by Becky Brown

What do Pamela Anderson Lee, Leonardo da Vinci, Hank Aaron and Sting have in common? They are all vegetarians. Throughout the course of history, many people have been vegetarians. The reasons people enjoy a veggie lifestyle vary greatly.

Some people are vegetarians for environmental reasons. The production of meat is not an efficient use of land, and water. It takes, for example, over 2,000 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef. In contrast, it only take 60 gallons of water to produce one pound of potatoes. One acre of land can produce 50,000 pounds of tomatoes or 30,000 pounds of carrots. However, that same acre of land would produce only 250 pounds of beef.

Another reason to "veg out" is your health. Statistics show that vegetarians live longer than meat eaters. By eating a vegetarian diet, you will reduce your risk of kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, cancer and a number of other lifestyle related diseases.

One of the most frequently asked questions about vegetarianism is, "Where do you get your protein?" The amount of protein in the standard American diet far exceeds the amount of protein your body requires to function properly. In fact, studies show that an excess of animal protein is a major contributor to osteoporosis. A female vegetarian will have an average bone loss of 18 percent, where as the female meat eater will have an average bone loss of 35 percent.

For whatever reason, whether it be human health, environmental, animal rights or spiritual, many people are committed to a veggie lifestyle. Whether you go completely vegetarian or just incorporate a few vegetarian meals into your diet, it can be beneficial, not only for you, but for the rest of the world. As Albert Einstein put it, "Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet. "