They happily munch on carrots, chew on celery sticks, eat tofu, and throw veggie burgers on the grill. People decide to give up meat, and become vegetarians for a number of reasons, including medical issues such as allergies, or high cholesterol. They change their way of life for nutritional reasons, such as food safety, weight loss, or general health improvement and most commonly, because of their determination to not consume living animals.

Animal products contain fat and cholesterol, which is what many of today's health conscious people try to avoid. Chickens, pigs and cows are often fed growth hormones and injected with antibiotics, which ends up in meat bought at the supermarket, or served in restaurants.

A healthy, sensible vegetarian diets consists primarily of plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes like soya beans, lentils, nuts and seeds. Because the emphasis is on nonmeat food sources, a vegetarian diet typically contains less saturated fat and cholesterol, and will usually incorporate more fiber. Medical studies have shown that individuals following a vegetarian regimen seem to have a lower risk of obesity, coronary heart disease (which causes heart attack), high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus and some forms of cancer.

A well-planned vegetarian diet is loaded with nutritional values. Plant proteins can provide enough essential and non-essential amino acids a body needs, as long as the sources of the dietary protein are varied and a caloric intake is high enough to meet the individual’s energy needs. Soy protein, for example, has been proven to be equal to proteins of animal origin, and can, in some cases, be a sole protein source.

When following a vegetarian diet, the risk of iron deficiency may be greater than for meat-eaters, and iron levels in the body may have to be monitored closely. The richest sources of iron are found in red meat, liver and egg yolk, all foods which are also high in cholesterol. That does not mean that iron cannot be retrieved from other foods. Dried beans, spinach, enriched products, brewer's yeast and dried fruits are all excellent iron suppliers.

The human body cannot survive without an ample provision of vitamins and minerals. Most of what the human body requires can be found in a vegetarian diet, but when it comes to vitamin D and B-12, vegetarians and vegans (they do not eat animals or animal by-products such as eggs, dairy, etc.), may need supplements. Vitamin B-12 can be found in some fortified breakfast cereals, fortified soy beverages, some brands of nutritional yeast and other foods (check the product labels), as well as vitamin supplements.

Choosing a vegetarian lifestyle will improve your health and lower the risks of getting diabetes, heart disease, or cancer. Many wonderful dishes can be created with different kinds of beans - from Lima, kidney, pinto, garbanzo, soy beans, to black-eyed peas. These can be served with rice, added to delicious soups, stews, and mouth-watering salads, or made into a variety of casseroles, and ethnic dishes. Tofu, or soy bean curd, can be added to dips and spreads, or served with stir-fried vegetables, and pasta. For the grand finale, meals can be topped off with wonderful desserts made from juicy fresh fruits and a variety of exotic nuts.

In conclusion, if you are concerned about your health, it may be worth while checking into a vegetarian diet. It is a healthy lifestyle with many benefits, which can also work for you!