaps one of the most common reasons people choose a vegetarian lifestyle is for health reasons. Consider this fact: "The total direct medical costs in the United States attributable to meat consumption were estimated to be $30-60 billion a year," according to Health Benefits of Vegetarian Diets. The website also states that another benefit of a meatless way of eating is that consuming plants offers protection from cancer.
Due to the increased fiber found in most vegetarian diets, other benefits include fewer gastrointestinal problems or discomfort. The above website also states that vegetarians have fewer problems with obesity, heart disease, diabetes, food-borne illness (such as E. coli and salmonella), and strokes. Considering that-according to the Centers for Disease Control-heart disease, cancer, and stroke are the top three causes of death in America (diabetes is number six on the list), many people have good reasons for avoiding the consumption of meat.
People Become Vegetarians for Environmental Reasons
Many people worry about the impact a meat-based diet has on the environment. Considering recent concerns about climate change and global warming, it's no wonder many people look to their eating habits and decide to change.
GoVeg.com boldly states, "The most serious environmental problems of our time are all directly linked to eating meat." The website outlines the grave environmental impact a meat-based diet causes. Some vegetarians who aren't necessarily concerned about their health worry about their carbon footprint and choose a meatless diet for that reason alone.
People Become Vegetarians for Ethical Reasons
Some vegetarians-many of them vegans-choose not to eat meat for ethical reasons. These people often object to eating meat because it means that an animal had to die to feed them, and sustaining their own life by killing an animal is not a good enough reason to eat meat. Many vegans also feel that eating dairy products (including eggs) or other animal products (like honey) exploits animals and, thus, choose not to eat any animal-based foods.
Becoming a Vegetarian is a Personal Choice
Some vegetarians have chosen this lifestyle not for one but multiple reasons. Whatever the case, there is no end to the amount of information available to anyone who decides to change her eating habits.
Related articles by this author:
Environmental Reasons to Become Vegetarian
Resources:
Definitions of vegetarians and ethical reasons for becoming vegetarian: http://www.ivu.org/faq/definitions.html
Center for Disease Control Death and Mortality Statistics: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/FASTATS/deaths.htm
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