by Maya Vokes-Didier

Created on: January 30, 2011

People from various walks of life practice vegetarianism, and over the course of history, some truly great men and women have joined the cause. Philosophers, political leaders and Hollywood celebrities have all found virtue in this dietary option, either as an ideology or as a lifestyle choice.

So, what is it that draws people to vegetarianism? Say researchers

Craig and Mangels, "Common reasons for choosing a vegetarian diet include health considerations, concern for the environment, and animal welfare factors.” Vegetarians also cite ethical considerations and religious beliefs as their reasons for choosing a meat-free diet.

A vegetarian diet is one that exclusively includes vegetables, fruits, nuts, cereal grains and seeds, with or without dairy products or poultry. Lacto-vegetarians include dairy products in their diet, while vegans don’t; and those that consume both poultry and dairy products are lacto-ovo-vegetarians. In principle, a vegetarian does not eat meat, including fowl, poultry, fish and seafood.

While we may all agree that choosing to become a vegetarian is a personal choice, vegetarianism has its benefits and drawbacks. Both sides of the argument are backed by evidence, more details of which can be found by clicking on the appropriate links.

The Pros of Vegetarianism

# More health benefits: By choosing predominantly plant-based foods, we cut our risks of cancer, according to a 1997 report published by the World Cancer Research Fund. Additionally, there are other benefits associated with consuming whole grains that form a large part of a vegetarian diet. These benefits include a decrease in the risk of ischemic heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

# Less chance of being overweight: Animal fat has a higher calorific content than vegetable-based oils and fats. As a result, a vegetarian diet could help weight loss.

# Less fat, more fiber in diet: Vegetables, fruits and nuts have more fiber than meat. A high fiber diet can help your digestive system to process food and absorb nutrients. Fiber also helps lower blood cholesterol and control blood sugar levels.

# Less prone to food-poisoning and food-borne diseases, such as bird flu, mad cow disease and intestinal parasites.

# Is morally ethical: Despite trying to make the process of animal slaughtering as ‘humane’ as possible, it is believed by animal rights activists that slaughtering still causes stress and pain to animals.

The Cons of Vegetarianism

# A vegetarian diet

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