Vegetarianism Verses Meat Eating diet that consists of eating meat causes the buildup of saturated fats and creates high levels of cholesterol to occur and may result in high blood pressure, heart attack or cancer. However, by eating a vegetarian diet, a person may prevent or lessen their chance of acquiring these health problems. Vegetarians do not eat meat, and regard the flesh of all animals, including that of fish and poultry, to be meat, therefore their diet consists mainly of grains, vegetables, and other food sources. Some vegetarians exclude milk and eggs also from their diet because these foods are from animals. Vegetarians are made up of three groups and each is based on their attitude toward milk and eggs.

Lacto-ovo-vegetarians include milk and eggs, and foods made from milk and egg within their diet. Lacto-vegetarians do not eat eggs, but they drink milk and eat such milk products as butter and cheese. Vegans avoid milk and eggs and all foods derived from animals, including gelatin and honey.

A vegetarian diet must be well planned to replace the protein and other nutrients provided by meat. Most lacto-ovo-vegetarians and lacto-vegetarians can easily plan a healthy diet because milk and eggs are good sources of high-quality protein. Milk also provides large amounts of calcium, which helps strengthen bones. Milk and eggs both contain vitamin B12, which forms a part of red blood cells and helps the nerves to function properly (Garell, 1991).

Vegetarians must learn that...

Beans, nuts, peas, and many other vegetarian foods contain large amounts of protein. However, these foods must be eaten in particular combinations to provide the body with nutritionally complete protein. Additionally, studies have shown that diets with high amounts of cereals, grains, vegetables and fruits may help lower cancer risk due to their fibers and high antigen content. Other substances in these foods could also play an important role in disease prevention (Lykins, 1994). Vegans eat green leafy vegetables, such as broccoli, or nuts, tofu, and dried figs to obtain calcium. Soybeans contain a protease inhibitor, a powerful anticancer compound and are vital to a vegetarian diet. These foods are also rich in antigens which are also is beneficial to prevent various types of cancer causing agents (Yount, 1991).
The vegetarian diet has gained popularity because of remarkable case reports of individuals who attributed recoveries from cancers with poor prognoses to macrobiotics and the substantial evidence that the many dietary factors recommended by macrobiotics are associated with decreased cancer risk. Women consuming macrobiotic diets have modestly lower circulating estrogen levels, suggesting a lower risk of breast cancer (Lawrence, 2001). None of the natural cancer prevention substances that have been discovered such as vitamin C, B-17, hydroquionenes, beta carotene, NDGA are found to…