How Valid Are Vegetarian Statistics?
Many, if not most vegetarian statistics point to the fact that vegetarians are on the average healthier than their non-vegetarian counterparts. Not all of this is due to diet, though of course much of it is, but vegetarians as a whole very often lead a lifestyle that is relatively healthier than the lifestyle of their meat-eating counterparts. It can be difficult to separate out how much a person's health and well-being is attributable to vegetarianism and how much is attributable to other life style practices, but there does seem to be a definite correlation.
A healthy well balanced diet, usually contains some meat, or at least fish or poultry, and some vegetarians make an exception by eating small amounts of fish or poultry, but most eat no meat at all. The closest most vegetarians come to eating meat is when consuming dairy products or eggs.
Vegetarian statistics do seem to bear out the fact that vegetarians have a lower incidence of heart disease, high blood pressure, and Type 2 diabetes than do non vegetarians This would make sense, as a diet comprised mainly of vegetables, fruits, and grains would be much lower in saturated fat and cholesterol, and a contain a higher percentage of fiber than a diet containing meat. If should be noted that processed foods could alter these statistics somewhat.
What Vegetarians May Lack - Those who look to vegetarian statistic for proof that a vegetarian diet is not all it's cracked up to be will point out that the typical vegetarian does not get nearly the same amount of protein as does the non vegetarian, nor is the amount of iron found in a strictly vegetarian diet sufficient. As far as protein is concerned, the vegetarian usually gets enough, as the meat-eater will usually consume much more protein than the body actually has a use for. There is some validity to the claim that a vegetarian diet is iron deficient. Iron contained in vegetables is not absorbed as readily as that contained in meats, due to the high fiber content of the vegetables, but an iron deficiency is nearly as common in non vegetarians. Vegetarians do need to exercise some care in making certain they get enough iron as well as vitamin D and vitamin B12. A deficiency in vitamin B12 can lead to serious problems, but supplements or fortified foods will usually keep any problems from occurring.
Who Are They? - Who are those that make up the vegetarian segment of our population? Roughly 7% of the population are strict vegetarians, with women outnumbering men by about 2 to 1. Another 6% or so are seriously contemplating becoming vegetarian. Vegetarian statistics also indicate that a vast majority of the population feel we are headed more and more towards becoming a vegetarian society. About a third of those questioned believe a vegetarian diet is more healthy, while slightly over half consider meat to be an essential part of a healthy diet. As far as meat is concerned, just under 40% of the population say they eat less beef than they used to, while nearly 3/4 of those questioned said their favorite meat is chicken.
Summary - There have been quite a few vegetarian statistics published over the years, from a variety of sources. Most of these statistics appear to be credible, with the possible exception of those published by segments of the processed food industry. The general trend seems to be in favor of an ever-increasing number of vegetarians popping up in our society. Most people are seen to be eating less red meat as the years go by, and most people seem to feel that vegetarianism is becoming more popular with each passing year. While a wholesale shift to vegetarian life styles doesn't seem to be in the cards at the moment, more and more people are eating meat-free meals more often than was ever the case in the past.