I felt weird lately so I went to my doctor. She said my blood pressure is 140/95. She gave me 2 choices, follow a DASH diet, exercise or kung hindi ko babaguhin ang lifestyle ko, I may have to take maintenance pill for the rest of my goddamn life. I go to the gym regularly so it's really on the diet. I'm determined to pass this kaya I researched it further and found out that vegetarian diet is the way to go in order to maintain good health and prevent disease, with a variety of supporting studies backing up those claims.
Pero ano ang mga bagay na I have to give up to achieve this and will I really be happy? I debated this internally weighing on the pros and cons.
It's good for the environmentGlobally, half the rain forests have been destroyed in order to make space for beef cattle to graze. In turn, that creates green-house gases and the extinction of roughly 1,000 species a year. Meanwhile animal farmers use roughly 2,500 gallons of fresh water to produce one little pound of meat, and are notoriously big water polluters.
But then again, burgers …
South Beach Miami Diablo BurgerYou'd cut the risk of developing diseasesStudies show that vegetarians are at less of a risk of developing certain types of cancer, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, heart disease, cholesterol and strokes, among others.
But then again, steak …
Jerk rubbed hanger steak & curried mango chutney over coconut milk braised collard greensYou'll be thinnerOn average, vegetarians are less likely to be obese than meat-eaters – 10 to 20 per cent lighter. Studies also show that a vegetarian diet keeps weight off long term, as opposed to many of the yo-yo diets out there.
But then again, bacon…
Bacon Wrapped Chicken Stuffed w/ Asparagus & MozzarellaIt's cruel to animalsAnimals are smarter than we often think, and they also experience stress, pain and fear. There are many arguments that locking them up in crates, sending them to the slaughterhouse and fattening them up for human consumption is unethical.
But then again, wings …
Super Easy Dijon Brown Sugar Glazed Baked Chicken WingsAlso cruel to fishAside from adding potentially harmful amounts of mercury to your body, eating fish is just as cruel as eating pig or baby calf. That’s because according to research, fish feel pain when they are injured.
But then again, sushi …
Niji's Eat all you can Sushi and Sashimi buffetGoing vegetarian still meets all nutritional requirementsAccording to the Canadian Dietitians Association, it doesn’t matter if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or an older adult — you can get proper nutrition without meat. If you’re cognizant enough to ensure you find alternative sources of B12 and omega-3 fats from foods and supplements, of course.
But then again, pork belly…
Casa Manila Lechon Kawali with liver sauceVegetarianism could lower world hungerIt takes roughly 10 pounds of plant protein — exported from countries where hunger is a huge problem – in order to produce one pound of beef. Imagine what would happen if the countries exporting that grain actually used it to feed their own people.
But then again, t-bones…
1lb T-Bone. Shrimp croquettesSo there you have it — hirap talagang mag decide. What d'you think? If you like those pics, I can hand you the recipe.
Thanks to Amber Dowling of The Loop
