Throughout the world, vegetarianism has been practiced for centuries. It only gained popularity in western cultures beginning with the 1980s, when Frances Moore Lappe’s book “Diet for a Small Planet” was released. The book suggested adopting a healthier diet for your own body, as well as for the entire planet. Vegetarians base their actions on a strict set of principles. They believe eating animals is immoral, and promote the consumption of vegetables. Vegetarians do not eat any type of meat. However, they still consume animal byproducts, such as milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs or honey.
There is however, a more extreme form of vegetarians, called vegan. Vegan people do not consume meat or any animal byproducts. They believe it is immoral and wrong to use animals for our selfish well-being. A vegan bases their diets on fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, grains and products made from soy. Veganism has become very popular over the years and it represents more of a lifestyle than just a diet plan. Vegan organizations have put together numerous awareness programs in the attempt to show the world the effects of factory farming on the planet. They fight against the modern over-consumption and mass-production hysteria.
Normally, we are inclined to ask ourselves “Which one is the healthier choice – being a vegetarian or a vegan?” The main problem when it comes to any kind of diet which excludes meat is the lack of protein intake. The main source of protein is our diet. Protein can be found in meat and plants. There are three types of protein-containing foods:
1. Concentrated protein food: any kind of meat (red meat, poultry, fish), eggs, nuts, seeds, milk, cheese, beans, wheat germs, spirulina. These foods contain approximately 20% protein. Spirulina or any other kind of algae is not very recommended because it is quite difficult on the liver.
2. Medium protein foods: rice, wheat, oats, barley. These foods contain between 6 and 14% protein. They are considered to be incomplete proteins, which means they should be combined with other foods which contain protein.
3. Low protein foods: fruits, vegetables and juices obtained from them. They contain less than 5% protein.
By keeping this list in mind, you can choose what kind of products you consume in order to keep your health up to speed. Vegetarians consume some of the products enlisted on the “concentrated protein food”, such as milk, cheese, eggs and so forth. They have a higher chance of covering their daily protein needs.People who chose a vegan lifestyle need to pay a lot more attention to their intake of protein. An imbalance of protein in our bodies can lead to fatigue, inability to concentrate and other serious health complications. If you choose to adopt a vegetarian or vegan diet, make sure you read about it. Also, pay a visit to your doctor and see what he has to say about it. By excluding the consumption of meat, you can reduce your cholesterol levels and you might feel more energized, but make sure your body is prepared for such a change.