Although vegetarianism as a practice is as ancient as the earliest
Buddhists and Jainists, it is enjoying a modern resurgence in the 21st
century. From mega-watt movie stars to small natural grocery stores
cropping up around the country, there is a wave of consciousness
flooding over Americans as they realize not only the moralistic values
of this new lifestyle, but the enormous health benefits as well. Whether
you choose to be a part-time vegetarian or a full-time vegan, you will
quickly see and feel a difference in your everyday life.

Consider this staggering statistic for a moment: 30 to 60 billion
dollars is spent per year on remedying ailments such as diabetes, heart
attacks, cancer, and obesity, all of which are attributed, in part, to
the consumption of meat. By eliminating just one item from your diet,
meat products, you can immediately decrease your chance of developing or
further aggravating health issues that could eventually shorten your
life span by a significant amount of time.

Within just weeks of of eliminating meat you will start to feel the
benefits. These can include increased energy levels, a decrease in body
fat, and higher mental acuity. However, the greatest benefits will be
occuring undetected at the cellular level. Studies have repeatedly shown
that vegetarians reduce their chances of developing cancer by 40
percent and heart disease by 50 percent. These are two of America's
leading killers that can be fought at home by making a lifestyle choice
to become vegetarian.

For those who go a step beyond and eliminate eggs and dairy as well from
their diet experience a higher level of protection against disease.
This lifestyle trains the human body to become stronger with an immune
system that is able to combat a host of ailments like asthma, male
impotence, Alzheimer's, and osteoporosis. Furthermore, vegetarians live,
on average, six to ten years longer than those who consume it
regularly.

While vegetarians are living longer and fighting diseases, their
physical appearance can change dramatically as well. Weight loss is a
common occurence in those who have cut meat from their diet, in part due
to the hormones that are used to process the meat, and also for the way
that meat products are normally prepared. Substituting fatty,
calorie-laden meals cooked in grease for healthy meals comprised of
vegetables, grains, and oats can make all the difference in the life of
someone who is overweight or obese. Some people also experience other
changes such as blemish-free skin and stronger, shinier hair that is due
to the lack of chemicals in their system.

Adults are not the only ones who can benefit from adopting a vegetarian
lifestyle. A diet that is rich in greens and legumes can help children
develop normally and healthily into more satisfied young adults. Some
research has shown that vegetarian children have higher IQ's and grow
taller than their meat-consuming peers; this also automatically places
them at a much smaller risk of developing heart disease, diabetes,
obesity, and other chronic ailments. A child that is not exposed to
chemicals and toxins that are found in processed meats is a child that
has a greater chance of having a life full of opportunities, not one
weighed down by physical illness and depression.

Choosing to become vegetarian is not an easy decision. It requires a
complete overhaul of your diet, a change that your body will eventually
welcome but may initially resist. All of those meals that you once
enjoyed now must either be substituted for vegetarian versions or
discarded all together. In the end, however, the greatest change will be
a mental one when you realize just how substantial this new lifestyle
is in determining your health, happiness, and outlook for the future.