According to Wikipedia, vegetarianism is the practice of a diet that excludes all animal flesh, including poultry, game, fish, shellfish or crustacea, and slaughter by-products.

A less strict definition includes fish as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary. The reasons for choosing vegetarianism may be related to morality, religion, culture, ethics, aesthetics, environment, society, economy, politics, taste, or health.

Why am I posting about Vegetarianism?

I’m not going to eat “poultry, game, fish, shellfish or crustacea, and slaughter by-products” for 30 days.

Why am I doing this?

Reason 1: Vegetarianism is recommended as a dietary therapy for a variety of conditions, including heart disease, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and stroke. Vegetarianism is a major dietary therapy for the alternative treatment of cancer. Other conditions treated with a dietary therapy of vegetarianism include obesity, osteoporosis, arthritis, allergies, asthma, environmental illness, hypertension, gout, gallstones, hemorrhoids, kidney stones, ulcers, colitis, premenstrual syndrome, anxiety, and depression. Vegetarians often report higher energy levels, better digestion, and mental clarity. Source: Healthline

Reason 2: Today is Earth Day, and eating a vegetarian diet is very environmentally friendly. In a major 2006 report by the United Nations, it summarized the devastation caused by the meat industry. Raising animals for food, the report said, is “one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global. ”

Reason 3: Studies have continually proven that eating a vegetarian diet helps you lose weight. Unfortunately, the data I use for scientific research used to be free; now, they’re charging $32 per article, so I can’t share the link with you. Not to change the topic, but we, as taxpayers, pay for this research and IMHO, it should be available to the public for free.

Reason 4: In general, vegetarians replace meat with more nutritious foods, such as fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains, and so on. If you do that, you will be getting more of the nutrients your body needs, giving you better health, less illness, and more energy.

Reason 5: Vegetarianism is an economical and easily implemented preventative practice

For me, this is the key. I know I can eat healthy and still eat meat, but even when I was young, I had an interest in vegetarianism, and I thought now would be a good time to give it a try.

Does eating a vegetarian diet necessarily mean eating a healthy diet?

No!!

Potato chips, donuts, french fries, etc, would qualify as part of a vegetarian diet, but they are also unhealthy. It's always a choice as to eating healthy vs. eating unhealthy.

I’ll keep you posted as to my results and how I feel about my experience with Vegetarianism. BTW, this week, I succeeded in losing 2lbs. That’s was my objective and that’s what I achieved.

NOTE: Before you may or may not decide to alter your diet, especially a Vegetarian one, you should consult with your physician to see if it’s safe for you, because

After all, it’s about a healthy lifestyle!

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