Answer to Question 1
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics takes the position that well-planned vegetarian diets offer nutrition and health benefits to adults in general. Research suggests that meat-eating adults who switch to vegetarian diets reduce their risks of heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, some types of cancer, and obesity. Eating patterns that include very little, if any, meat are associated with a lower rate of death from all causes.
Vegetarian protein foods are often higher in fiber, richer in certain vitamins and minerals, and lower in fat-especially saturated fat-than meats. Vegetarians can enjoy a nutritious diet low in saturated fat provided that they limit foods such as butter, cream cheese, and sour cream. If vegetarians follow the guidelines presented here and plan carefully, they can support their health as well as, or perhaps better than, non-vegetarians. Abundant evidence supports the idea that vegetarians may actually be healthier than meat eaters. Informed vegetarians are not only more likely to be at the desired weights for their heights, but they are also more likely to have lower blood cholesterol levels, lower rates of certain kinds of cancer, better digestive function, and more. Even among people who are health conscious, generally vegetarians experience fewer deaths from cardiovascular disease than meat eaters do. Because many vegetarians also abstain from smoking and the consumption of alcohol, dietary practices alone probably do not account for all the aspects of improved health. Clearly, however, they contribute significantly to it.
Answer to Question 2
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