Need Motivation to Eat Less Meat and More Plants? Part 5 of 12

Today, some good stats about eating a vegetarian diet:

According to Journal of the American Dietetic Association (this research was published in other journals as well), the average IQ of U.S. children is 99, and the average IQ of vegetarian US children is 116.

Obesity rate among the general population: 18 percent

Obesity rate among vegans: 2 percent

U.S. children who are overweight: 25 percent

U.S. vegetarian children who are overweight: 8 percent

U.S. children who eat the recommended levels of fuits, vegs, and grains: 1 percent

U.S. vegan children who eat the recommended levels of fruits, vegs, and grains: 50 percent

Average blood pressure of non-vegetarians: 121/77

Average blood pressure of people who eat a vegetarian diet: 112/69 (ideal is considered to be 110/70)

Incidence of high blood pressure in meat eaters compared to vegetarians: almost triple

Incidence of very high blood pressure in meat eaters compared to vegetarians: 13 times higher

Incidence of high blood pressure among senior citizens in the U.S.: more than 50 percent

Incidence of high blood pressure among senior citizens in countries eating  plant-based diets: virtually none

Average U.S. cholesterol level: 210

Average U.S. vegetarian cholesterol level: 161

Average U.S. vegan cholesterol level: 133

Number of times the huge Framingham study (35 years) had a study participant have a heart attack with cholesterol under 150:   zero

Tell me:  Are you reaping health benefits from adopting a more vegetarian diet?   Or do you still have the idea in your head that not eating meat/dairy means you’re going to be sickly and underweight?

Posted in: Lifestyle, Whole Food