Vegetarian Diet Plan - Why Do People Choose It?

My husband and I decided to switch to a vegetarian diet plan earlier this year. Going vegetarian now for six months and counting, I have had the opportunity to see the world from the perspective of a non-meat-eater now. That has made me curious about what reasons people choose to follow or switch to a vegetarian diet plan.

Certainly, a lot of people in the world are brought up as vegetarians, and know nothing of eating meat or fish. This is often due to certain religious beliefs, such as those of Buddhists, who don't believe in harming any living thing. In other religions, such as Hinduism and Jainism, some apply the principle of nonviolence to animals and other creatures as well as to humans.

In other parts of the world, such as India, the distinction can be more cultural, where those living in South India tend to eat vegetarian, while those living in North India incorporate some kinds of meat into their diet. Those cultural origins of vegetarianism are passed on to future generations as people have emigrated from India. And many of my friends whose parents emigrated to the U.S. from India continue to eat a vegetarian diet.

Other people have chosen a vegetarian diet for ethical or moral reasons. That means they may object to having animals killed just for them to be able to eat dinner. They may not approve of the way animals are raised for food, calling out the inhumane treatment, or the use of growth hormones and antibiotics to make those animals more "productive."

Along the same lines, some people switch to a vegetarian diet because they don’t want to ingest the hormones and drugs that are often given to mass-market meat, because it's still unclear what effects those things have on humans. Some scientists have linked the rise in drug-resistant bacteria to the antibiotics that are given to meat and then ingested by humans.

Finally, others choose to make a lifestyle change to a vegetarian diet plan for health reasons.

Some specifically choose these foods as a way of losing or maintaining weight, because most vegetarian foods are low fat and low carb, and often lower in calories. Others need to make a change to make sure their heart and other organs stay healthy, or to do their best to keep away from a family history of heart attacks, strokes, or diabetes. And still others notice that meat or dairy products don't agree with them, that their bodies don't tolerate those foods as well.

There is quite a range of reasons why people choose a vegetarian diet plan. It is clearly a highly personal choice, especially if you are starting later in life. For me and my husband, we made the switch because we wanted to be healthier and hopefully lose some weight as well. And six months later, we're a combined 45 pounds lighter, and we feel a whole lot better!

Click here for more information on how to start your own vegetarian diet plan.