Being a vegetarian is still something of a conversation killer, even in today’s health-conscious society. “What do you eat then?” she mutters to herself under her breath as images of gourmet meat pies are set aside for green salads at the next dinner party.

Vegetarianism has actually shown a slight decline over the past decade, although statistics have shown that many people have been vegetarian at some point in their lives. But overall, the vegetarian lifestyle remains just as popular as evidenced by the ever-growing range of vegetarian and meat-substitute products entering the market.

While the terms vegetarian may seem confusing at first, the concept behind the terms is quite easy to follow.

Lacto-Ovo – Most people when they hear the term vegetarian would think of a lacto-ovo. The term refers to people who do not eat fish or meat, but do eat dairy products and eggs.

Ovo – This term refers to vegetarians who eat eggs but do not eat any dairy products in their diet.

Lacto: refers to a person who will not eat meat or eggs in their diet, but will eat dairy products.

Vegan: Vegans are the strictest form of vegetarian, as they do not eat any kind of animal product or by-product.

Semi: The term semi-vegetarian has become increasingly popular with the rise of the so-called “fad diet.” This category is reserved for people who want to get a taste of the vegetarian lifestyle but still enjoy the occasional burger.

Many vegetarians choose this lifestyle not only because of the health benefits associated with it, but also because of their belief against animal cruelty, and associations like PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) now advocate for the rights of animals.

Before the benefits of the vegetarian lifestyle were well documented, we assumed that vegetarians were bland, skinny, and pale creatures, but with the number of famous celebrities like Pamela Anderson, Paul McCartney, and Alicia Silverstone touting the benefits, the attitude has grown. become more positive. makeover

Vegetarians can be at risk of deficiencies in iron, protein, B vitamins and calcium if they do not balance their diet. But a little education and knowledge from vegetarian sources should ensure this doesn’t happen. Protein can be easily found by eating nuts, seeds, tofu, veggie burgers, and grains. Vitamin B2 can be found by eating leafy green vegetables, almonds, and mushrooms, and many vegetarian products are now fortified with vitamin B12 and vitamin D to help against any deficiencies that may occur. Calcium can be found in tofu, green leafy vegetables, dried fruits, watercress, and many of the soy milks found in markets are fortified with calcium.

Dining out can also pose a problem, as many restaurants still have few vegetarian options and some vegetarian items can be more expensive than their meat counterparts.

The advantage of being a vegetarian is that you don’t have to worry about raising your cholesterol levels by eating too much red meat. Research has also shown that many vegetarians suffer less from obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, type II diabetes, diet-related cancers, constipation, and gallstones.

Even if you don’t wholeheartedly accept the vegetarian lifestyle, trying a vegetarian meal once in a while certainly can’t hurt.