World vegetarian day is celebrated on 1st October every year. It was founded by the North American Vegetarian Society in 1977 and was enforced in 1978 by International Vegetarian Union.
On this day, we celebrate the benefits of being vegetarian by admitting that a meatless lifestyle can be the more delicious one. The vegetarian diet has a lot of benefits over the non-vegetarian diet plus it does not harm other living beings.
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Importance of world vegetarian day
On this day, we celebrate the good things associated with being a vegetarian. It’s a good way to show other people that eating vegetarian food is not boring. There are many mouth watering recipes which are much more delicious than meat. Every year, thousands of people make a healthier move by opting for vegetarian food, showing their concern about the lives of animals.
Benefits of a vegetarian diet over a non-vegetarian diet
A vegetarian diet is much more beneficial than the non-vegetarian diet as it is healthier for our body as well for our ecosystem. The various benefits of a vegetarian diet are:
It’s good for your body
A non-vegetarian diet can cause many health issues whereas a Vegetarian diet is good for our health. A Vegetarian diet is a more balanced diet. It provides our bodies with all the nutrients that we need. ‘Soybean’ and ‘tofu’ have many more proteins than a non-vegetarian diet. The protein of cauliflower as compared with the whole egg is more balanced in amino acids. Plant-based foods like pulses, grains, fruits, and vegetables are packed with all essential nutrients that a human body requires. Thus, Intake of a well balanced vegetarian diet is the best choice.
There is a myth that vegetarians are nutrient deficient but the fact is a well-balanced vegetarian diet fulfills all nutrients in the body.
A vegetarian diet is easily digestible
Human bodies are designed to digest only vegetarian food. It takes relatively more time to digest non-vegetarian food. More time means the constituents in the intestines turn toxic causing various health disorders. A vegetarian diet is rich in fiber which improves our digestive system and leads to proper digestion of food.
Also Read: Yoga – A Journey Towards Self-Reliance.
It provides you with better immunity
Vegetables and fruits are a rich source of all vitamins. Citrus fruits contain vitamin C. Vitamins C and E boost the immune system which is present in citrus fruits, kiwis, strawberries, cauliflower, mustard, and green lettuce. Thus consumption of these natural sources increases your immunity. Thus the strength to fight diseases is enhanced. Berries, oranges, tomatoes, and kiwis can help increase platelet count in our bodies.
It is more hygienic and safe
Most of the meat worldwide comes from factory farms. In these poultry farms, animals are kept in an unhygienic environment, and cleanliness is not taken care of. Because of this, the risk of viral diseases increases. Food poisoning and gastric infections are commonly seen in people who consume meat or mutton regularly.
It reduces the risk of heart diseases
A vegetarian diet is rich in essential elements like fiber, minerals, and vitamins, and is low in saturated fats, and thus, if taken properly, it benefits our body. Due to being low in saturated fats, the diet keeps cholesterol and blood pressure in control, and consuming such a diet for a longer period lowers the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Vegetarian diet helps you live longer
Vegetarian food helps us to live longer by reducing the risk of various diseases that arise from the consumption of non-vegetarian food. Health problems like high blood pressure, increased cholesterol, and obesity increases the risk of early deaths in non-vegetarians, whereas the nutrient-rich vegetarian diet helps us to live longer.
Vegetarian diet does not cause obesity
According to the studies of experts, Vegetarian people are leaner as compared to the non-vegetarian people. The reason is that these foods have quick digestion and thus does not cause obesity. During dieting also, one can reduce more weight by consuming vegetarian food like salads.
It’s good for the environment
The consumption of meat, flesh, mutton seafood, etc. means hunting and slaughtering of animals. This results in the depletion of species and disturbance in the ecosystem. Whereas the consumption of plant parts causes no harm to the environment if done sustainably.
There is Reduced water and energy consumption in production
Growing and cooking vegetarian food does not require much water but the cooking of meat requires plenty of water. It takes 20,940 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of meat, but only 503 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of wheat. Continuous consumption of non-vegetarian food puts a tremendous strain on our limited water supply, whereas the water is used much more efficiently in producing crops.
It can be more delicious
It is observed by the people opting for vegetarian food being a non-vegetarian that vegetarian food is more delicious than the meat. Generally, it is thought that meatless diets are bland and tasteless but it’s not true. Many mouth-watering recipes are there in the category of vegetarian food that can lead a person to stick fingers. Almost any vegetable can be turned into scrumptious veggie-based snacks like pancakes, burgers, pizza, sandwiches, etc. Vegetarian people can also enjoy eating desserts like ice-cream, pancakes, etc. So it is more fun in being a vegetarian.
Conclusion
Animals are the living beings that must be taken care of and treated gently instead of being killed for food. The other important point to be noticed is that Non-vegetarian food harms human health. So let us help in making a better world this year by informing others about the benefits of vegetarianism.
Writing Credits – Ankita Garg
