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In the past, myths about vegetarianism have abounded, vegetarians were thought to be pale and sickly, limited to a diet of bland vegetables and strange grains. But now a new myth is surfacing; the myth of the healthy vegetarian. Studies, including the massive 25-year Oxford Vegetarian Study in the UK, are suggesting vegetarianism may be a good option for the health conscious. Lowered risks of cancer, lower levels of bad cholesterol, and a longer lifespan are just some of the benefits offered by a vegetarian diet.

Vegetarian or vegan?

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While vegans don’t eat any animal products at all, most vegetarians eat eggs and dairy products. Fancy a margherita dripping with mozzarella? Falafel? Roast vegetable lasagne? These are all foods that vegetarians enjoy. And, apparently, these foods are making healthy vegetarians.

What the scientists say

Scientists are very interested in the idea of the healthy vegetarian, and for good reason. The biggest survey of its kind, the Oxford Vegetarian Study, looks at the health of 6,000 vegetarians and 5,000 meat eaters over twenty-five years. Two recent papers released by the study show real benefits in having a vegetarian diet. Vegetarians have lower levels of bad cholesterol because they take in less animal fats and more fibre, vegetarians are far less likely to have to undergo emergency appendectomies, and excluding meat from your diet can result in a massive 15-25 per cent decrease in your risk of having a heart attack.

Making the switch

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If you also want to be a healthy vegetarian but live on a meat-rich diet, making the switch to a vegetable- and grain-based diet may be difficult. The most important thing for the new vegetarian to do is get informed – and get into the kitchen. The UK Vegetarian Society is a great place to start, with recipes, food facts, and a list of campaigns you can get involved in.

It’s possible to be a happy, healthy vegetarian then. The best way to get started? Grab some recipes and get out that steamer.

Tags: healthy, vegan, vegetarian