Summary: Lately more and more people have been jumping on the vegetarian bandwagon and for good reason! There are plenty of benefits to going veggie, but there are also some very common concerns. We’ll explore the pros and cons of a vegetarian diet and provide some helpful tips for those who want to give it a try.<br> [divider]<br> Going Vegetarian – Podcast Transcript<br> Hi and welcome to Nutritionally speaking. I’m your host, Michaela Ballmann<br> There are many different diets that people follow, and when I say diet, I don’t mean a weight loss regimen, but more of a lifestyle. Some people eat only raw foods, others avoid all animal products, some eat most everything except red meat, others eschew anything in a bag/box/or package. Today I’m going to talk about the Vegetarian diet or “lifestyle”, and later I’ll include some tips about how to go “Veggie”.<br> <br> Vegetarian diets<br> Vegetarian diets are becoming very popular these days, with people having various reasons for falling off the meat wagon. Whether choosing to stop eating meat for health, animal rights, religious, or other reasons, a vegetarian diet is a healthy alternative to a traditional western diet.<br> There are many different types of vegetarian diet. The most common is “Lacto-ovo vegetarian” in which meat is avoided, but eggs, milk, cheese, and other dairy products are included. There are also Lacto-vegetarians who eat milk and dairy but no eggs, and Ovo-vegetarians who eat eggs but no dairy. Another type is Vegan, also known as “total vegetarian” in which all animal products including eggs and dairy are avoided; people vary in how strict they are in their diet and other areas of life. For example, some don’t eat honey or buy leather or any other product made out of an animal or tested on animals—there are vegan cosmetics, shoes, clothes, and much, much more! There are other hybrids of vegetarian diets like the pescatarian diet in which the person is basically vegetarian but eats fish too. This person usually doesn’t eat other types of meat, whether beef, chicken, turkey, or any other kind.<br> For the remainder of the podcast, when I say ‘vegetarian” I will be referring to vegetarian diets that exclude meat like Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian and vegans.<br> <br> Going Vegetarian for health<br> One of the most common reasons why people become vegetarian is for health. With new and old research showing the benefits of a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, vegetable protein and fats, there have been more people converting to vegetarianism. So, what exactly are the health benefits of a vegetarian diet?<br> First, the vegetarian diet is usually lower in saturated and trans fat. Saturated fat is usually in animal products like meat, cheese, and full-fat dairy products. By avoiding these products or eating them in smaller quantities, one can reduce the dangerous effects of this fat, which include increasing the risk for heart disease, atherosclerosis, and strokes. The same is true for trans fat; trans fat naturally occurs only in animal products, but also is man-made in the form of partially-hydrogenated oils in products like margarine or shortening, so in addition to meat, a huge source of trans fat is commercial baked products like cakes and cookies. Trans fat is even worse than saturated fat in increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease/ heart disease and other diseases,<br> <br> Going Vegetarian for longevity<br> Second, the vegetarian diet is associated with longevity—meaning studies have shown that in general vegetarians live longer than meat eaters!<br> You can also save money by eating vegetarian. It’s amazing how cheap it can be to eat a warm bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, a nice salad and avocado sandwich for lunch, veggie chili and brown rice for dinner, fresh fruit throughout the day—it is so economical and makes you feel so good inside too! ?<br>
