Food is safe as long as it is balanced. The ideal is to understand what are the pros and cons of taking on a vegetarian diet. Given the control that Western societies are encouraging with the exaggerated intake of saturated fats, red meat and chemicals and their consequences (high blood pressure, cholesterol and diseases such as diabetes and some cancers, associated with the indiscriminate use of these products) is gaining momentum among some people the other extreme: radical or strict vegetarianism.
This way of eating is traditionally associated with Eastern cultures, protection of animal life and apparently refers to a spiritual attitude toward life and health. Although it is true that in some ways is much more advisable to increase consumption of fruits, grains, legumes, vegetables, etc.. and reduce (and in some cases eliminating) meat and its derivatives, being vegetarian also requires certain specifications as to stop using products such as milk, eggs or meat can cause other health problems.
According to some experts, the benefits of a vegetarian diet are: promote longevity, promote the reduction of body mass, decrease the incidence of coronary heart disease and high cholesterol levels, diabetes and certain cancers. On the other hand, a vegetarian should replace protein in animal flesh with vitamin supplements, under medical supervision. Also, stop using products ovo-dairy, vegan are at higher risk for osteoporosis and psychological disorders such as anxiety, depression, among others.
In conclusion, there is nothing better for a healthy diet to find the best possible balance between proteins that provide animal food and vitamins contained in the plant, without any abuse or delete them completely.
Advantages and disadvantages of being vegetarian
Advantages:
1. The low-fat diets, prevent heart disease. He has discovered the relationship between animal foods and cardiovascular diseases.
2. Polyunsaturated vegetable fats tend to lower blood pressure, while animal fats raises.
3. Excess refined salt is the cause of hypertension, lack of trace elements, metabolic problems, organic weakness, decreased immune system, brain hemorrhage, stroke, kidney failure … much less harmful is unrefined sea salt.
4. The vegetarian diet contains lots of fiber which facilitates the expulsion of food waste and toxins are removed, thereby preventing colon cancer. In addition, some vegetables, like broccoli, brucella, cauliflower or garlic, contain anti-cancer foods.
5. The diet mainly based on cereals, vegetables and fruits, helps control diabetes.
6. According to the results of research conducted by Canadian researchers and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Eat Stop Eat people with high cholesterol may benefit from the effects of low-fat vegetarian diet rich in fiber. In addition, foods such as soy, eggplant, okra, almonds, plant sterol margarine and barley, can be as effective as statins, drugs used by patients with cholesterol. Therefore, it would be an alternative dietary medicine prescribed to control this disease.
7. The pastas and cereals contain lots of carbohydrates and are a good source of energy, highly recommended for athletes and bodybuilders to strengthen muscles and increase endurance. In addition, all without excess fat or calories.
8. A vegetarian diet varied and well balanced, providing the necessary levels of nutrients the body needs. Fruits, vegetables and grains contain vitamins, amino acids and minerals your body needs.
9. Vegetarian food is often cheaper than the rest.
10. In addition to being lightweight and good for digestive health, if you put a dull imagination. It is possible to achieve a varied and tasty diet thanks to the scent of aromatic herbs, use fresh fruits and vegetables, pasta and rice seasoned a tasty and light, or rich and imaginative salads.
Disadvantages
1. Tryptophan is a component of proteins responsible for feeding the brain cells, which can be found in milk, meat and egg. So vegans may suffer delayed physical and intellectual development.
2. Vegans do not consume enough vitamin B12. Therefore, children who are fed under the scheme may suffer developmental delays and malnutrition.
3. Our bodies need complete proteins to function properly. Vitamins are complete animals, but plants do not. Therefore, it should combine all the vegetables for the supply of protein is sufficient.
Why be vegetarian?
The reasons for being a vegetarian can vary as much as people. Basically, although the reasons for not eating corpses are many, perhaps the most common physical type (or similar medical problems) and ethical (solidarity with the world around us, respect for animal rights). He has published much about it. But perhaps you, if you’re not a vegetarian yet, what most posters are the following facts (physical):
To consume fiber, you should consume plant foods. Fibers and prevent certain tumors are extremely important to promote the process of digestion, especially at the end of it.
Animal fats and protein are one of the great problems of our century. Excess protein prevents calcium absorption, for example, while animal fat consumption favors the appearance of cholesterol and coronary heart disease (among many other equally important)
Vegetarian cuisine offers a wide variety of combinations, it is much lighter, prevent disease and is more environmentally friendly.
A vegetarian diet offers a wide variety of antioxidants, phytonutrients, etc.. impossible to achieve in other ways. These nutrients are not essential for life but a decisive contribution to our health and wellbeing.
ethical reasons:
¿Would cut a leg to eat your dog? Why would seem right to do the same with a pig, then? Violence against any living creature is unnecessary and avoidable.
Is a “rare ethical” walk against deforestation, the flow of oil, the destruction of the ozone layer, nuclear energy, a thousand other manifestations related to ecology we put on our plate while cutting animals dead who have been crowded, beaten, branded, hormones, killed and dismembered for our enjoyment course (not need).
Finally, there are also reasons:
Produce a single kilo of meat involves using a piece of land that used in the production of plants, would produce far more food and higher quality. Huge tracts of the Amazon are plundered daily for livestock for human consumption. Would not that imply that we load the most important lung of the planet?
Produce that same kilo of meat involves the expenditure of hundreds of gallons of water, at a time in which the water is one of the most prized assets, given the increasingly frequent shortages of liquid element.
A cow consumes about ten kilos of grain and forage to produce a kilo of meat. A pig, six. One chicken, three. This means that eating vegetables needed to feed these animals, may keep many people in a world where 500 million people suffer from chronic hunger.
Almost 40% of the world grain harvest is destined for animal feed. Is not it painful?