| While many people lament the nutritional | | | | Fruits and vegetables also contain high amounts of |
| disadvantages of a poorly planned vegetarian diet, | | | | fiber, which helps flush toxins out of the body, |
| few stress the health advantages of adopting a | | | | further contributing to better skin health. |
| vegetarian or vegan diet. In this article, I will cover | | | | The last health advantage vegetarians enjoy is an |
| the major three nutritional advantages of becoming a | | | | increased natural consumption of antioxidants. |
| vegetarian. | | | | Antioxidants are foods that help prevent cancer by |
| The first major advantage of a vegetarian diet is | | | | destroying free radicals. Vitamin C and Vitamin E, two |
| increased heart health. Vegetarians, on average, | | | | strong antioxidants, are commonly found in |
| consume more nuts (often as a supplemental form | | | | vegetarian meals. |
| of protein). Nuts contain "good" fats, such as | | | | Vitamin C can be found in berries, tomatoes, citrus |
| omega-3 and omega-6. This promotes good heart | | | | fruit, kale, kiwis, asparagus and peppers. |
| health by reducing "bad" cholesterol and unclogging | | | | Vitamin E can be found in wheat germ, seed oils, |
| arteries. | | | | walnuts, almonds, and brown rice--all foods that are |
| In addition to nuts, vegetarians also consume more | | | | commonly a part of a well-balanced vegetarian diet. |
| soy milk (often to replace milk), which reduces "bad" | | | | So what does this all mean for you as a prospective |
| cholesterol and has been linked to good heart health. | | | | vegetarian? |
| The second major advantage vegetarians enjoy is | | | | It means the popular mythology about vegetarian |
| increased skin health. In addition to consuming larger | | | | diets is false. Not only can a vegetarian diet be |
| quantities of nuts (which contain healthful oils), | | | | nutritionally sufficient, but it can also affect better |
| vegetarians tend to consume more fruit and | | | | skin health, prevent cancer, and increase your heart |
| vegetables, which are rich in essential vitamins, | | | | health. |
| including A and E, which are linked to good skin health. | | | | |