Becoming a vegetarian
   Avoiding meat is only one part of the picture. A healthy vegetarian
   People become vegetarians for many reasons, including health, religious
   vegetarian diet because they can't afford to eat meat. Vegetarianism
   availability of fresh produce, more vegetarian dining options, and the
   commissioned by the Vegetarian Resource Group, a nonprofit organization
   that disseminates information about vegetarianism. Several million more
   Traditionally, research into vegetarianism focused mainly on potential
   "appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or
   control, becoming a vegetarian won't necessarily be good for you. A
   "vegetarian." For health, it's important to make sure that you eat a
   You can get many of the health benefits of vegetarianism without going
   meat. Even if you don't want to become a complete vegetarian, you can
   Only you can decide whether a vegetarian diet is right for you. If
Varieties of vegetarians
   Strictly speaking, vegetarians are people who don't eat meat, poultry,
   themselves vegetarians, including the following:
   Vegans (total vegetarians): Do not eat meat, poultry, fish, or any
   Lacto-ovo vegetarians: Do not eat meat, poultry, or fish, but do eat
   Lacto vegetarians: Eat no meat, poultry, fish, or eggs, but do consume
   Ovo vegetarians: Eat no meat, poultry, fish, or dairy products, but do
   Partial vegetarians: Avoid meat but may eat fish (pesco-vegetarian,
   pescatarian) or poultry (pollo-vegetarian).
Can vegetarianism protect you against major diseases?
   Maybe. Compared with meat eaters, vegetarians tend to consume less
   But there still aren't enough data to say exactly how a vegetarian diet
   of vegetarianism from other practices that vegetarians are more likely
   Heart disease. There's some evidence that vegetarians have a lower risk
   published several years ago — vegetarians were, on average, 25% less
   from studies comparing vegetarian and nonvegetarian Seventh-day
   drink or smoke; about 40% are vegetarians). In another study involving
   found a 19% lower risk of death from heart disease among vegetarians.
   there's evidence that vegetarians have a lower incidence of cancer than
   nonvegetarians do. But the differences aren't large. A vegetarian diet
   servings of fruits and vegetables, but a purely vegetarian diet is not
   Vegetarian Study and EPIC-Oxford, fish-eaters had a lower risk of
   certain cancers than vegetarians.
   If you stop eating red meat (whether or not you become a vegetarian),
   avoiding all animal products reduces the risk further. Vegetarians
   their colons, but studies comparing cancer rates in vegetarians and
   nonvegetarians have shown inconsistent results.
   Adventists, vegetarians' risk of developing diabetes was half that of
   nonvegetarians, even after taking BMI into account. The Harvard-based
   Some women are reluctant to try a vegetarian diet — especially one that
   about osteoporosis. Lacto-ovo vegetarians (see "Varieties of
   vegetarians") consume at least as much calcium as meat-eaters, but
   People who follow a vegetarian and especially a vegan diet may be at
   Becoming a vegetarian requires planning and knowledge of plant-based
   The Vegetarian Resource Group
   Vegetarian Society of the United Kingdom
   Concerns about vegetarian diets have focused mainly on the following
   Protein. Research shows that lacto-ovo vegetarians generally get the
   example, wheat, oats, barley, and brown rice). Vegetarians used to be
   those products include dairy foods and eggs, so most vegetarians get
   Iron. Studies show that in Western countries, vegetarians tend to get
   reduces zinc absorption, but vegetarians in Western countries do not
   ALA for women, but vegetarians who consume little or no EPA and DHA