Vegetarian is defined is avoiding all animal flesh, including fish and poultry. Vegetarians who avoid flesh but consume animal products such as milk, cheese and eggs are ovo-lacto vegetarians. Those who abstain from all animal products are referred to as pure vegetarians or vegans.
Scientific research has clearly demonstrated the remarkable benefits of a plant-based diet, with the health benefits increasing as the amount of food from animal sources decrease. Carefully planned and healthy vegetarian diets can help prevent cancer, prevent and reverse diabetes and heart disease, lower blood pressure, reduce inflammatory conditions and better manage asthma.
Some people still have concerns whether a vegetarian diet can provide all the essential nutrients to sustain health. However, with appropriate knowledge (and supplementation when required), it is very easy to have a very well-balanced plant-based diet. Vegetarian eating is appropriate for all stages of life including pregnancy, breast-feeding, infancy, children, adolescence, adulthood, older adulthood and for athletes. My goal to ensure that any individual who transitions towards plant-based eating is well informed and has all the education and skills necessary to greatly improve their health and longevity.
