MyWestTexas recently printed a great article about beginning vegetarianism from a health perspective. Among the suggestions listed in the article: choosing whole-grain products such as wheat bread, brown rice or whole-grain cereals instead of refined or white grains. Select lower-fat milk products and dairy if you choose to continue consuming milk.
They also suggest you keep vegetarian staples such as beans and rice on hand. Visit the article for a really yummy chili, pesto pizza, and other delectable southern recipes just for vegetarians.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Benefits of vegetarianism - vegetarians and cancer
You might have a general idea that eating a vegetarian diet is more healthy for you. But do you really know how much less the incidence is of certain types of cancers among vegetarians?
Vegetarian diets—naturally low in saturated fat, high in fiber, and replete with cancer-protective phytochemicals—help to prevent cancer. Large studies in England and Germany have shown that vegetarians are about 40 percent less likely to develop cancer compared to meat-eaters. In the U.S., studies of Seventh-Day Adventists, who are largely lacto-ovo vegetarians, have shown significant reductions in cancer risk among those who avoided meat. Similarly, breast cancer rates are dramatically lower in nations, such as China, that follow plant-based diets. Interestingly, Japanese women who follow Western-style, meat-based diets are eight times more likely to develop breast cancer than women who follow a more traditional plant-based diet. Meat and dairy products contribute to many forms of cancer, including cancer of the colon, breast, ovaries, and prostate.
Harvard studies that included tens of thousands of women and men have shown that regular meat consumption increases colon cancer risk by roughly 300 percent. High-fat diets also encourage the body’s production of estrogens. Increased levels of this sex hormone have been linked to breast cancer. A recent report noted that the rate of breast cancer among premenopausal women who ate the most animal (but not vegetable) fat was one-third higher than that of women who ate the least animal fat. A separate study from Cambridge University also linked diets high in saturated fat to breast cancer. One study linked dairy products to an increased risk of ovarian cancer. The process of breaking down the lactose (milk sugar) evidently damages the ovaries. Daily meat consumption triples the risk of prostate enlargement. Regular milk consumption doubles the risk and failure to consume vegetables regularly nearly quadruples the risk.
Vegetarians avoid the animal fat linked to cancer and get abundant fiber, vitamins, and phytochemicals that help to prevent cancer. In addition, blood analysis of vegetarians reveals a higher level of “natural killer cells,” specialized white blood cells that attack cancer cells.
Vegetarian diets—naturally low in saturated fat, high in fiber, and replete with cancer-protective phytochemicals—help to prevent cancer. Large studies in England and Germany have shown that vegetarians are about 40 percent less likely to develop cancer compared to meat-eaters. In the U.S., studies of Seventh-Day Adventists, who are largely lacto-ovo vegetarians, have shown significant reductions in cancer risk among those who avoided meat. Similarly, breast cancer rates are dramatically lower in nations, such as China, that follow plant-based diets. Interestingly, Japanese women who follow Western-style, meat-based diets are eight times more likely to develop breast cancer than women who follow a more traditional plant-based diet. Meat and dairy products contribute to many forms of cancer, including cancer of the colon, breast, ovaries, and prostate.
Harvard studies that included tens of thousands of women and men have shown that regular meat consumption increases colon cancer risk by roughly 300 percent. High-fat diets also encourage the body’s production of estrogens. Increased levels of this sex hormone have been linked to breast cancer. A recent report noted that the rate of breast cancer among premenopausal women who ate the most animal (but not vegetable) fat was one-third higher than that of women who ate the least animal fat. A separate study from Cambridge University also linked diets high in saturated fat to breast cancer. One study linked dairy products to an increased risk of ovarian cancer. The process of breaking down the lactose (milk sugar) evidently damages the ovaries. Daily meat consumption triples the risk of prostate enlargement. Regular milk consumption doubles the risk and failure to consume vegetables regularly nearly quadruples the risk.
Vegetarians avoid the animal fat linked to cancer and get abundant fiber, vitamins, and phytochemicals that help to prevent cancer. In addition, blood analysis of vegetarians reveals a higher level of “natural killer cells,” specialized white blood cells that attack cancer cells.
Beginning Vegetarianism - a journey
The vegetarian lifestyle is unique and often looked upon with curiosity for those of us who can’t imagine life without a cheeseburger. But eating vegetarian is a great way to stay healthy, and increase your energy and metabolism along the way. It is a terrific way to lose weight, keep your cholesterol under control, and prevent many diseases that we meat eaters are prone to.
In its most basic form, a vegetarian doesn’t eat meat products. There are many different types of vegetarians, however. The main classifications are:
* Lacto-ovo-vegetarian: Eats both dairy products and eggs. This is the most common type of vegetarian diet.
* Lacto-vegetarian: Eats dairy products but not eggs.
* Vegan: Does not eat dairy products, eggs, or any other animal product.
* Fruitarian. A type of vegan diet where very few processed or cooked foods are eaten. Consists mainly of raw fruit, grains and nuts. Fruitarians believe only plant foods that can be harvested without killing the plant should be eaten
* Macrobiotic: A diet followed for spiritual and philosophical reasons. The macrobiotic eating style aims to maintain a balance between foods seen as ying (positive) or yang (negative). The diet progresses through ten levels, becoming increasingly restrictive. Not all levels are vegetarian, though each level gradually eliminates animal products. The highest levels eliminate fruit and vegetables, eventually reaching the level of a brown rice diet.
Some people say that they choose a vegetarian lifestyle because they want to prevent cruelty to animals because of the way they are processed for human consumption. Others decide to go vegetarian because it truly is a healthier lifestyle. Whatever the reason, there is medical proof that vegetarians are much healthier than meat eaters.
They suffer less from ailments such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and even some form of cancers. Because organic foods are grown without pesticides, the vegetarian isn’t introduced to these harmful chemicals so they don’t have them in their bodies to do the damage that science is starting to prove can be the causes of some serious diseases.
If you are thinking of becoming a vegetarian, you could be making a lifestyle change that will better your way of life and make you feel better in the process. While it can be a difficult transition, you will most likely find that you aren’t missing meat in your diet at all. So go ahead and give it a go. Cut out the meat and start eating the vegetables and see if you are cut out to eat strictly vegetarian..
In its most basic form, a vegetarian doesn’t eat meat products. There are many different types of vegetarians, however. The main classifications are:
* Lacto-ovo-vegetarian: Eats both dairy products and eggs. This is the most common type of vegetarian diet.
* Lacto-vegetarian: Eats dairy products but not eggs.
* Vegan: Does not eat dairy products, eggs, or any other animal product.
* Fruitarian. A type of vegan diet where very few processed or cooked foods are eaten. Consists mainly of raw fruit, grains and nuts. Fruitarians believe only plant foods that can be harvested without killing the plant should be eaten
* Macrobiotic: A diet followed for spiritual and philosophical reasons. The macrobiotic eating style aims to maintain a balance between foods seen as ying (positive) or yang (negative). The diet progresses through ten levels, becoming increasingly restrictive. Not all levels are vegetarian, though each level gradually eliminates animal products. The highest levels eliminate fruit and vegetables, eventually reaching the level of a brown rice diet.
Some people say that they choose a vegetarian lifestyle because they want to prevent cruelty to animals because of the way they are processed for human consumption. Others decide to go vegetarian because it truly is a healthier lifestyle. Whatever the reason, there is medical proof that vegetarians are much healthier than meat eaters.
They suffer less from ailments such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and even some form of cancers. Because organic foods are grown without pesticides, the vegetarian isn’t introduced to these harmful chemicals so they don’t have them in their bodies to do the damage that science is starting to prove can be the causes of some serious diseases.
If you are thinking of becoming a vegetarian, you could be making a lifestyle change that will better your way of life and make you feel better in the process. While it can be a difficult transition, you will most likely find that you aren’t missing meat in your diet at all. So go ahead and give it a go. Cut out the meat and start eating the vegetables and see if you are cut out to eat strictly vegetarian..
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