People often jump onto diet bandwagons without really knowing the full truths. This somehow seems acceptable though; with diet fads on the rise, it is often hard to determine what type of foods are really the best for you. Sometimes, vegetarianism can fall under the diet fad category...after all, lots of fruits and veggies are really good for you right? However, there are a lot of important factors that you need to take in consideration before you start experimenting with vegetarians diets.
Number 1: Why are you becoming a vegetarian?
It is important to choose a diet that is right for you and not to eat a certain way just because everyone else is doing it. Many people become a vegetarian for variety different reasons:
Religious and Ethical Reasons - You may be a part of a religion that prohibits or restricts the consumption of animal flesh. Or, you may also question the morality and ethics of consuming animals and animal products.
Food safety reasons - You would rather avoid thinking about mad cow disease after hearing about it in the news so much. Or maybe you feel that the way these animals are housed and fed may lead to an increase in antibiotic residue in meats. Either way, vegetarianism is a safe bet as long as you do it right.
Meat aversion - Some people just don't like meat and you may not be one of them. It is okay... there are plenty of other protein rich options out there for you!
Ecological reasons - Big on the environment and the effects humans have on it? Vegetarianism may be good for reducing large amounts of grain that could be used to feed humans, as well as decreasing greenhouse emissions and large amounts of waste produced from livestock operations.
2025
now, try reading "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair, and tell me that
the way we do things now isn't 1000 times better than it used to
be....