Whether to become a vegetarian or not is a question many people face on a regular basis and the answer to this is not always clear to them. Although people considering this will ask what difference will one person make? It is true just one person won't make a huge difference but if you multiply this by millions of people who make the choice then the effect becomes much more significant. For instance the number one cause of death in the United States and other countries with meat centered diets is heart disease.

Circulatory, heart problems, high cholesterol and heart attacks are primarily caused by the regular consumption of dairy products, eggs and meat; a reduction in this consumption would lower these health problems. According to Earth Save, the average vegetarian has about a quarter of a chance of having a heart attack as the average person. Pure vegans have an even lower likelihood of a heart attack with only a 10 percent chance against a meat eater. But these are not the only health benefits of choosing to be a vegetarian.

Meat contains a number of preservatives which have links with cancer, something which is dramatically reduced when you do not eat meat. Vegetarians will also benefit from knowing they will not be consuming many of the hormones cattle ingest as part of their feed; which can cause hormonal problems in people. Another substance, lactose, is also missing from their diet which has causal links with digestive conditions. You will also have the knowledge that by becoming a vegetarian many animals will not suffer as a result of your food preferences as well as the now obvious health advantages.

One particular study illustrates this point by claiming that the average American is responsible for the death (for food) of over two thousand seven hundred animals during their life. It is a sobering thought that a change in diet could literally save hundreds of animals from being slaughtered over the course of a decade alone. In addition to this, if you stop eating eggs and drinking milk, you will also reduce your share in the suffering and death of battery hens and their offspring, as well as dairy cows. So if you haven't worked it out by now, yes we can all make a difference both individually and collectively which should show why becoming a vegetarian is so important. This commitment matters to each individual for their health, the health of the planet and those of the animals which will not need to be slaughtered to provide food.