Be a Vegetarian: Eliminating Toxic

When people talk about detoxification and cleansing the body of harmful toxins, it’s often seen as a fringe element of vegetarians. People really don’t like to think about harmful toxins building up in their colons or in their arteries, but it’s often a by-product of a carnivorous diet. A diet that’s high in fat. Processed foods tend to slow down our digestive systems, and our elimination processes are also interrupted.

This can allow harmful bacteria and toxins to accumulate and create a general feeling of sluggishness, as well as a host of digestive disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome or colitis. When we begin eating a more healthy vegetarian diet, we start to get more dietary fiber into our systems, and in time, our digestive systems start to work better.

When you eliminate high-fat meat and processed foods from your diet, then much of your body’s energy is freed from the intense work of digesting these foods. Everything becomes clearer – your blood, your organs and your mind. You start to become more aware of the toxic nature of the food you’d been eating before.

Toxicity is of much greater concern in the twentieth century than ever before. There are many new and stronger chemicals, air and water pollution, radiation and nuclear power. We ingest new chemicals, use more drugs of all kinds, eat more sugar and refined foods, and abuse ourselves with various stimulants and sedatives. The incidence of many toxicity diseases has increased as well. Cancer and cardiovascular disease are two of the main ones. Arthritis, allergies, obesity, and many skin problems are others. In addition, a wide range of symptoms, such as headaches, fatigue, pains, coughs, gastrointestinal problems, and problems from immune weakness, can all be related to toxicity. When you start a vegetarian eating plan, your body eventually cleanses itself of the harmful effects of these toxic foods.

Vegetarianism and Skin Health: Eat Your Way to Beauty

Skin experts suggest that a vegetarian diet that is rich in healthy fats and fresh, raw foods is good for the skin because the body processes these foods easily; the nutrients support healthy skin cell growth, and can help reduce inflammation that may be causing acne, eczema, and other skin conditions. 

Here are some additional skin benefits of an animal-free diet:

1. Natural glow. When you eat lots of nuts and vitamins, your skin benefits from a boost of Vitamin A and Vitamin E. Nursingdegree.net reports that nuts and vegetables that contain high levels of vitamins A and E can help reduce blemishes and keep your skin looking fresh, vibrant and youthful. (Source: Nursindegree.net)
2. Even-toned complexion. Does your skin look blotchy but you don't have any major blemishes? Your diet could be to blame. Problems with your digestive system often appear around your cheeks and chin, and if you're eating a high-meat diet, you could be experiencing constipation or poor digestion. A vegetarian diet that contains a lot of fresh, leafy vegetables and a variety of fruit can help to clean out your digestive system which can have a positive effect on your skin.
3. Rapid scar recovery. If you have acne scars or are experiencing other types of scarring as a result of minor trauma, a healthy, vegetarian diet can help speed up the healing process. Healthy fats are readily available in a balanced vegetarian diet; foods like avocados, Brazil nuts and Omega-3 rich foods can promote healing and reduce the appearance of blemishes and scars.
4. Reduced risk of eczema or psoriasis. Eczema and psoriasis are types of inflammation in the body, and can become even more prevalent when you are eating meats, sugar or drinking too much alcohol. A clean, vegetarian diet can reduce the risk of developing these skin conditions because the foods you eat will keep your body in balance.
5. Smoother skin. Vegetarian diets often include high amounts of tofu and low-fat dairy products such as yogurt, which can have a tremendous positive effect on the skin. Yogurt and tofu are healthy sources of protein, and will nourish the skin, hair and nails. Eating more servings of
   these foods per day can help you achieve firmer, smoother and more resilient-looking skin.
6. Reduced appearance of fine lines. If you're eating a vegetarian diet that's rich in water-based foods, you'll enjoy the benefits of hydrated skin. You need to drink at least 10 glasses of water per day to ward off wrinkles. (Source: Ayushveda.com) This is easier to do when you're eating lots of foods that contain water. Loading up on lettuce, citrus fruits, watermelon and other water-based foods can help you meet your water quota for the day.

Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet

It has been well documented through the years that vegetarians are healthier than people who eat meat. Vegetarians are less likely to be obese, or to have high blood pressure, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or colon cancer. They are also less likely to die from heart disease. Vegetarians have lower blood pressure even when they eat the same amount of salt as meat eaters and exercise less. 

Many studies show that vegetarians have less instances of colon cancer, due in large part to the differences in the bacterial flora that is present in the colon. There are many factors in the vegetarian diet that contribute to better health. Vegetarians consume two to three times as much fiber as do meat-eaters, which has been shown to reduce cholesterol and blood glucose levels, and protect against colon cancer. They also consume more antioxidants, which are found in a wide variety of plant foods and protect cells from oxygen-induced damage and reduce the risk for heart disease, arthritis, cancer, and other diseases.  

Vegetarians eat more isoflavones than do meat eaters. These compounds, found mostly in soy foods, are a type of phytochemical. Research shows that isoflavones may reduce the risk for prostate cancer and may improve bone health. Vegetarians also consume much less saturated fat and cholesterol than do meat eaters, resulting in significantly lower levels of blood cholesterol, decreased instances of heart disease and possibly for diabetes and cancer. And, since vegetarians do not eat meat, they are not exposed to heme iron, a type of iron found in meat that may increase the risk of heart disease and cancer. And lastly, vegetarianism is not only optimally healthy for your body, but your environment and the animals. It allows you to live more harmoniously with the world around you, which improves mental and emotional health accordingly.