Vegetarianism

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Vegetarianism

As Americans become increasingly more health conscious, vegetarian diets are becoming more and more common. Produce-aisle signs stating eat 5 a day for better health are beginning to pay off, along with the USDA-DHHS Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which state: Many American diets have too many calories and too much fat (especially saturated fat), cholesterol,and sodium. They also have too little complex carbohydrates and fiber. Such diets are one cause of America’s high rates of obesity and of certain diseases-heart disease, high blood pressure,stroke, diabetes, and some forms of cancer http://www.childsecure.com/veggie.htm

Different types of vegetarians include the vegan, who follows a strict diet excluding eggs, dairy,and all other animal products; the lacto-ovo-vegetarian, who eats a diet of mainly grains,vegetables, fruits, legumes, seeds, nuts, dairy products, and eggs, and excludes meat, fish, and poultry; the lacto-vegetarian, who excludes animal flesh and eggs; the ovo-vegetarian, who excludes animal flesh and dairy products; and the semi-vegetarian, who abstains from only red meat and poultry http://www.penpages.psu.edu/penpages_reference/12101/121012505.html.

Vegetarian diets have many health benefits, but can also lead to health detriments if proper precautions are not taken. Optimal health, however, can be reached through a carefully planned vegetarian diet.

Health benefits of plant food

The American Dietetic Association has taken the position that appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, are nutritionally adequate, and provide health benefits in the prevention of certain diseases http://www.penpages.psu.edu/penpages_reference/12101/121012505.html. . Quite...

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