Becoming Vegetarian: Why Take The Leap And Give Up Meat?

The diet based on protein foods without meat, we are talking about it more and more! But what exactly is vegetarianism? Is it possible to escape this phenomenon? What are the reasons for becoming a vegetarian today? Are there any health risks? And although the subject makes us all aware, its outlines are still relatively hazy. That's why, Deavita.fr lifts the veil on the questions that interest you the most by giving you the reasons to dare to take the plunge! Aside from the reasons and advantages of the Chop-Free Diet, we won't forget to mention some of the downsides that go with it! Decryption!

Becoming a vegetarian: what is it?

Having plans is generally very important in order to continue to grow and learn about our own personality and the world around us. Among the projects in question, becoming vegetarian and abandoning the carnivorous diet is very interesting and already very common, in a world where animals are increasingly exploited. So whether you are a staunch vegetarian or are considering taking the plunge, know that becoming a vegetarian has its pros and cons. But before we reveal them all to you, let's clarify a few small details about the omnivorous diet!

Many are already people across the world living without any meat or fish. In this context, vegetarianism counts and brings together several categories of families. We have vegetarians who do not eat animal flesh (meat, fish, seafood), vegans who do not consume animal products (eggs, milk, honey …) and who in addition do not carry any animal products. animal origin (leather, wool, silk …) and finally flexitarians who are more flexible vegetarians and who sometimes allow themselves meat by favoring methods of production and breeding that are more respectful of both animals and nature.

Why eliminate meat and become a vegetarian?

As we told you, vegetarianism is becoming more and more popular. But why take the leap and cut meat from your diet? Some make the decision to become vegetarian for health reasons, others for ecological or religious commitment, others finally to oppose animal suffering and fight against hunger in the world. Because to eat meat, tons of grain are grown to fatten cattle, while 800 million people suffer from world hunger. Whatever your motivations, banning meat and fish from your meals - whether permanently or occasionally - still raises some questions.

Vegetarianism and religion

Frequently associated with Hinduism, vegetarianism originates from Indian vegetarian cuisine. But what is the story exactly? Vegetarianism is considered by the Hindus as the first renunciation to which the yogi, a Hindu who practices yoga, must submit in order to be pure and to be able to reach deliverance. In most Hindu holy cities, alcohol and non-vegetarian foods are prohibited. In addition, there is a law against the slaughter of cows, considered sacred. Indeed, the Hindus consider the cow as the best representative of the benevolence of animals and it is therefore sacred in many states of India.

Environmental reasons: deforestation, lack of drinking water …

Cattle farming is the main cause of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. In 2009, according to Greenpeace, around 80% of this jungle was cleared to serve as pasture for livestock or to grow cereals necessary for animal feed. This deforestation therefore has a major impact on the planet and its population: release of large quantities of CO2, land degradation, floods, landslides, disappearance of species, etc. In addition, livestock consumes too much water. What's worse, animal husbandry not only wastes water, it pollutes it too.

Becoming vegetarian for health reasons

Is eating meat bad for your health? Over the past half century, meat consumption has increased by 60% in Europe. Adding meat to the daily menu has become a dietary habit. However, eating too much meat is like eating too much sugar or drinking too much alcohol. In other words, it is putting your health at risk. Indeed, several scientific studies are already showing that excessive meat consumption has a direct link with cardiovascular disease, certain cancers (intestine, prostate, colon, pancreas, breast, lungs), stroke, diabetes, hypertension and obesity.

In addition, the massive use of antibiotics and hormones, used for intensive cattle rearing, promotes the development of certain bacteria such as Salmonella, for example. Each year, more than a million people die from food poisoning from meat. Closer to public health recommendations; rich in fruits, vegetables and fiber; low in saturated fat and processed meat, it would seem logical that becoming a vegetarian contributes to better health like world famine! Yes, you got it right! Becoming vegetarian is also one of the solutions to repel famine.

What about the disadvantages of the vegetarian diet?

Weight loss, rejuvenated heart, optimization of digestion, reduction of inflammation and acceleration of recovery, prevention against cardiovascular disease, etc. We tend to attribute to vegetarianism a multitude of virtues for health. But does it only have benefits? What about the disadvantages? Is vegetable protein the equivalent of animal protein?

If we eradicate meat from our menu, we expose ourselves to certain disorders of the body. These are often linked to the risk of deficiency of certain nutrients: risk of deficiencies in iron, phosphorus, zinc, and therefore risk of fatigue, anemia. A vegetarian diet must therefore compensate for these shortages with adapted vegetable alternatives, such as green vegetables for example, which are a superb source of iron. As for proteins, they will be provided by dairy products or eggs, or even legumes or tofu.

Basically, becoming a vegetarian or vegan is therefore not trivial. Once again, everything is a question of balance: a certain attention, good information, and a good control of its nutritional contributions to limit the disadvantages as much as possible. If everything is well balanced, there is no particular problem!