With that study in mind, you might consider vegetarianism. While there are certain risks inherent in that particular diet, studies generally report it as healthier than processed meat.
The Vegetarian Times, a publication devoted to the vegetarian way of life, reported in its “Vegetarianism in America” study that 3.2 percent of adults in the United States (more than 7 million people) are currently following a vegetarian diet. Of those, about 0.5 percent are vegans, who consume no animal products and do not use products derived from animals, including eggs, gelatin and dairy.
There are also: lacto-ovo vegetarians, who do not consume meat, poultry or fish but do eat eggs and dairy; lacto-vegetarians don't eat meat, poultry or fish, but do eat dairy; ovo-vegetarians eat eggs but eschew meat, poultry, fish and dairy; and partial vegetarians, who may eat the occasional bit of fish (so-called pesco-vegetarians) or poultry (the pollo-vegetarian).
Then there are others who claim to be vegetarians and follow a largely vegetarian diet with occasional servings of meat. These lapsed vegetarians are about 10 percent of United States adults, more than 22 million people.
All of this is based on a Harris Interactive Service Bureau poll of 5,050 people in 2008.
Interestingly, the same poll found that 5.2 percent of respondents were “definitely interested” in following a vegetarian diet at some unspecified point in the future. Which means the door is open for more recruits, particularly as more studies like the World Health Organization processed meat review are released.
Meat vs. Vegetables
The practice of vegetarianism in Western culture goes back as far as ancient Greece, where mathematician Pythagoras was an early advocate of vegetarians. Plato described the diet as “divinely ordained.” In fact, vegetarianism was known as the “Pythagorean diet” until the 1800s, when vegetarianism took hold. Throughout history, such notables as Da Vinci, Tolstoy, Gandhi and Kafka were vegetarians, among many prominent people. Today, Ellen DeGeneres, Paul McCartney and Russell Brand are among the most prominent vegetarians.
The battle of meat vs. vegetables has no middle ground. There’s an old joke about how you tell if someone is a vegetarian. The punchline: Don’t worry…they’ll tell you. The joke reflects the sometimes strident and quasi-religious fervor of vegetarianism, which can be a battleground for harried waiters and waitresses who have to find out if the soup has chicken stock or if the cake was made with eggs.
On the other hand, vegetarians are typically somewhat healthier than their meat-eating cousins, with lower body weight, blood pressure and incidents of cancer. In fact, a 2013 study of more than 70,000 people claimed vegetarians had a 12 percent lower risk of death compared to meat eaters. That’s because they have a 32 percent less chance of developing heart disease, the number-one killer in America.
An estimated 70 percent of major diseases can be traced to one’s diet. Because vegetarians have lower body weight, they have lower rates of obesity, high blood pressure, cancer, coronary artery disease and diabetes.
The Cons of Vegetarianism
While there are many benefits of being a vegetarian, the lifestyle also requires strict diet monitoring to prevent nutritional deficiencies that can cause problems throughout the body.
Research has shown that vegetarians have a higher risk of iron deficiencies, and experts question whether children, in particular, are getting the right mix of nutrients if they are vegetarians at an early age, a critical time for physical and intellectual development.
Some vegetarians claim they are doing it to help the planet as well as themselves. The resources required to produce meat creates pollution, wastes resources and causes deforestation. But their meat-loving opponents will argue back that vegetables create the same environmental problems as raising livestock, turning the argument back on itself.
The ethics of eating meat vs. vegetables is also a dividing line. Some vegetarians decry the cruelty of killing animals bred for consumption, while meat advocates claim it is done humanely and has been practiced for more than 2 million years.
Ultimately, the United States federal government sides with vegetarians. Although dietary requirements are revised every five years, the recommendation to consume more grains, fruits and vegetables is constant.
Other Benefits of Vegetarianism
While the benefits of lower body weight and less cancer risks are obvious, there are other reasons to explore vegetarianism. There’s also less chance that you’ll be exposed to foodborne illnesses, which account for 76 million sicknesses each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many outbreaks of food illnesses are traced to tainted meat, poultry, seafood and fish, as well as dairy products that may not be fully pasteurized.
Women undergoing menopause report that soy consumption, which has a naturally large amount of phytoestrogens, which mimics estrogen, has eased the process. The compound also can be found in cherries, garlic, olives, squash and beets, among many other fruits and vegetables.
Constipation is less of an issue for vegetarians. That’s because their diet has an abundance of fiber, which helps move waste out of the body. It also helps lessens the potential of hemorrhoid development.
Finally, going vegetarian can save money. Meat is expensive to produce and market. Some studies indicate savings as high as several thousand dollars per year from eschewing meat.
Ultimately, the argument between vegetarians and meat eaters will never be resolved; each side has its reasons for sticking with its particular favorite diet. If you are aware of the risks and uncertainties surrounding each choice, then do what feels right for you. Any diet, if followed properly and with an eye toward health, is a good diet.