6 Amazing Facts You Need To Know About Vegetarians

As more and more people each year sway towards the meat-free lifestyle, it’s proven that eating as a vegetarian is one of the best things you can do in 2022 to stop climate change. Here are 6 things you may not know about the veggie lifestyle-

# Vegetarianism used to be called ‘Pythagotean’

Some of the first ever vegetarians were the called Pythegoreans, a title that was given from Greek philosopher Pythagoras, who was creator of the geometric Pythagorean theorem back during Greek ancient times. Between the late 4-6th centuries, vegetarianism nearly disappeared from Europe, but it remerged during the Renaissance and become hugely more widespread between the 19th and 20th centuries.

# There are many different types of Vegetarianism

There are many levels of vegetarianism. Some a lot more common than others and some are a lot more restrictful than others:

- Veganism: Veganism is the practice of refraining from all animal products, including meat, eggs, dairy products and any animal derived products.
- Lacto Vegetarian: Lacto veggies don’t eat meat, fish, poultry or eggs but do eat dairy products.
- Ovo Vegetarian: Ovos are very similar to vegetarians and do not eat meat, they allow themselves to eat eggs but no other dairy products, in contrast with lacto vegetarianism.
- Pollotarian: Polloterians will not eat the flesh of any red meat mammals, but this doesn’t include chicken, turkey or other poultry.
- Pescatarian: Pescatarians are very similar to vegetarians in that they do not eat meat but do allow themselves to eat fish.
- Flexitarin: The flexitarian diet, is a flexible way of being a veggie, hence the name. The diet encourages mostly plant based foods while allowing meat and other animal products in moderation.

# Vegetarians are saving our environment

The Guardian states avoiding meat and dairy is the ‘single biggest way’ to reduce your impact on Earth. Research has shown that without meat and dairy consumption, global farmland use could be reduced by more than 75% and that eating as a vegetarian is one of the best things you can do in 2022 to stop climate change.

# The most common reason why people become Vegetarian is due to objections towards animal cruelty

Many people become vegetarian for different reasons, including for health benefits, environmental factors, political factors, cultural reasons and economic reasons. But the biggest reason why people are becoming vegetarian today is down to concerns towards animal rights. In recent years, it has become known through social media and documentaries of the shocking truth behind factory farming. Shocking videos have been released on social media on the treatment of animals in factory farms and unsurprising, many people don’t agree with it. India is ranked top country in the world for vegetarians.

India was ranked top in the world with 38% of their total population being vegetarian. Followed by this, Israel (13%), Taiwan (12%), Italy (10%), Austria (9%), Germany (9%) and the UK (9%) fall closely after. But in the UK, veggies are on the rise. There has been a 350% increase in people becoming Vegans & Vegetarians compared to a decade ago.

# Vegetarians commonly suffer for vitamin B12 deficiency

Researchers have always known that strict long-term vegetarian diets can cause a vitamin B12 deficiency and potentially heart disease. Researchers are also more recently saying that after newer research even people who follow a lenient Veggie based diet can be at risk of B12 deficiency. Signs of B12 deficiency include weakness and fatigue.

# 84% of Vegetarians go back to eating meat

Well-known Vegan YouTuber Yovana Mendoza also known as “Rawvana” was seen eating fish in a vblog earlier this year, and her vegetarian based audience was of course, outraged. Yovana later explained in a 33-minute YouTube video that her food choices had been made due to health complications linked to her veganism (irregular periods and digestive issues). Yovana isn’t the only ‘vegan/vegetarian influencer’ to return to a meat based diet, Bonny Rebecca also shared a video earlier this year explaining why she’d quit 5 years of veganism.