Pledge to Try Veg

Health Benefits

The American Dietetic Association agree that a well planned vegetarian diet, with a wide variety of plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, breads, cereals, wholegrains, legumes, dairy products or alternatives and nuts and seeds can be nutritionally adequate and healthy^1,.

A well-planned vegetarian diet provides essential nutrients including protein, iron, calcium, zinc, vitamin B12, iodine and essential fatty acids, and is suitable for all ages, including infants and children, and also breastfeeding and pregnant women¹.

• Numerous scientific studies have shown that people who eat a healthy vegetarian diet are less likely to develop:
  • Obesity or be overweight
  • Heart disease
  • Type II Diabetes
  • Some forms of cancer
• Scientific studies show vegetarians, on average, are thinner and have a lower body mass index than non-vegetarians^2,3.
• Vegetarians have a lower risk of developing heart disease⁴ and are 24 per cent less likely to die from heart disease compared with non-vegetarians⁵.

• Vegetarians are twice as likely to have lower blood pressure compared to non-vegetarians⁶.
• Non-vegetarians have a 54 per cent increased risk of developing prostate cancer and an 88 per cent increased risk of developing bowel cancer⁴.
• The World Cancer Research Fund estimates that the incidence of cancer can be reduced by 30-40 per cent if people consume plant-based diets, are physically active and maintain a healthy body weight⁷.
• Vegetarians enjoying a plant-based diet have a higher fibre intake, between 50% and 100% more fibre than non-vegetarians, helping to reduce constipation and the risk of developing diverticular disease^1,6.
• Vegetarians may be half as likely to develop gallstones as non-vegetarians¹.
• A high animal protein intake has been linked with an increased risk of developing osteoporosis⁸. Growing evidence suggests higher intakes of potassium, magnesium and fruit and vegetables are associated with a beneficial impact on bone strength⁹.