When it comes to vegetarianism, many people immediately think of the lifestyle of monks in temples. However, more and more people are now advocating for a vegetarian diet. Some people are vegetarian for religious reasons, some for health, and some for both, killing two birds with one stone. In fact, there are numerous benefits to being a vegetarian.
So, what are the benefits of a vegetarian diet?
1. Longevity: According to research by nutritionists, vegetarians tend to live longer than non-vegetarians. the Hunza people of northern Pakistan and the Indians of central Mexico are primitive vegetarian peoples with exceptionally high average life spans, which is truly admirable. Buddhist monks and members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church also enjoy long lives due to their vegetarian diets.
2. Lower cholesterol levels: The cholesterol in the blood of vegetarians is always lower than that of non-vegetarians. If the cholesterol level in the blood is too high, it often leads to blocked blood vessels, becoming the main cause of diseases such as high blood pressure and heart disease.
3. Reduced risk of cancer: Some studies point out that there is a close relationship between meat consumption and colon cancer.
4. Fewer parasites: Tapeworms and several other parasites are transmitted to the human body through infected meat.
5. Reduced burden on the kidneys: Waste products from various higher animals and the human body are carried to the kidneys by the blood. When the meat consumed by meat-eaters contains animal blood, it further加重 the burden on the kidneys.
Eating these five vegetarian foods regularly is equivalent to eating meat
1. Oatmeal: Protein content is slightly less than 3%. It is also rich in trace elements such as manganese and selenium and has the effect of lowering blood lipids.
2. Peas: Rich in dietary fiber, vitamin K, minerals, and vitamin C, with a protein content of 5%.
3. Peanut butter: Contains resveratrol, the same ingredient as wine, and monounsaturated fatty acids, which can prevent cardiovascular disease. Its protein content is about 28%.
4. Brown rice: Does not easily raise blood sugar, contains minerals and fiber, with a protein content of 2.5%.
5. Coconut: Rich in protein and dietary fiber. However, the saturated fat content of coconut meat is also very high, so do not consume it frequently.
But a purely vegetarian diet has four major hazards
Trace element deficiency: Essential trace elements for the human body, such as zinc, calcium, and iron, mainly come from meat. Zinc mainly comes from animal foods, 80% of calcium in the diet comes from dairy products, and 80% of iron comes from meat and eggs. Vegetarian diets contain less zinc, calcium, and iron, and contain more oxalic acid, which hinders the absorption of trace elements such as zinc, calcium, and iron. Therefore, long-term vegetarians are prone to some diseases caused by the lack of trace elements.
Vitamin deficiency: Long-term vegetarians are prone to some diseases caused by vitamin deficiency: Lack of vitamin A easily leads to night blindness and respiratory tract infections; lack of vitamin D easily leads to rickets in children and osteoporosis; lack of vitamin E can cause hemolytic anemia, seborrheic dermatitis, amino acid metabolism disorders, and decreased immunity; lack of vitamin K can easily lead to various spontaneous bleeding.
Inadequate protein intake: Long-term lack of protein has a great impact on the body's ability to resist disease, causing an imbalance in the proportion of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats in the body, leading to anemia, weight loss, indigestion, and decreased memory.
Prone to stones: The high content of plant fiber in a vegetarian diet can reduce the absorption rate of cholic acid and lower the concentration of bile salts. Vegetarians often have insufficient intake of vitamins A and E. A deficiency of these two vitamins can easily lead to the shedding of gallbladder epithelial cells, leading to the deposition of cholesterol and the formation of stones.