Vegetarianism or Veganism: A Fair Share of Benefits from Both

In recent years, concern about eating a healthy diet has increased. This has led to new ways of

eating that sometimes lead to confusion. Although many people think that being vegetarian or vegan are the same, this is not the case.

While vegetarians do not eat any animal meat, vegans also do not consume any other products of animal origin, be it eggs, fish, milk, wool or leather clothing, etc.

To put it another way, vegetarianism is more of a diet that implies not only a concern for health, but also personal and religious convictions. While being vegan is a lifestyle that involves more than just not eating meat products.

For them, animal cruelty is not related to their way of life. It was not until the middle of the 20th century that the term vegan began to be used. This word, in fact, arose precisely from the need to make a distinction between vegetarianism and veganism. Vegans not only do not eat meat, but they also have to be very cautious when making purchases. Among their responsibilities is to make sure that they read the labeling of all products carefully to ensure that they are not made with any type of ingredient or substance of animal origin.

While these terms are slightly different, they both bring their set of benefits and that’s exactly what we are going to uncover today! Keep reading.

Advantages of Being a Vegetarian

The vegetarian diet is not something new. It has existed since the origins of Humanity and its followers are increasing. Pythagoras was the first to take a major ideological stand against meat eating and animal sacrifice, claiming that all living things have souls.

However, the turning point of this movement took place in England in the middle of the 18th century with the foundation of the Vegetarian Society and, consequently, of the term “vegetarian”. But what are its benefits? It all depends on the degree of vegetarianism that the person reaches.

The advantages of being a vegetarian are:

• Lighter digestions.
• Reduction of constipation thanks to its richness in fiber and cellulose.
• Combat obesity and overweight problems.
• Decreased risk of diabetes and colon and breast cancer.
• Lower blood pressure.
• Improves vision.
• Increased amount of antioxidants in the body.
• Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.
• Less toxicity within the body.
• Longer life expectancy.
• Helps maintain the welfare of animal species.

Benefits of Being a Vegan

Just like being a vegetarian, veganism also brings with it important health benefits. The vegan diet and its rejection of the consumption of any type of product of animal origin helps to:

• Lose weight in a healthy and controlled way.
• Purify the body naturally thanks to the consumption of fiber.
• Reduce the risk of breast, colon, prostate, stomach and lung cancer.
• Keep cholesterol at bay.
• Control diabetes.
• Fight anemia thanks to the high consumption of iron in foods such as beans, broccoli, raisins, wheat or tofu.
• Flood the body with antioxidants, magnesium, potassium and vitamins A, C and D.
• Alleviate the effects of depression and anxiety. A study has shown that vegans and vegetarians, compared to meat eaters, have lower scores on tests related to mood.
• Reduce the risk of contracting diseases transmitted by animals. Bacteria, parasites and toxins are more present in animal meats and fish.
• Combat the appearance of migraines thanks to the high consumption of organic products. These foods are much purer and therefore less likely to trigger bothersome headaches.
• Improve sports performance. Contrary to what many think, vegan diets are rich in healthy carbohydrates, as well as fats, vitamins and minerals. This translates into higher athletic performance and, consequently, an increase in the number of vegetarian and vegan athletes.
• Sharpen the sense of sight thanks to the consumption of vitamin C.
• Look much healthier skin.

In short, it has been shown that vegans enjoy longer and healthier lives compared to those who abuse the consumption of animal products. But all that glitters is not gold. Like everything in life, there is a negative part that we will explain below.

Are you in Australia looking for a vegetarian restaurant with healthy choices? Check out LE CLEC CAFÉ & RESTAURANT in Hawthorn. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and even host parties or business meetings.