Growing scientific evidence suggests vegetarianism can reap health benefits.
The Acansa Dining Hall serves non-meat food options, soy milk, and tofu. The Edge coffeehouse near campus offers vegetarian soups and sandwiches and vegan desserts.
Everywhere, vegetarians are being catered to. Who are these people and what is their beef with meat, and why all this special attention?
Most everyone knows someone who is a vegetarian, but vegetarians in America only represent 3.2 percent of the population, according to a 2008 study published by Vegetarian Times.
However, according to a poll commissioned by the Vegetarian Resource Group, 1 percent or less of the American population was vegetarian in 1994.
The growth of vegetarianism cannot be attributed to any one cause.
The study "The American Vegetarian: Coming of Age in the 90s" showed 15 percent chose a vegetarian diet to promote animal rights.
Four percent are vegetarian to benefit the environment.
About 46 percent of vegetarians claimed health as the main reason for a meatless diet.
On average, vegetarians consume one-third less saturated fat and about half as much cholesterol, reports the American Dietetic Association.
Monday, February 1, 2010
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