Vegetarian and 5 Reasons to Stay Healthy
Not just good for the environment, going green is also great for your body. Cutting down on consumption of meat brings a whole lot of advantages and health benefits to your entire body. According to popular nutritionists and food researchers, an average American who alters his/her current diet from meat-based high cholesterol meals to a vegetarian diet will not only lose weight rapidly—if he or she is obese–but will also witness great improvements in blood sugar levels, cholesterol profiles, while cutting down the risk of heart disease and looking healthy and fit.
Here are five important reasons to go vegetarian today and do your body a whole lot good.
1. You could lose weight easily.
According to a comprehensive six-year study published by the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics last year, it was seen that individuals who refrained from eating meat had a far lower BMI than regular meat eaters. Furthermore, the report also revealed that vegetarians are far less obese than omnivores (10% versus 35%). In addition, a new report published by The Obesity Society in 2013 revealed that individuals who were extremely overweight or obese lost more weight while following a vegetarian diet, than those who consumed meat– in spite of both groups taking in the same amount of calories.
2. You could improve your heart health.
Consuming meals containing high amounts of saturated fats, primarily from meat and dairy-based foods, not only spikes the level of cholesterol in your blood but also increases your risk of cardiovascular disorder due to the high cholesterol levels. Getting rid of meat altogether in a diet can greatly cut down the amount of saturated fat, in turn reducing your risk of heart disease.
3. You could bring down high blood pressure levels considerably.
According to reports published in The Public Health Nutrition, it has been seen that vegans have far lesser incidence of hypertension than omnivores. Food nutritionists point out to the beneficial substances found in high intakes of fruits and vegetables in a vegetarian diet that cuts down the risk of hypertension.
4. You could cut down the risk of diabetes.
A study conducted by The American Diabetes Association revealed that individuals who follow a vegetarian diet had a far lesser chance of developing metabolic syndrome, which is a group of risk factors associated with heart disease, paralysis and type II diabetes. Participants enrolled in the study were refrained from eating poultry products and meat-based meals, and it was seen that they had much lower blood sugar levels, triglycerides and blood pressure levels, at the end of the study, as compared to those who regularly consumed a meat-based diet during the time.
5. You could experience increased levels of energy.
Eating legumes and greens, such as spinach, beans and kale and similar such vegetables can have a great impact on the body by making one feel more energised over a period of time. According to research, legumes and greens contain increased levels of dietary nitrates that provide a huge impetus to the body in the form of vascular benefits, reducing blood pressure and even enhancing the performance of exercise in healthy individuals. Foods rich in dietary nitrates not only help in opening up blood vessels but also permit more oxygen inside the body thus providing the ability of becoming more energised.
Carol is a health and fitness expert, having written hundreds of articles helping people improve their standard of living. She is associated with Nutra Pure HCG that promotes HCG diet drops as a way to lose weight in a healthy way.
