Just cutting out meat from one’s diet doesn’t always lead to a healthier lifestyle.

“There are [vegetarians] who can eat lasagna, pizza, whole milk, ice cream sundaes, etc.,” said Judith Lukaszuk, assistant professor of nutrition. “If they’re choosing foods like that, they are really not doing much better than if they were to chose to eat a little more meat.”

Regardless, vegetarian diets have become more common for many reasons.

Beverly Henry, assistant professor of nutrition, dietetics and hospitality administration, said motivations vary on why someone becomes a vegetarian, ranging from religious to health-related reasons.

Michael Colwell, sophomore mechanical engineering major, has been a vegetarian for the last four years.

“I originally went vegetarian because of animal rights,” he said.

Colwell, a lacto-ovo vegetarian, said his diet primarily consists of pasta, cheese, yogurt, any type of nut, soy protein, whey protein, eggs and milk.

A lacto-ovo-vegetarian is just one of many forms of vegetarianism.

“There’s about seven or eight different kinds,” Lukaszuk said, adding that vegetarianism ranges from lacto-ovo vegetarians who only cut meat out of their diets, to vegans who cut out meat, dairy and all other animal products from their diets.

Those going on these various vegetarian diets can risk cutting out essential nutrients.

“Generally speaking, the more food groups that you remove from your diet the harder you have to work to get a balanced amount of nutrients in,” Henry said. “Eliminating meat can cut down the protein and iron and other nutrients from your diet.”

Colwell said he consumes legumes, milk, soy and whey protein to make up for the protein he does not get from his meatless diet.

Despite having to make up for nutrients and proteins lost from not eating meat and other animal products, following a strict vegetarian diet, especially a vegan diet, can have many health benefits.

“I think there are a lot more people going to a vegan diet because they know the health benefits of it,” Lukaszuk said.

Different forms of cancer, heart disease and autoimmune diseases are just some of the risks a balanced vegan diet will reduce, Lukaszuk said.

“They definitely will live a longer and healthier life,” she said, adding that vegans are usually a healthier weight and leaner, yet are able to eat more because the foods they eat are generally low calorie.

Lukaszuk recommends people consult with a registered dietician before making the decision to become vegan.

“You need to know the right sources to mix and match to get the right amount of protein and nutrients,” she said.

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