The pros of being a vegetarian
by Laura Skulman, posted Sept. 29, 2008
Vegetarian can mean different things. In this article, I am using the term to describe my dietary practice, which is avoiding meat, eggs and dairy products. The different types include:
• Semi-vegetarian – eat only small amounts of animal flesh.
• Lacto-ovo-vegetarian – eat no animal flesh, but sometimes eats eggs and dairy products.
• Vegan – eat no animal flesh, eggs or dairy products.
With news of global warming spreading, society is making a more consciencious effort of “going green.” We are no longer leaving the faucet on the entire time it takes to brush our teeth, we’ve learned what that blue trashcan is actually for, and we have begun to promote cotton as a good source of fabric. All of these are great, but is there a way to help our earth get healthy while we do the same? If you are able to cope with leaving your hamburgers and hotdogs behind, the answer is yes. Being a vegetarian can help both you and your planet.
Vegetarian diets offer a number of nutritional benefits, including higher levels of fiber, magnesium, potassium, folate, antioxidants such as vitamins E and C, and phytochemicals, as well as lower levels of saturated fat, cholesterol and animal protein. It is the position of the Dietitians of Canada and the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of life, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence.
According to the American Dietetic Association, vegetarians have been reported to have lower body mass indexes than non-vegetarians, as well as lower rates of death for ischemic heart disease. Vegetarians also show lower blood cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure and lower rates of hypertension, Type 2 diabetes and prostate and colon cancer.
Just a few years ago, finding vegetarian versions of my favorite foods was nearly impossible. But today, most every major grocery store sells animal-free foods, like soy sausage, veggie burgers and tofu wraps. Restaurants are also offering healthy vegetarian dishes. Since becoming a vegetarian nine years ago, I have enjoyed the ability to go to restaurants more often with my friends because of the growing demand of vegetarian options.
I made the decision to be a vegetarian because of my impact on the earth. According to earthsave.com, methane emissions cause nearly one-half of the planet’s human-induced warming. Also, being from Arkansas, I see tons of farm animals, and I never warmed up to the idea of eating anything I have seen living happily in a field.
I talked to different students at MU who are vegetarians and asked if they found it difficult to find a variety of appetizing dishes. Everyone I spoke with had the same response—most all of our dining facilities offer at least one vegetarian dish, and the variety was good and delicious.
“I have found a lot of great places to eat on campus, as well as downtown at the all-vegetarian Main Squeeze Restaurant,” said Anna Hedstrom, MU business major.
I also have found Dobb’s to be a good place for vegetarian options on campus. The pasta bar is always completely vegetarian, and fresh fruit and vegetables are always on hand.
