Vegetarian 101

Certain types of meats can be very bad for your health. That is why going vegetarian can ultimately be beneficial. As more research is being done on the bad health effects of meat, more people are switching to a vegetarian diet. How strict of a diet they adopt depends on the type of vegetarianism they choose.What is vegetarianism?Vegetarians avoid meats, fish and poultry. They get all their nutrients through fruits, vegetables, beans, grains and nuts. This is the general diet of every vegetarian, though some have even stricter diets.

• Lacto vegetarianism: Eats dairy products but not eggs.
• Ovo vegetarianism: Eats eggs but not dairy products.
• Ovo-lacto vegetarianism: Eats both dairy products and eggs.
• Veganism: Does not eat any animal or flesh products including eggs, milk and honey.
• Raw veganism: Eats only fresh and uncooked fruit, nuts and vegetables.
• Fruitarianism: Eats only fruit, nuts and seeds.

There are people who consider themselves as semi-vegetarians. This doesn’t have an exact definition. This could be a person who only avoids red meat. A pescatarian, someone who consumes fish but no other meat products, would also fall into this category.People choose to live this type of lifestyle for health purposes. By taking meat out of their diet, people significantly lower their cholesterol which in turn lowers their body mass index. Both of these factors decrease the likelihood of developing a heart disease.Some vegetarians choose this type of diet for religious purposes or animal welfare concerns.Some meats, such as fatty fish, can actually be really healthy. So, you may be wondering if a vegetarian diet is truly healthy. Following a strict vegetarian diet would reduce the body’s intake of protein, vitamin B-12, iron, vitamin D, calcium and zinc. However, vitamin supplements can be taken to balance out the diet.For more information about staying healthy and preventing heart disease, contact the Las Vegas radiology professionals at Steinberg Diagnostic. By receiving annual imaging scans, you can take steps to control a disease before it progresses. To schedule an appointment with the desert radiology Las Vegas experts, call 702.732.6000.