Vegetarianism as defined by The World Book Dictionary (1989) is "the
practice or principle of eating only vegetable foods and refraining
from eating meat, fish, or other animal products". This definition,
though accurate, seems somewhat limited, as being a vegetarian is so
much more: it is a lifestyle choice, a way of thinking, and a way of
behaving. Over 12 million Americans and countless others, from all over
the world, have turned to the vegetarian diet (Vegetarian Times, 1996).
People who have become vegetarians have made a conscious choice to be
this and, having studied this practice, no one should entertain
becoming a vegetarian lightly. Even though there are many benefits to
becoming a vegetarian, the decision could also be harmful. There are
many reasons for people to choose a vegetarian lifestyle. Some people
adopt it as a fad, while others profess to do it because of an aversion
to eating animals. There are religious reasons for not eating meat and
still others follow vegetarianism as a way to lose weight, using it as
a diet. In each case it can be a healthy or a harmful way to eat. The
benefits or harm of vegetarianism is associated with two factors:
education about nutritional needs coupled with food choices. Even
groups like athletes can thrive on a vegetarian diet if they are well
educated to the bodies' dietary needs ! and are well aware of the
limit-less choices available on a vegetarian diet. What follows in
this essay, is first: a brief, yet insightful look at the vegetarian
diet (the nutritional aspect) and then: an analysis of how this diet
may, in fact, be a good choice for an athlete.
The first thing people need to realize is that there is more
than just one type of vegetarian diet. In fact, there are
three basic vegetarian diets to choose from. The first is the
lacto-ovo diet. This diet includes the use of eggs and dairy
products. The second o...