Pros and cons of being a vegetarian - Starting A Vegetarian Diet?
Better Think Twice
If you are planning on becoming a vegetarian, you’d better think
twice. I say that because there are pros and cons to the vegetarian
diet; the good and the bad.
One might say, “I thought the vegetarian diet was good …what could be
bad about it?”
 For the most part, nothing major … except that it’s not for everybody.
In other words, the vegetarian diet is typically a high carbohydrate
diet and those who can’t handle high carb diets, or who have diabetes
might have to follow another type of diet. Let’s take a look at some of
the other pros and cons of a vegetarian diet…
Pro: The diet is based on good solid healthy foods; beans, whole
grain rice and grains, fruits, vegetables, seeds, tofu, etc.
Con: Have you been to the grocery store lately? Fresh fruits and
vegetables are expensive, especially if you are going to be eating a lot
of them. PLUS, some nutritionists are claiming that your grocery store’s
fruits and vegetables are laden with chemicals and pesticides that you
don’t need in your system. Of course, you can buy organic foods, but
they are even more expensive.
Pro: In spite of what people think, the diet provides plenty of
protein for your daily needs and they can be found in all kinds of foods
including beans, rice, grains and even fruits and vegetables.
Con: The vegetarian diet is believed to cause the participant to
run short of vitamin B12, which is typically found in meats. This is
solved by taking a supplement or, yes, you must eat your greens;
collards and leafy greens and also tofu, dairy products and eggs.
Considering the body can store Vitamin B12 for decades, it’s not that
big of a concern.
Pro: There are a ton, I mean just a ton of dishes that you can
make using vegetarian recipes. Some are very quick and easy and some
take much longer to prepare. But, there are always leftovers when you
make good casseroles and such (like Chili Relleno Casserole or a nice
vegetarian lasagna).
Con: Eating vegetarian is not always so easy when you have to eat
out and get fast food. Certainly restaurants serve burritos and sub
sandwiches, but don’t count on finding a great vegetarian meal in a fast
food restaurant. However, you can always pack a lunch and have some nice
leftovers from the night before or a nice cucumber and salsa wrap in a
whole grain tortilla (it tastes better than it sounds!).
In summary, it’s hard to find a reason to not go on a vegetarian diet
because even the ‘cons’ can be overcome; so there are many more ‘pros’.
Just be sure your doctor agrees that it is the right diet for your –
it’s not for everybody. |
