It is estimated that by 2025, 83% of men and 75% of women aged 20 years or more will be overweight or obese in Australia.Vegetarian diet may improve our health.
The predicted increase would significantly affect the health care costs, mostly due to an increased incidence of type 2 diabetes. Being overweight increases the risk of depression and other mental health disorders also.
Overweight and obesity are associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, some cancers, musculoskeletal conditions, respiratory conditions, sleep apnoea, hernia, reproductive disorders, urinary incontinence and fatty liver disease.
Good News!
But, wait! There’s good news around the corner. We can do something to overcome our diseases, illnesses and weight gains. Nobody wants to have illnesses or lacking energy.
We can learn to eat differently, we can choose food that is good for us. The foods can be be categorised into two groups: “Living” or “Dead” foods.
Just think about it, what does your consumed food do to your body; does it create energy and life or does it make you sick and even worse dead?
Therefore when you eat, have a fabulous, nutrient-rich feast! Because as the old saying goes, “You are what you eat” is true.
However even more accurate would be saying “You are what you absorb”. It’s all about those little nutrients that we absorb that makes a difference to our health and weight concerns.
God has created nutrition for our health benefit. Therefore it is very important to be thankful for our daily bread.
“Worship me, the Lord your God, and He shall bless your bread and water. I will also remove sickness from among you”Exodus 23:25
A variety of nutrients from consumed food becomes our source of energy and life. Cell growth is optimal when eating the right nutrients and the right amount
They are used for building new body tissues and repairing damaged tissues. Energy is required for the chemical reactions in the cell, muscular contraction, conducting of nerve impulses and absorptive activities.
Therefore, Let your food be medicine and your medicine be your food!
(Hippocrates)
Scientific Evidence of Benefits for being a vegetarian
The scientific evidence for the health benefits of consuming vegetables, including nuts and beans, are protective against cardiovascular disease and chronic diseases like cancer.
The scientific evidence for the health benefits of consuming vegetables, including legumes and beans has been clear regarding protective effect against cardiovascular disease by reducing blood pressure and lowering the level of bad cholesterol.
There is strengthened evidence of the beneficial effects of intake of various non-starchy vegetables in reducing risk of some site-specific cancers chronic diseases.
Firstly, evidence suggests that consumption of nuts (65–110g per day) is associated with a reduction in serum cholesterol, a marker for cardiovascular disease.
Secondly, studies report that substituting one serve of nuts for red meat per day results in a significant reduction (19–30%) in cardiovascular disease risk.
Thirdly, evidence suggests that the consumption of nuts (65–110g per day) does not lead to weight gain, at least in the short term.
And lastly, there is evidence of a probable association between consumption of red meat and increased risk of colorectal cancer and renal cancer.
Benefits of Phytonutrients
Consuming at least five serves of vegetables per day (75g per serve) is recommended for Australian adults according to Australian Health Bureaucracy.
Recommended nutrition is fresh fruit and vegetables with small protein intake and whole grain foods.
Choose plenty of foods that contain water, because then your calorie intake is automatically lower with the diet full of fresh ingredients and high water content.
Natural phytonutrient are substances found in plants which are beneficial to human health and help prevent various diseases.
“Phyto” refers to the Greek word for plant. These chemicals help protect plants from germs, fungi, bugs, and other threats.
Natural phytonutrients have indigestible fiber, so called “street sweeper” for your gut. The high-fiber diets move food, toxins, parasites through the intestines.
It increases the the frequency of bowel movements, helps preventing constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, and diverticulosis.
Water Soluble fiber helps lower cholesterol, stabilises blood sugar levels, slows digestion, binds toxins, heavy metals, and chemicals.
Both insoluble and soluble fiber contribute to normal digestive functions.
