Why does it seem like everyone is transitioning into the vegetarian diet? Well, there is no one correct answer to this question because people transition to the vegetarian lifestyle for so many reasons.

While some transition because of the several health benefits associated with the diet, others are in for moral reasons.

Despite all the reasons for moving to a vegetarian diet, the major reason for this transition has always been for the benefits.

So how can a simple dish like vegetarian katsu curry be better than other alternatives? And should I transition to the vegan diet?

It is only after understanding the health benefits that come with a vegetarian diet that you can make the proverbial leap of faith. Let’s jump right in!

Keep diseases away

It goes without saying that the vegetarian diet is healthier than the average diet. Well, the vegetarian diet is directly associated with reducing, preventing, and also reversing the occurrence of heart diseases and also reducing the risk of cancer.

Cardiovascular diseases are among the number one killers in the world. Studies have shown that a low-fat vegetarian diet has worked in reversing or stopping the progression of coronary artery disease.

Transitioning to a vegetarian diet means that you consume less cholesterol and animal fat. What’s more, you get the benefits of the minerals and fibre found in plant-based food, for instance, vegetables and fruits.

Now you have more reasons to listen to mum and eat more vegetables!

Keep your weight down

The regular diet which is a combination of saturated fats and processed foods often low in fibre and complex carbs is doing us a lot of harm.

Today, the number of people who are obese is higher than a few decades ago. With this statistic, the number of people at risk of getting weight-related diseases like diabetes, and heart diseases is alarming.

While today’s diet is keeping the population obese, how does the vegetarian diet compare? A low-fat vegetarian diet is low in calories compared to its counterparts meaning that it is a lot less likely to cause an increase in weight.

Also, studies have proven that the transition to the low-fat vegetarian diet for those who are overweight, will not only help in getting the weight down but also keeping the weight down on a long-term basis.

With a low-calorie diet, you are able to eat larger portions of food and get away with it. On the flip side, however, with the modern diet, a small portion is laden with so many calories yet not filling, therefore resulting in people consuming more calories than they require.

Strong bones

Calcium is essential for our bodies, heck, they are made of calcium. So when there is not enough calcium in the body, it has to get it from somewhere, and where could that be? If you said the bones, then you are right.

When the body has an insufficient amount of calcium, it leaches from the bones. If this goes unrecognized over time, then the bones become porous and weak.

While there are several artificial supplements of calcium today, health practitioners recommend that we take our calcium through food.

The reason for this is that food has other minerals, for instance, magnesium and phosphorous that help our body absorb calcium. A good source of vitamin C and other supporting minerals is fruits and vegetables.

A vegetarian diet is laden with fruits, vegetables, and other legumes that are a great source of vitamin C. To be specific, dark green veggies, for instance, broccoli and kales are among the best natural sources of vitamin C.

Enough energy

The body needs proper nutrition in order to keep up with everyday activities, for example, keeping up with high-energy kids, or working out.

Excessive fat in the bloodstream compromises the operation of the blood vessels and therefore, less oxygen gets into the muscles. The by-product of this is feeling lethargic and not really motivated to do the regular stuff.

A low-fat and well-balanced vegetarian diet is usually free from the cholesterol that is present in an animal products diet.

A typical vegetarian diet is laden with fruits, veggies, or legumes that are packed with complex carbs. This is the ultimate source of energy that fuels the body.

Proper bowel movement

Having a proper bowl movement is taken lightly until you experience constipation or even worse hemorrhoids.

Proper bowel movement is facilitated by enough fibre consumption in our diets. An average vegetarian diet is laden with enough fibre thanks to the inclusion of vegetables and fruits.

Out of all the diets out there, the vegetarian diet is your best chance of avoiding constipation and diverticulitis.

Lengthy life

If you look around, there are plenty of studies that point to the source of lifestyle diseases to be the modern diet, which is nothing but meat and processed food.

What’s more, studies also indicate that people who consume meals laden with saturated fats not only have a shorter life expectancy but also have a greater chance of experiencing disabilities towards the twilight years of their lives.

A case in point is the residents of Okinawa Japan who have the longest life expectancy anywhere in the world.

The typical diet of people from this part of Japan, largely involves fibre-rich veggies and fruits, unrefined complex carbs, and soy.

If you were looking for a secret to a longer life on earth, there you have it!

Take away

The recent shift to the vegetarian type of eating is not a coincidence, there are plenty of health benefits that come with it.

The transition should not be easy but it is possible, remember you don’t have to be perfect, all you have to do is just start the rest you will figure out along the way.

So should you make the necessary transition to the vegetarian lifestyle? While there are so many reasons other than health benefits, for instance, sparing animal lives around the world, the decision remains yours to make.