World Vegetarian Day

Today (October 1st) is World Vegetarian Day so in this blog I'm going to talk about my experience being vegetarian and the benefits of becoming one.

I became a vegetarian aged 12 because I didn't really like the idea of eating dead animals. Back then, the only meat I ate were chicken nuggets and fish fingers which isn't the healthiest so I thought 'why not become a vegetarian?' and so I did. It was at this time that I discovered Quorn products which are a substitue for meat. Basically they make vegetarian versions of different meats by using an ingredient known as 'mycoprotein' which is a nurtrionally, healthy protein source that is meat-free and naturally low in fat and high in fibre. 

Since becoming a vegetarian over six years ago, I've noticed a different in my health. At the age of 12, I was chubby and wasn't healthy at all. But now, at the age of 18, I feel the healthiest I've ever been. I do think I've lost weight since the age of 12 and I feel a lot better about myself.

I don't mind if people want to eat meat but it does annoy me when people have a problem with vegetarians. They act like we don't eat anything but we actually eat just as much as a meat-eater, maybe even more. 

I have even heard people say 'but you can't live without meat!' which is wrong. I've lived without meat for six years and I'm, like I said, the healthiest I've been. 

If you're thinking about becoming a vegetarian, here are the benefits:

• Helps your heart - If you limit the animal-fare in your diet, you'll be reducing your chance of getting heart disease. Fatty red meats and processed meats are high in saturated fat which raises bad cholesterol and increases the risk of coronary heart disease. Eliminate these red meats from your diet and you'll also be eliminating your chances of getting heart disease.
• Shrinks your cancer risk - One of the most scariest diseases is cancer and it has become increasingly clear that a meat-cancer connection exists. In one study of more than 35,000 women, those who ate more red and processed meat were found to have the higher risk of breast cancer. No, having a vegetarian diet isn't a cure for cancer but it does decrease your risk of getting breast, colon, prostate, pancreatic and gastric cancers.
• Good for the environment - You may be shocked to know this but raising cattle for beef and milk releases more greenhouse gases than all of the cars that are currently on the road. This statistic came from a 2006 U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation report which also found that the livestock industry wreaks havoc on our land and water - taking up huge amounts of scarce resources and polluting the waterways more than any other industry. By eating plant based meal for lunch instead of a meat-filled burger saves 2.5 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, 133 gallons of water and 24 square feet of land, according to the people over at the PB&J Campaign.
• Good for maintaining a healthy weight - The standard American diet - high in saturated fats and processed foods and low in plant-based foods and complex carbohydrates - —is making us fat and killing us slowly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and a division of the CDC, the National Center for Health Statistics, 64 percent of adults and 15 percent of children aged 6 to 19 are overweight and are at risk of weight-related ailments including heart disease, stroke and diabetes. By having a vegetarian diet, you'll be limiting the amount of calories you eat and it's very unlikely you'll gain weight.
• You'll be more regular - Eating a lot of vegetables necessarily means consuming more fiber, which pushes waste out of the body. Meat contains no fiber. People who eat lower on the food chain tend to have fewer instances of constipation, hemorrhoids and diverticulitis.
• You'll have more energy - Good nutrition generates more usable energy——energy to keep pace with the kids, tackle that home improvement project or have better sex more often, Michael F. Roizen, MD, says inThe RealAge Diet. Too much fat in your bloodstream means that arteries won’’t open properly and that your muscles won’’t get enough oxygen. The result? You feel zapped. Balanced vegetarian diets are naturally free of cholesterol-laden, artery-clogging animal products that physically slow us down and keep us hitting the snooze button morning after morning.

Have I convinced you to become vegetarian? If not, read more about the benefits about being vegetarian here.

Thank you for reading my blog

and Happy Vegetarian Day!