| While many people lament the nutritional | | | | Fruits and vegetables also contain high amounts of |
| disadvantages of a poorly planned vegetarian diet, | | | | fiber, which helps flush toxins out of the body, |
| few stress the health advantages of adopting a | | | | further contributing to better skin health. |
| vegetarian or vegan diet. In this article, I will cover | | | | The last health advantage vegetarians enjoy is an |
| the major three nutritional advantages of | | | | increased natural consumption of antioxidants. |
| becoming a vegetarian. | | | | Antioxidants are foods that help prevent cancer |
| The first major advantage of a vegetarian diet is | | | | by destroying free radicals. Vitamin C and Vitamin |
| increased heart health. Vegetarians, on average, | | | | E, two strong antioxidants, are commonly found in |
| consume more nuts (often as a supplemental | | | | vegetarian meals. |
| form of protein). Nuts contain "good" fats, such as | | | | Vitamin C can be found in berries, tomatoes, |
| omega-3 and omega-6. This promotes good heart | | | | citrus fruit, kale, kiwis, asparagus and peppers. |
| health by reducing "bad" cholesterol and unclogging | | | | Vitamin E can be found in wheat germ, seed oils, |
| arteries. | | | | walnuts, almonds, and brown rice--all foods that |
| In addition to nuts, vegetarians also consume | | | | are commonly a part of a well-balanced |
| more soy milk (often to replace milk), which | | | | vegetarian diet. |
| reduces "bad" cholesterol and has been linked to | | | | So what does this all mean for you as a |
| good heart health. | | | | prospective vegetarian? |
| The second major advantage vegetarians enjoy | | | | It means the popular mythology about vegetarian |
| is increased skin health. In addition to consuming | | | | diets is false. Not only can a vegetarian diet be |
| larger quantities of nuts (which contain healthful | | | | nutritionally sufficient, but it can also affect better |
| oils), vegetarians tend to consume more fruit and | | | | skin health, prevent cancer, and increase your |
| vegetables, which are rich in essential vitamins, | | | | heart health. |
| including A and E, which are linked to good skin | | | | Information on watermelon facts can be found at |
| health. | | | | the Fruits And Vegetables site. |