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A vegetarian diet absolutely provides all the nutrients needed by the human body.

How can I be so sure?

Well, I have been a vegetarian for over twenty years and I am still alive. Had I been consuming a diet that did not provide me with the necessary nutrients, I would surely have passed on by now.

As I recall, around the time I gave up meat, one of my classmates decided to eat only small doodads she found on the playground. Bottle caps and pebbles and such.

Another, in a move designed to teach me a thing or two, decided to eat ONLY animal by-products: fur, bone chips, fresh cut lard...

Both those kids are long since gone, yet I continue to thrive. Go figure.

A vegetarian diet actually provides a much stronger foundation for good health than a diet without vegetables, which, sadly, is the norm for many Americans.

My diet, for example, which includes everything from pasta to salad to stir-fried tofu, has kept me as alive and well as any meat-filled diet. It is not boring, or difficult to maintain. It's simply a good choice I made a long time ago that has become a without-a-second-thought part of my lifestyle.

Even when I was in my early twenties and surviving on cheap, sad foods like toast and ice cream sandwiches, I was still healthier than most of my carnivorous friends who regularly dined at Burger King. They were often sick, or tired, but I felt great.

There is no need for me to monitor how much protein I am getting; PLENTY of foods other than meat have enough protein. Incorporating vegetables, yogurt, cheese, tofu and other healthy foods into a vegetarian diet is simple and tasty. And when I am away from home, there are very few restaurants that don't offer vegetarians a variety of choices.

Any vegetarian who makes reasonably healthy food choices will be as healthy or healthier than a similar meat-eater, and should not have to get caught up in worrying about his or her health. ANYONE could benefit by taking a good multi-vitamin. Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike should just take one daily if they're concerned they may not be getting the necessary nutrients.

Being a vegetarian is much easier and more satisfying than most meat-eaters imagine. It will increase your life span as well as your quality of life. Not to mention that it's better for the planet. Try it for a week and you will be surprised how different you will feel.

Learn more about this author, Holly B.
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