If you have ever been interested in becoming a vegetarian, you might also want to know about all of the benefits. You might be surprised at how beneficial a vegetarian diet can be. A vegetarian is someone who does not eat meat, poultry or fish. A vegetarian’s diet consists of a lot of grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables. Most vegetarians eat dairy products, eggs, and hidden animal products, while others are stricter and do not eat any animal products.

The American Dietetic Association has placed vegetarians into three separate categories: vegan, lacto vegetarians, and lacto-ovo vegetarians. A vegan is a very strict vegetarian that does not eat any animal products including meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, and even honey.

Vegans use soy products as an alternative for not eating any dairy. Vegans also do not wear any animal products such as leather or wool. A lacto vegetarian will not eat any meat, poultry, fish, or eggs, but they will eat dairy products. A lacto-ovo vegetarian will not eat any meat, poultry, or fish. However, they will eat eggs and dairy products. Most vegetarians find themselves a part of this category.

The American Dietetic Association says that vegetarians are at a significantly lower risk for obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and even high blood pressure. A correct vegetarian diet is low in fat but high in fiber. Like any other diet it could be potentially harmful if it is not planned out right, such as eating fried food and snacks that are high in fat. Five main groups that a vegetarian needs to pay attention to in order to meet their energy needs are protein, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B-12 and iron.

A lot of people become vegetarians for numerous reasons, such as spiritual beliefs, animal rights, health, environment and food preference. Another major reason that people become vegetarians is because of the sex hormones injected into the animals. Farmers usually make their cattle bigger by giving them testosterone surrogates, the same thing that is illegal for athletes to consume. They also give the animals estrogen to shut down the reproductive system and that way it encourages more meat building. These hormones can trigger early puberty in girls and puts women at higher risk for breast cancer.

Also, poultry and pig farmers use arsenic as a growth stimulant; even though it is illegal the government just wants the farmers to stop five days before slaughtering the animal. This way the animal only contains the legal limit of arsenic. Though several studies show that most farmers do not follow this and 16% of the animals are above the legal arsenic level.

If you are interested in becoming a vegetarian it is important to remember that it is a personal decision that only you can make. You should have a planned diet prepared going into it, or it could be harmful for your health. However, when used properly, a vegetarian diet can reduce a lot of health risks and there are a variety of other benefits as well.