As health trends gain popularity, more and more people are becoming vegetarian, at least on occasion. But is vegetarianism actually better? Let’s learn more.

The number of vegetarians and vegans in the US has increased substantially in the past few decades—from about 1% in 1994 to at least 6% in 2022. This can be attributed to health trends, as well as animal welfare and environmental activism. Restaurant chains have experimented with this too, with a lot of their vegan foods being popular (we’ve all heard of the Impossible Whopper by now). But many people still want to eat meat, and a lot of vegetarians/vegans abandon their diet. Why is there such a sharp divide?

Here are some positives for being vegetarian:
• ethical (no animal cruelty)
• environmental
• reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers

There are also negatives:
• meat is often substituted with highly processed plant-based products, which are also bad for health
• nutrients such as iron, calcium, and vitamin B12 are lacking
• calories are often increased, since unhealthy foods like pizza and soda are technically vegetarian

There is definitely evidence supporting vegetarianism. But if not given enough thought, this type of diet can actually lead to a decrease in health.

Conclusion: Less meat intake is, in general, better for a person’s health, but only if nutrition is planned and monitored.

Links for further reading:

Vegetarianism is on the rise — especially the part-time kind

A skeptical look at popular diets: Vegetarian is healthy if you tread carefully

Vegetarian diet: How to get the best nutrition

Becoming a vegetarian