| Many of the health benefits derived from a | | | | than in a meat-eating population. |
| vegetarian diet have to do with creating a healthy | | | | Other diseases of the bowel that occur less |
| environment in the bowels and stomach. Our | | | | frequently in a vegetarian population include |
| digestive systems, from prehistory on, were | | | | irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic ulcerative |
| designed to metabolize vegetable matter, more | | | | colitis, mostly likely due to the increased fiber |
| than animal products. Fruits, vegetables, legumes | | | | content in a vegetarian diet. And of course a diet |
| and nuts provide the kind of dietary fiber our | | | | that’s higher in dietary fiber that comes from |
| digestive systems need to function properly. The | | | | a vegetarian diet will decrease the likelihood or risk |
| Western diet that’s high in processed and | | | | of colon cancer. |
| refined flour and sugar, and in animal products | | | | When you consider the risks that come with a |
| that are laden with hormones and antibiotics, are | | | | diet that includes meat and animal products, and |
| actually anathema to our insides. | | | | the benefits that come from a vegetarian diet, |
| When the digestive system doesn’t function | | | | does the prospect of a steak or burger or bacon |
| and work as it’s intended to, that leads to | | | | really sound that good to you? Doesn’t it at |
| opportunistic diseases or changes in the DNA of | | | | least make sense to reverse the portion sizes |
| cells in the stomach and colon. And there are | | | | and proportions of meats to vegetables and side |
| more practical considerations as well. When we | | | | dishes? In other words, if you must continue to |
| don’t get enough of the fiber we need, we | | | | eat meat, then make meat your side dish, or just |
| incur a host of digestion and elimination problems, | | | | incidental to your meal, such as in a stir fry. |
| such as constipation and hemorrhoids that are a | | | | Increasing the proportion of fruits and vegetables |
| result of straining. These diseases and syndromes | | | | in your diet can only be good for you. |
| are much less evident in a vegetarian population | | | | |