You rely on nutrition information to help you achieve your health goals Here are 20 top myths about nutrition that can help you weed out the good information from the bad.
1. All fats are bad.
Unsaturated fats like Omega-3s found in fish and monounsaturated fats found in olive oil, canola oil, nuts and avocados all aid in good health. Saturated fats from animal products and and trans-fats, partially hydrogenated oils, are the ones that should be used sparingly.
2. Eggs are bad.
It's true that eggs have cholesterol and fat, but there is no evidence that the cholesterol in eggs raises bad cholesterol in blood and the fat in eggs is unsaturated.
3. Avoid carbohydrates.
The recent popularity of the Atkins and South Beach diets have given carbs a bad name. In reality complex carbohydrates found in whole grains and some vegetables are necessary requirements. They provide the body with energy and lots of nutrients.
4. Eat fat free or low fat foods and you won't gain weight.
A calorie is a calorie whether it's full of fat or not.
5. Never eat after 8pm.
Again, a calorie is a calorie no matter what time of day it's eaten, but remember the later you eat the less time you have to burn off those calories consumed.
6. Weight loss products and diet supplements labeled "natural" or "herbal" are safe.
Not necessarily. Little or no testing is done on these products. Many herbs can react with medications that are being taken for legitimate reasons. Check with a doctor before taking these products.
7. Fresh produce is always better than frozen or canned.
Not always. If produce is frozen or canned immediately, the product can retain a lot of its vitamins and minerals. Fresh produce, if left in the air or sun too long, can loose some.
8. Becoming a vegetarian will help you loose weight.
Only if you make healthy vegetarian choices. Candy and chips are still allowed on a vegetarian diet.
9. Honey is a better choice than sugar.
Honey and sugar are almost chemically indistinguishable.
10. Brown sugar is better nutritionally than white sugar.
Brown sugar is white sugar with added molasses. It's no better than plain white sugar.
11. Sugar can cause diabetes.
If you do not have diabetes, the amount of sugar you intake will not cause you to contract it. However, being overweight and inactive can lead to diabetes.
12. Skipping meals can help you loose weight.
When a body is hungry it goes into starvation mode and the metabolism slows down, lowering the rate at which it burns calories.
13. Dairy products cause mucus.
This has recently been proven false. It's no longer necessary to avoid milk or cheese when you have a cold.
14. Always avoid fast food restaurants.
Many fast food restaurants offer a limited amount of healthy options such as salads with low fat dressings and fruit. They are fine occasionally if you're in a hurry. Because even fast food is better than no food at all.
15. Snacking makes you fat.
If you eat healthy snacks, they can actually help control your appetite. You'll be less likely to binge on cookies and more likely to eat moderately at meals.
16. Caffeine is an appetite stimulant.
There is no evidence that shows that caffeine stimulates the appetite.
17. Diet drinks will help you loose weight.
Without lowering the calories you consume and increasing your activity, diet drinks alone will do nothing. In fact the aspertame and artificial sweetners in diet drinks are more harmful than the sugar in non-diet sodas
18. 0 grams of trans-fat in a product means it's trans-fat free.
If you look at the ingredients and see partially hydrogenated oil, it still contains trans-fat, just not enough to be counted.
19. Foods like celery and grapefruit burn calories.
There is no food that burns calories.
20. You should never eat cookies, candy or cake.
Everyone needs a treat once in a while.
Source: Free Articles
Friday, June 19, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Is Vegetarianism Right For You
Do you ever feel like you know just enough about Vegetarianism to be dangerous? Let's see if we can fill in some of the gaps with the latest info from Vegetarian experts.
Vegetarian diets are lower in fats, cholesterol, and animal protein and higher in fiber than diets containing animal protein. Because of this vegetarians have a reduced risk of obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, to name just a few.
However it is not just the way vegetarians eat that impacts their health so positively it is also their lifestyle. Most vegetarians don't smoke for example.
Just because someone is vegetarian does not mean they are healthy. This is because some vegetarians cut out eating animal meat and continue eating a lot of junk food. Because they don't satisfy their hunger with plenty of protein and fiber they often have cravings and overindulgences with high-sugar, high-fat, and empty calories.
To be sure you are keeping yourself healthy as you change over to being a vegetarian you should read articles like this on a regular basis.
For protein use soya beans because they are an exceptionally good source of protein. For instance in the dried form they contain about 40% protein, which is about double the amount of protein in other types of beans.
Take some of the mystery out of becoming a vegetarian by changing the ingredients in some of your favorite recipes. For instance you can leave out the meatballs from your spaghetti recipe. This will enable you to begin being a vegetarian without a lot of research and shopping in the beginning.
After you have found the time, look inside the supermarket for vegetarian products, ingredients, and meals. In this step it is important to stay flexible. Try different vegetarian items twice if you don't like them the first time. For example: if you have tried a veggie burger and you did not like it, try it again only this time prepare it differently. So if you microwaved your veggie burger and did not like it then the next time grill it.
Another tip is to be patient with yourself. If you discover you are having cravings for say that big juicy hamburger, then give yourself more time to let go. The longer you had eaten animal meat the more used to it you are, and the more it may bother you to give it up. Well don't despair! Just keep going and be patient and before you know it all your cravings will be gone. Go now and enjoy!
If you base what you do on inaccurate information, you might be unpleasantly surprised by the consequences. Make sure you get the whole Vegetarian story from informed sources.
The day will come when you can use something you read about here to have a beneficial impact. Then you'll be glad you took the time to learn more about Vegetarian.
Source: Free Articles
Vegetarian diets are lower in fats, cholesterol, and animal protein and higher in fiber than diets containing animal protein. Because of this vegetarians have a reduced risk of obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, to name just a few.
However it is not just the way vegetarians eat that impacts their health so positively it is also their lifestyle. Most vegetarians don't smoke for example.
Just because someone is vegetarian does not mean they are healthy. This is because some vegetarians cut out eating animal meat and continue eating a lot of junk food. Because they don't satisfy their hunger with plenty of protein and fiber they often have cravings and overindulgences with high-sugar, high-fat, and empty calories.
To be sure you are keeping yourself healthy as you change over to being a vegetarian you should read articles like this on a regular basis.
For protein use soya beans because they are an exceptionally good source of protein. For instance in the dried form they contain about 40% protein, which is about double the amount of protein in other types of beans.
Take some of the mystery out of becoming a vegetarian by changing the ingredients in some of your favorite recipes. For instance you can leave out the meatballs from your spaghetti recipe. This will enable you to begin being a vegetarian without a lot of research and shopping in the beginning.
After you have found the time, look inside the supermarket for vegetarian products, ingredients, and meals. In this step it is important to stay flexible. Try different vegetarian items twice if you don't like them the first time. For example: if you have tried a veggie burger and you did not like it, try it again only this time prepare it differently. So if you microwaved your veggie burger and did not like it then the next time grill it.
Another tip is to be patient with yourself. If you discover you are having cravings for say that big juicy hamburger, then give yourself more time to let go. The longer you had eaten animal meat the more used to it you are, and the more it may bother you to give it up. Well don't despair! Just keep going and be patient and before you know it all your cravings will be gone. Go now and enjoy!
If you base what you do on inaccurate information, you might be unpleasantly surprised by the consequences. Make sure you get the whole Vegetarian story from informed sources.
The day will come when you can use something you read about here to have a beneficial impact. Then you'll be glad you took the time to learn more about Vegetarian.
Source: Free Articles
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Vegetarianism: Ideas for Adding some Variety to your Vegetarian Lifestyle
Vegetarianism: Ideas for Adding some Variety to your Vegetarian Lifestyle Food Articles May 11, 2008
Variety is the spice of life, and it will help ensure your vegetarian diet is nutrient-dense, interesting, and fun! Aim for variety, even when you serve favorite entrees over and over again, by serving different side dishes, snacks and desserts.
When you’re planning a healthy vegetarian diet, you’re only limited by your imagination. It’s important to incorporate a wide variety of whole grains, legumes, vegetables and fruits in different meals, including seeds and nuts.
Be creative in planning meals. Boost your consumption of beans and vegetables by eating these foods at lunch time rather than just for dinner. Make it a goal to serve a vegetable every day for lunch and two for dinner. Plan a meal around a vegetable. A baked potato can be a hearty entree; serve it with baked beans, a sauce of stewed tomatoes or a few tablespoons of salsa. Or make a simple meal of sautéed vegetables and pasta. Try new foods often. Experiment with a variety of grains such as quinoa, couscous, bulgur, barley, and wheat berries. Try fruits and vegetables that are popular in different international cuisines, such as bok choy. Accentuate the positive. Focus more on healthy foods that fit into a vegetarian plan instead of foods to avoid.
If you’re unsure how to include a new food into your vegetarian diet, ask the produce manager at your local grocer or health food store for ideas on how to prepare it. The internet can be a great resource for new recipe and preparation ideas. But be sure that you’re building your menu on a strong plant food base. Make them the core of your diet. Don’t stress about getting enough protein. As long as calories are sufficient and the diet is varied, vegetarians easily meet protein needs. Grains, beans, vegetables, and nuts all provide protein. Vegetarians do not need to eat special combinations of foods to meet protein needs. However, it is important to be aware of fat. Even vegetarians can get too much fat if the diet contains large amounts of nuts, oils, processed foods, or sweets.
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Get all your delicious vegetarian recipes here! Here at eBooksilverfish, we provide all the Best eBooks at the best possible prices we can afford to, 24/7! In other words, you save more $$ and time, as you don't have to search elsewhere on the internet for similar eBooks! We do all the work for you!
Variety is the spice of life, and it will help ensure your vegetarian diet is nutrient-dense, interesting, and fun! Aim for variety, even when you serve favorite entrees over and over again, by serving different side dishes, snacks and desserts.
When you’re planning a healthy vegetarian diet, you’re only limited by your imagination. It’s important to incorporate a wide variety of whole grains, legumes, vegetables and fruits in different meals, including seeds and nuts.
Be creative in planning meals. Boost your consumption of beans and vegetables by eating these foods at lunch time rather than just for dinner. Make it a goal to serve a vegetable every day for lunch and two for dinner. Plan a meal around a vegetable. A baked potato can be a hearty entree; serve it with baked beans, a sauce of stewed tomatoes or a few tablespoons of salsa. Or make a simple meal of sautéed vegetables and pasta. Try new foods often. Experiment with a variety of grains such as quinoa, couscous, bulgur, barley, and wheat berries. Try fruits and vegetables that are popular in different international cuisines, such as bok choy. Accentuate the positive. Focus more on healthy foods that fit into a vegetarian plan instead of foods to avoid.
If you’re unsure how to include a new food into your vegetarian diet, ask the produce manager at your local grocer or health food store for ideas on how to prepare it. The internet can be a great resource for new recipe and preparation ideas. But be sure that you’re building your menu on a strong plant food base. Make them the core of your diet. Don’t stress about getting enough protein. As long as calories are sufficient and the diet is varied, vegetarians easily meet protein needs. Grains, beans, vegetables, and nuts all provide protein. Vegetarians do not need to eat special combinations of foods to meet protein needs. However, it is important to be aware of fat. Even vegetarians can get too much fat if the diet contains large amounts of nuts, oils, processed foods, or sweets.
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Get all your delicious vegetarian recipes here! Here at eBooksilverfish, we provide all the Best eBooks at the best possible prices we can afford to, 24/7! In other words, you save more $$ and time, as you don't have to search elsewhere on the internet for similar eBooks! We do all the work for you!
Vegetarianism Guide to Types of Vegetarians
Vegetarianism Guide to Types of Vegetarians Food Articles August 20, 2007
This guide will introduce you to the different types and variations of vegetarianism
Usually, when you think of vegetarians, you think of people who avoid eating any type of animal flesh including beef, pork, lamb, poultry, fish, etc. There are several types and variations to vegetarianism. While many of the vegetarians are lacto ovo vegetarians who will everything but any kind of meat, some others will avoid eating eggs and dairy products and others will say no to beef, pork and poultry but will include fish and other seafood in their diet.
1) Lacto Ovo Vegetarians:The most common type of vegetarians is the lacto ovo vegetarians. Lacto is the Latin word for milk and ovo means eggs in Latin. The lacto ovo vegetarian do not eat any kind of meat including beef, pork, poultry, fish, shellfish, etc. However, they will eat dairy products and eggs.
The lacto ovo vegetarian category is divided into two categories:a) A Lacto Vegetarian does not eat meat and eggs but does eat dairy foods.b) An Ovo Vegetarian does not eat meat and dairy products but does eat eggs.
2) Pescatarias:The pescatarian or pescetarian are vegetarians who avoid eating meat but will continue eating fish and shellfish. The rationales behind the pescatarian diet are varied. Many choose this lifestyle for health concerns rather than ethical reasons. While others would claim that the fish industry is less cruel than the meat industry. Others will simply justify their decision by arguing that fish are less intelligent than farm animals.
Dedicated vegetarians would put the pescatarian under the category of semi vegetarians. In the same category you can find the pollo vegetarians who will include poultry in their diet, the flexitarianism who will avoid eating meat that derived from an animal that was brought up and died in cruel conditions. The flexitarianism are similar to the freeganism that would not mind eating any type of meat unless any part of its process involved environmental damage or human or animals exploitation.
3) Vegans:They do not consume any product that was derived from animals including, of course, any kind of meat, fish, dairy products, eggs as well as honey and foods that contain gelatin. Some vegans would not touch cane sugar, beer and wine since animal products involve in the finishing process: cane sugar is filtered with bone char and some beer and wines are clarified with egg white. As part of the vegan ideology, vegans would not consume products made of leather, furs, pearls, etc.
4) Raw Vegans:Also called raw foodists limit themselves to unprocessed food that has not been heated above 115 degrees Fahrenheit or 46 degrees Celsius. Therefore, their diet mainly consists of raw vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. However, some of the raw foodists do consist raw food that was derived from animals in their diet including raw eggs, unheated dairy products and sushi.
5) Macrobiotics:The macrobiotic diet is part of the macrobiotic methodology that was originated in Japan. The macrobiotics practitioners follow strict diet rules based on the principle of balance between yin and yang. The macrobiotic diet is based on whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and soy products. They are allowed to include seaweed and certain types of fish in their diet.
Article Tags: Avoid Eating, Beef Pork, Dairy Products, Derived From
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A vegetarian since he was 14, Jack Reider also writes articles on http://www.gambling-portal.com">online casino play including how to play http://www.gambling-portal.com/blackjack.html">blackjack> and other card games
This guide will introduce you to the different types and variations of vegetarianism
Usually, when you think of vegetarians, you think of people who avoid eating any type of animal flesh including beef, pork, lamb, poultry, fish, etc. There are several types and variations to vegetarianism. While many of the vegetarians are lacto ovo vegetarians who will everything but any kind of meat, some others will avoid eating eggs and dairy products and others will say no to beef, pork and poultry but will include fish and other seafood in their diet.
1) Lacto Ovo Vegetarians:The most common type of vegetarians is the lacto ovo vegetarians. Lacto is the Latin word for milk and ovo means eggs in Latin. The lacto ovo vegetarian do not eat any kind of meat including beef, pork, poultry, fish, shellfish, etc. However, they will eat dairy products and eggs.
The lacto ovo vegetarian category is divided into two categories:a) A Lacto Vegetarian does not eat meat and eggs but does eat dairy foods.b) An Ovo Vegetarian does not eat meat and dairy products but does eat eggs.
2) Pescatarias:The pescatarian or pescetarian are vegetarians who avoid eating meat but will continue eating fish and shellfish. The rationales behind the pescatarian diet are varied. Many choose this lifestyle for health concerns rather than ethical reasons. While others would claim that the fish industry is less cruel than the meat industry. Others will simply justify their decision by arguing that fish are less intelligent than farm animals.
Dedicated vegetarians would put the pescatarian under the category of semi vegetarians. In the same category you can find the pollo vegetarians who will include poultry in their diet, the flexitarianism who will avoid eating meat that derived from an animal that was brought up and died in cruel conditions. The flexitarianism are similar to the freeganism that would not mind eating any type of meat unless any part of its process involved environmental damage or human or animals exploitation.
3) Vegans:They do not consume any product that was derived from animals including, of course, any kind of meat, fish, dairy products, eggs as well as honey and foods that contain gelatin. Some vegans would not touch cane sugar, beer and wine since animal products involve in the finishing process: cane sugar is filtered with bone char and some beer and wines are clarified with egg white. As part of the vegan ideology, vegans would not consume products made of leather, furs, pearls, etc.
4) Raw Vegans:Also called raw foodists limit themselves to unprocessed food that has not been heated above 115 degrees Fahrenheit or 46 degrees Celsius. Therefore, their diet mainly consists of raw vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. However, some of the raw foodists do consist raw food that was derived from animals in their diet including raw eggs, unheated dairy products and sushi.
5) Macrobiotics:The macrobiotic diet is part of the macrobiotic methodology that was originated in Japan. The macrobiotics practitioners follow strict diet rules based on the principle of balance between yin and yang. The macrobiotic diet is based on whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and soy products. They are allowed to include seaweed and certain types of fish in their diet.
Article Tags: Avoid Eating, Beef Pork, Dairy Products, Derived From
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A vegetarian since he was 14, Jack Reider also writes articles on http://www.gambling-portal.com">online casino play including how to play http://www.gambling-portal.com/blackjack.html">blackjack> and other card games
5 Whys To switch to Vegetarianism
Vegetarians: 5 Whys To switch to vegetarianism
Food Articles April 14, 2008
If you’ve eaten meat and animal products your whole life, you might think, why switch to a vegetarian diet? You’ve lived your whole life eating eggs, hamburgers, hot dogs, poultry, so why switch now?
There could be many reasons to switch. Start by looking in the mirror. Are you at a healthy weight? Do you look and feel good most of the time? Do you wake up energized? Or do you wake up tired and sluggish?
How is your general health? Is your blood pressure within a healthy range? Are your cholesterol and blood sugar ranges normal? If they’re not, consider what you’re eating on a daily basis.
How do you feel after eating? Do you feel energized, as if you’ve fed your body what it needs? Or are you tired and dragged out? Do you often need a nap after eating? Is that what food is supposed to do for us, make us tired and sleepy?
Not really. Food should nourish and feed the body and leave us energized and refreshed. The human body is a machine and needs fuel that keeps it running in peak condition. When we’re fat, with high blood pressure, Type II diabetes, high cholesterol and other unhealthy conditions, it’s like a car engine that hasn’t been tuned or isn’t running on the optimal type of gasoline it needs to run efficiently.
Your body is the same way. It needs the right kind of fuel to run at peak efficiency, and when you’re eating high-fat meat, or meat that’s been fed antibiotics throughout its life, that’s simply not the kind of fuel the human body evolved to run on.
Try eating vegetarian for a week or a month. See if you don’t feel different, more mentally acute and more physically fit and energized. At least reverse the portion sizes you’ve been eating, and make meat more of a side dish, if you can’t stop eating meat altogether. Even that change can make a big difference in your overall health and well-being.
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
Food Articles April 14, 2008
If you’ve eaten meat and animal products your whole life, you might think, why switch to a vegetarian diet? You’ve lived your whole life eating eggs, hamburgers, hot dogs, poultry, so why switch now?
There could be many reasons to switch. Start by looking in the mirror. Are you at a healthy weight? Do you look and feel good most of the time? Do you wake up energized? Or do you wake up tired and sluggish?
How is your general health? Is your blood pressure within a healthy range? Are your cholesterol and blood sugar ranges normal? If they’re not, consider what you’re eating on a daily basis.
How do you feel after eating? Do you feel energized, as if you’ve fed your body what it needs? Or are you tired and dragged out? Do you often need a nap after eating? Is that what food is supposed to do for us, make us tired and sleepy?
Not really. Food should nourish and feed the body and leave us energized and refreshed. The human body is a machine and needs fuel that keeps it running in peak condition. When we’re fat, with high blood pressure, Type II diabetes, high cholesterol and other unhealthy conditions, it’s like a car engine that hasn’t been tuned or isn’t running on the optimal type of gasoline it needs to run efficiently.
Your body is the same way. It needs the right kind of fuel to run at peak efficiency, and when you’re eating high-fat meat, or meat that’s been fed antibiotics throughout its life, that’s simply not the kind of fuel the human body evolved to run on.
Try eating vegetarian for a week or a month. See if you don’t feel different, more mentally acute and more physically fit and energized. At least reverse the portion sizes you’ve been eating, and make meat more of a side dish, if you can’t stop eating meat altogether. Even that change can make a big difference in your overall health and well-being.
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
Benefits to Vegetarianism
Benefits to Vegetarianism
Fitness Articles October 21, 2007
Many people think of vegetarians as one homogeneous group that just doesn't eat meat. But nothing could be further from the truth. There are different categories of vegetarians as diverse as the reasons for going vegetarian in the first place.
If you have ever been interested in becoming a vegetarian, you might also want to know about all of the benefits. You might be surprised at how beneficial a vegetarian diet can be. A vegetarian is someone who does not eat meat, poultry or fish. A vegetarian’s diet consists of a lot of grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables. Most vegetarians eat dairy products, eggs, and hidden animal products, while others are stricter and do not eat any animal products.
The American Dietetic Association has placed vegetarians into three separate categories: vegan, lacto vegetarians, and lacto-ovo vegetarians. A vegan is a very strict vegetarian that does not eat any animal products including meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, and even honey.
Vegans use soy products as an alternative for not eating any dairy. Vegans also do not wear any animal products such as leather or wool. A lacto vegetarian will not eat any meat, poultry, fish, or eggs, but they will eat dairy products. A lacto-ovo vegetarian will not eat any meat, poultry, or fish. However, they will eat eggs and dairy products. Most vegetarians find themselves a part of this category.
The American Dietetic Association says that vegetarians are at a significantly lower risk for obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and even high blood pressure. A correct vegetarian diet is low in fat but high in fiber. Like any other diet it could be potentially harmful if it is not planned out right, such as eating fried food and snacks that are high in fat. Five main groups that a vegetarian needs to pay attention to in order to meet their energy needs are protein, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B-12 and iron.
A lot of people become vegetarians for numerous reasons, such as spiritual beliefs, animal rights, health, environment and food preference. Another major reason that people become vegetarians is because of the sex hormones injected into the animals. Farmers usually make their cattle bigger by giving them testosterone surrogates, the same thing that is illegal for athletes to consume. They also give the animals estrogen to shut down the reproductive system and that way it encourages more meat building. These hormones can trigger early puberty in girls and puts women at higher risk for breast cancer.
Also, poultry and pig farmers use arsenic as a growth stimulant; even though it is illegal the government just wants the farmers to stop five days before slaughtering the animal. This way the animal only contains the legal limit of arsenic. Though several studies show that most farmers do not follow this and 16% of the animals are above the legal arsenic level.
If you are interested in becoming a vegetarian it is important to remember that it is a personal decision that only you can make. You should have a planned diet prepared going into it, or it could be harmful for your health. However, when used properly, a vegetarian diet can reduce a lot of health risks and there are a variety of other benefits as well.
Article Tags: Vegetarian Diet, Animal Products, Meat, Poultry,
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Check out the latest in vegetarianism at: http://www.veganandvegetarian.com Vegan And Vegetarian.
Fitness Articles October 21, 2007
Many people think of vegetarians as one homogeneous group that just doesn't eat meat. But nothing could be further from the truth. There are different categories of vegetarians as diverse as the reasons for going vegetarian in the first place.
If you have ever been interested in becoming a vegetarian, you might also want to know about all of the benefits. You might be surprised at how beneficial a vegetarian diet can be. A vegetarian is someone who does not eat meat, poultry or fish. A vegetarian’s diet consists of a lot of grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables. Most vegetarians eat dairy products, eggs, and hidden animal products, while others are stricter and do not eat any animal products.
The American Dietetic Association has placed vegetarians into three separate categories: vegan, lacto vegetarians, and lacto-ovo vegetarians. A vegan is a very strict vegetarian that does not eat any animal products including meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, and even honey.
Vegans use soy products as an alternative for not eating any dairy. Vegans also do not wear any animal products such as leather or wool. A lacto vegetarian will not eat any meat, poultry, fish, or eggs, but they will eat dairy products. A lacto-ovo vegetarian will not eat any meat, poultry, or fish. However, they will eat eggs and dairy products. Most vegetarians find themselves a part of this category.
The American Dietetic Association says that vegetarians are at a significantly lower risk for obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and even high blood pressure. A correct vegetarian diet is low in fat but high in fiber. Like any other diet it could be potentially harmful if it is not planned out right, such as eating fried food and snacks that are high in fat. Five main groups that a vegetarian needs to pay attention to in order to meet their energy needs are protein, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B-12 and iron.
A lot of people become vegetarians for numerous reasons, such as spiritual beliefs, animal rights, health, environment and food preference. Another major reason that people become vegetarians is because of the sex hormones injected into the animals. Farmers usually make their cattle bigger by giving them testosterone surrogates, the same thing that is illegal for athletes to consume. They also give the animals estrogen to shut down the reproductive system and that way it encourages more meat building. These hormones can trigger early puberty in girls and puts women at higher risk for breast cancer.
Also, poultry and pig farmers use arsenic as a growth stimulant; even though it is illegal the government just wants the farmers to stop five days before slaughtering the animal. This way the animal only contains the legal limit of arsenic. Though several studies show that most farmers do not follow this and 16% of the animals are above the legal arsenic level.
If you are interested in becoming a vegetarian it is important to remember that it is a personal decision that only you can make. You should have a planned diet prepared going into it, or it could be harmful for your health. However, when used properly, a vegetarian diet can reduce a lot of health risks and there are a variety of other benefits as well.
Article Tags: Vegetarian Diet, Animal Products, Meat, Poultry,
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Check out the latest in vegetarianism at: http://www.veganandvegetarian.com Vegan And Vegetarian.
Switching to be a Vegetarian
There could be many reasons to switch. Start by looking in the mirror. Are you at a healthy weight? Do you look and feel good most of the time? Do you wake up energized? Or do you wake up tired and sluggish?
How is your general health? Is your blood pressure within a healthy range? Are your cholesterol and blood sugar ranges normal? If they’re not, consider what you’re eating on a daily basis.
How do you feel after eating? Do you feel energized, as if you’ve fed your body what it needs? Or are you tired and dragged out? Do you often need a nap after eating? Is that what food is supposed to do for us, make us tired and sleepy?
Not really. Food should nourish and feed the body and leave us energized and refreshed. The human body is a machine and needs fuel that keeps it running in peak condition. When we’re fat, with high blood pressure, Type II diabetes, high cholesterol and other unhealthy conditions, it’s like a car engine that hasn’t been tuned or isn’t running on the optimal type of gasoline it needs to run efficiently.
Your body is the same way. It needs the right kind of fuel to run at peak efficiency, and when you’re eating high-fat meat, or meat that’s been fed antibiotics throughout its life, that’s simply not the kind of fuel the human body evolved to run on.
Try eating vegetarian for a week or a month. See if you don’t feel different, more mentally acute and more physically fit and energized. At least reverse the portion sizes you’ve been eating, and make meat more of a side dish, if you can’t stop eating meat altogether. Even that change can make a big difference in your overall health and well-being.
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
How is your general health? Is your blood pressure within a healthy range? Are your cholesterol and blood sugar ranges normal? If they’re not, consider what you’re eating on a daily basis.
How do you feel after eating? Do you feel energized, as if you’ve fed your body what it needs? Or are you tired and dragged out? Do you often need a nap after eating? Is that what food is supposed to do for us, make us tired and sleepy?
Not really. Food should nourish and feed the body and leave us energized and refreshed. The human body is a machine and needs fuel that keeps it running in peak condition. When we’re fat, with high blood pressure, Type II diabetes, high cholesterol and other unhealthy conditions, it’s like a car engine that hasn’t been tuned or isn’t running on the optimal type of gasoline it needs to run efficiently.
Your body is the same way. It needs the right kind of fuel to run at peak efficiency, and when you’re eating high-fat meat, or meat that’s been fed antibiotics throughout its life, that’s simply not the kind of fuel the human body evolved to run on.
Try eating vegetarian for a week or a month. See if you don’t feel different, more mentally acute and more physically fit and energized. At least reverse the portion sizes you’ve been eating, and make meat more of a side dish, if you can’t stop eating meat altogether. Even that change can make a big difference in your overall health and well-being.
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
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