In modern life, more and more people advocate for vegetarianism.Some people are vegetarian for religious reasons, while others are vegetarian for health reasons, and some do both.In fact, the benefits of vegetarianism are numerous, and at least include the following:

5 Benefits of Vegetarianism

1. Prolongs life

According to nutritionist research, vegetarians live longer than non-vegetarians.The Hunza people in northern Pakistan and the indigenous people in central Mexico are original vegetarian ethnic groups with extremely long lifespans.This is enviable.Buddhist monks and members of the Christian Restful Day Church also live long lives due to their vegetarian diet.

2. Reduces weight

Vegetarians generally weigh less than meat-eaters because they consume less animal fat, which effectively reduces unnecessary fat.Less weight means less burden.

3. Reduces cholesterol levels

VegetariansBloodThe cholesterol in the blood of vegetarians is always lower than that of meat-eaters. Excessive cholesterol in the blood can lead to blood vessel blockage, high blood pressure, and other cardiovascular diseases.

4. Reduces the risk of cancer

Some studies have shown a close relationship between meat consumption and colon cancer.Practice shows that vegetarians have a much lower risk of cancer than meat-eaters.

5. Reduces the impact of parasites on the human body

Parasites such as worms and other parasites are transmitted to the human body through infected meat.Vegetarians mainly eat plant-based foods, which have fewer parasites than meat-based foods.

Although vegetarianism is good, pay attention to the following misconceptions:

Misconception 1: No need to supplement with multi-vitamins

In some developed countries, food is widely fortified, and there are many types of multi-vitamin products specifically for vegetarians. The risk of vegetarians suffering from micronutrient deficiency is small.However, in China, the food industry rarely considers vegetarians, and food fortification is not common. Therefore, vegetarians should appropriately supplement with multi-vitamins, especially formulas containing iron, zinc, vitamin B12, and vitamin D, to prevent potential nutritional deficiencies.

Misconception 2: Eating too much fruit

Anything in excess is harmful.However, many vegetarians eat a lot of fruit in addition to their three meals, which not only does not help with weight loss, but also leads to weight gain.Because fruits contain more than 8% sugar, which is a significant amount of energy.If you eat more than half a pound of fruit, you should correspondingly reduce the amount of main meals or staple foods to achieve energy balance throughout the day.

Misconception 3: Excessive oil, sugar, and salt

If you eat a vegetarian diet but add a lot of oil, sugar, and salt, these are high-calorie ingredients, and salt can also raise blood pressure. Eating a vegetarian diet with these ingredients is not healthier than eating meat.

Misconception 4: Vegetables must be eaten raw

Some vegetarians are enthusiastic about eating vegetables raw, such as in salads orsaladsThey believe that this can fully its nutritional value.In fact, many nutrients in vegetables need to be added with oil to be absorbed well, such as vitamin K, carrots, and tomatoes, which are nutrients that are more easily absorbed after cooking.At the same time, it is important to note thatSalad dressingshave a fat content of more than 60%, and eating them raw is not less calorific than cooking with oil.Salad dressinghas a fat content of 60% or more. Using it for cold dishes is not lower in calories than cooking with oil.