Why do I want to switch to a vegetarian lifestyle?

Let me start by saying this, I love eating non-vegetarian food! I have been going to the gym for a couple of years now, and I eat chicken and eggs on a daily basis to complete my protein needs. I cannot imagine living on just vegetarian food, and as a matter of fact, I hated the idea of being vegetarian a few months ago. Some of the reasons for my hatred were -

1. I thought the vegetarian diet was boring and not so tasty.
2. I thought a vegetarian diet was not rich in protein.

While I still think you cannot beat non-vegetarian delicacies in taste, I am thinking of going on a vegetarian diet for some time. Here are my reasons for this -

Firstly, proper research and study made me understand that a vegetarian diet is not low in protein, I just have to choose my food sources wisely. Pulses, Chickpeas, and Kidney Beans are all pretty high in protein and provide other amazing nutrients too. Apart from these, dairy products like milk, cheese, paneer, curd are also high in protein. And of course, whey protein can always be used to complete my body’s protein needs.

Secondly, I feel a vegetarian diet is higher in micronutrients and fiber. Eating 100gms of kidney beans would give me roughly the same amount of chicken as 100gms of chicken breast. But kidney beans are full of micronutrients and fiber which will help my digestion and improve my gut health. Dairy products are also high in calcium and other vitamins that our essential for our body’s optimal working.

The third reason for wanting to switch my diet is simply because I have been eating the same kind of food for a pretty long time now. I want to try different recipes and give my body a little change.

Fourth and the biggest reason is my recent encounters with Ayurvedic and other ancient Indian lifestyle practices. It is believed that eating meat is not good for our body in the long term as it is difficult for our body to digest. Ayurveda also states consuming vegetarian food improves your mental health and capabilities. I have personally met with people who have tried the vegetarian diet and felt a sense of enlightenment and improvement in their mental capacity.

I am not a very firm believer in Ayurveda, but I would want to try it out before passing my judgment. I do not know if I will permanently switch to a vegetarian lifestyle or it will just be a temporary change, but I am excited to try something new with my life.