ADA Says You Should Go Veg

Photo: Pink Sherbet Photography, Flickr

Ever thought about going vegetarian, or maybe just cutting some of the meat out of your diet? There's no time like the present, especially now that the American Dietetic Association has changed its stance on going veg from tentative (good for adults, maybe not for kids) to full-fledged!

According to a recent article in the ADA Journal, the ADA's current position is that, as long as appropriate planning is involved, vegetarian and vegan diets "are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases." It goes on to endorse a plant-based diet for those in all stages of life, including infants, children, pregnant and lactating women and athletes.

That doesn't mean that vegetarianism doesn't present some challenges. While you certainly can get the appropriate nutrients from a vegetarian or vegan diet, it can be difficult to get as much Vitamin D and B12 as necessary. Whether you get it through food, like leafy greens and tofu, or supplements is up to you.

Basically, the results showed that vegetarianism isn't just OK for everyone -- it reduces risk of heart disease and is related to lower LDL (or bad) cholesterol and lower rates of hypertension compared to meat diets. Oh, and type 2 diabetes? Yep, vegetarians have lower rates of that, too.

Add that to the fact that those who skip the beef also have a lower body mass index and lower cancer rates, plus, their risk of chronic disease is lowered, and you've got a pretty darn good case for a plant-based diet. Sticking to a diet filled with fruits, veggies, whole grains and the like is one of the easiest and most effective ways to stay healthy!

As this article in the Washington Post points out, these findings shouldn't freak you out if you just can't imagine becoming a vegetarian. Check out these vegetarian cookbooks for some inspiration. Or just try subbing out a few meaty meals each week for a vegetable dish. You just might find yourself craving broccoli instead of burgers before too long!