Featured Guest Post: Five Compelling Reasons to Go Vegetarian

A person may be of a vegetarian persuasion, or simply love vegetables, but does that necessarily mean that they should jump ship and abandon meat all together? Here are some compelling reasons to turn vegetarian or incorporate a mostly vegetable diet; leaving aside the more political question of animal cruelty.

1. It's Fulsome and Satisfying

It is an absolute myth that vegetables leave people feeling unsatisfied. There are plenty of ways to jazz up vegetable dishes and vegetarian recipes can be just as decadent, satisfying and filling as meat dishes. There is the creaminess of roasted aubergine, the earthiness of field mushrooms with the sharpness of blue cheese, the savoury notes of artichoke, and so many more flavours to enjoy.

2. Real Men Eat Vegetables

There's another cultural myth that was perpetuated many years ago by advertising, that real men need to eat red meat. So much so that during the war, when food was scarce, guess who got the meat?! It’s firmly ingrained in our culture, that it's a manly thing to do, to tend a BBQ and eat pork chops, but those who are fit and healthy often eat more vegetables than meat. Of course, meat contains proteins that are essential for body growth, but vegetables like asparagus, and pulses like chick peas also contain a high amount of protein.

3. It's Easier to Slip into that Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Bikini

Studies have shown that vegetarianism can be a good weight loss diet. Vegetarians are three times less likely to be obese in comparison to meat eaters. Of course, there may still be skinny meat eaters and overweight vegetarians. However, the odds are stacked in your favour for being slim, if you are on a vegetarian diet.

4. It Prevents Heart Disease and Cancer

The risk of getting two of the biggest killers in the western world, cancer and heart disease, can be significantly reduced with a vegetarian diet. Studies have shown that saturated fat contained in meat, has been linked in arterial blockage in the heart. Alternately, a vegetarian diet is an active preventative method in preventing and reversing the effects of heart disease. Dr. T Colin Campbell, author of 'The China Study' on disease and diet, states that ''no chemical carcinogen is nearly so important in causing human cancer as animal protein''.

5. It's Trendy

For once there's finally a celebrity trend that is actually worth taking notice of. There are plenty of cool people who have taken up the vegetarian cause with aplomb. Peter Dinklage, Joaquin Phoenix and Anne Hathaway are just a few names who’ve been nominated for PETA’s Celebrity Vegetarian 2013.

If you still need more compelling reasons to get on a vegetarian diet, have a look at some scrumptious vegetarian recipes and get motivated!

Disclosure: Article provided by Alison Wright - who a freelance writer and enjoys cooking in her spare time. Please read my disclosure policy for information about featured posts.