English Literature

When you think of a vegetarian diet, you may get the misconception that the diet is lacking in proteins and therefore less healthy. This is unfounded since you can manage to balance the diet and get all the essential nutrients including proteins leading to a healthy living. There are whole benefits accrued to the practice of vegetarianism.

How is a vegetarian diet better
    A well balanced vegetarian diet goes a long way in preventing diseases such as cancer, hypertension, arthritis and obesity among others. Since a vegetarian diet excludes meat, one does not consume high levels of bad cholesterol found in meat. Instead consuming legumes, nuts, grains and vegetables provides good cholesterol that is effective in reducing the risk of developing heart related conditions (Craig, 2010, para 4).

    Of course the worry of where you can obtain proteins as a vegetarian will always reign in your mind but with a better understanding of other sources such as dry beans as well as lentils, there is no need to worry as this is the way out. You can obtain sufficient non-meat proteins from soy beans, tofu, navy beans, kidney beans, black-eyed peas, lima, pinto and garbanzo among other cereals (para, 5).

Soy protein is associated with inhibition of cancerous growths as well as cholesterol lowering substances that eliminate the risks of acquiring cancers and heart diseases. Vegetables form the major part of your diet as a vegetarian and these are important in reducing the risks of developing cancers and heart related conditions as they contain tepernoids necessary for lowering blood cholesterol (Craig, 2010, para 18). In particular, fruits and berries contain pigments such as anthocyanin and reddish pigments which neutralize free radicals in the body in addition to preventing oxidation of bad cholesterol.

    It is clear that by observing a vegetarian diet, your health is of much better more so when it comes to dealing with chronic conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and arthritis. Nevertheless, non-animal proteins must be supplied to ensure that the diet remains balanced, a move that is very possible with the many plant protein supplements available.