Being Vegetarian Brings Benefits!

Live Longer by Eating Veggies

Want to have a better chance of maintaining a healthy body weight as you grow older? Become a vegetarian. It had been proven that vegetarians have much faster metabolisms than meateaters. In the inevitable slowing of the metabolism with age that results in weight gain, vegetarians have a big advantage.

Recently, a study was conducted that showed that vegetarians have resting metabolic rates (RMR) that are 11% higher than the RMR's of nonvegetarians. A heightened RMR will allow a person to burn fat and calories a lot more quickly than average. On the other hand, a lower RMR will increase the risk of becoming overweight and developing serious health problems that are related to weight issues (like diabetes, heart disease, and strokes). So, by merely substituting every meat dish with a tasty vegetarian dish you can actually increase both your quality of life and your life span.

Good Reason To Eliminate Meat
Did you know that poultry producers and pig farmers routinely use arsenic as a growth stimulant for the animals? Strangely enough, federal law permits the usage of arsenic in commercial animal raising. The trick is that the government stipulates that commercial livestock farmers must stop adding arsenic to the animal feed at least 5 days before the slaughter so that arsenic residue levels will reach a legal level that is approved by the FDA (.55 parts per million).

The truth is, however, that several studies indicate that many livestock farmers do not adhere to these regulations. In fact, the USDA estimates that about 16% of the nation's poultry supply contains levels of arsenic that are above the legal limit. Do your body a favor and skip those meat meals; treat your body to vegetarian entrees instead.

Vegetarian Diet Can Prevent Impotence

Real men are vegetarians! OK, maybe not all real men are vegetarians but one of the biggest benefits of a vegetarian diet for men is that it can help fight impotence. Believe it or not, it was been proven that a diet with a meat base that is high in fat can curb a man's sexual appetite.

Fatty foods like chicken fingers and bacon cheeseburgers cause a higher body fat level which lessens testosterone levels--this can increase the chances of impotence. The reason? Lots of fat can clog the arteries, including arteries that pump blood to the penis. Arterial blockages are a major contributer to impotence problems today.

So, fellas, next time you're cruising through that fast food drive-through, pass on the cheeseburger and opt for a salad or yogurt parfait instead.

Skip Those Menopausal Symptoms

Ladies, ladies, we all dread it…the big "M." Menopause isn't something that any of us look forward to but did you know that a huge vegetarian benefit is that a meatless diet can fight menopaual symptoms. There are many unpleasant symptoms associated with menopause such as hot flashes, sleeplessness, depression, water retention, weight gain, mood swings, and loss of sexual desires (yikes!)

A study was actually done where 15,000 women were questioned about their personal experiences with menopause. Vegetarian women reported having far less symptoms than women with meat in their diets. Scientists believe that the reason is that plants contain natural estrogens (there is a relationship between falling estrogen levels and increased menopausal symptoms). Consuming more fruits, vegetables, and grains can actually curtail the drop of estrogen levels.

Reap the Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet Monetary Wise

Do you want to have some extra cash in your pocket? Who doesn't?! According to studies, people living on vegetarian diets are reaping financial benefits left and right. An average American family spends an estimated $4,000 a year on meat products. Can you imagine how much money you could save if you completely cut meat out of your diet?

Vegetarian Diet Can Reduce Your Cholesterol Levels

Want to have a cholesterol-free diet? Well, my friend, ditch the meat. There is not one single fruit or vegetable that contains any cholesterol; it is a fact that cholesterol only comes from animal sources. Keep in mind that every time you eat a meatless dish you're doing your body a favor and it will end up thanking you in the long run with better health.

In addition, increasing the amount of oat bran or beans in your diet can drastically decrease cholesterol readings (a daily intake of oat bran that is slightly more than a cup or a daily ingestion of 1/2 cup of cooked beans has been proken to reduce cholesterol by 20 %). Try eating soup cups filled with beans or trying out some great vegetarian chili mixes.