Eating a vegetarian or vegan diet is not only a great way to enjoy local food, but it can also decrease your risk of getting serious diseases such as cancer. In fact, findings from the China Project conducted by Cornell University that examined rural Chinese diets in the 1980s, indicated that the 'vast majority, perhaps 80 to 90 percent of all cancers, cardiovascular diseases and other forms of degenerative illness can be prevented, at least until very old age, simply by adopting a plant-based diet,' according to Professor T. Colin Campbell, Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell.
The studies found that the average Chinese diet contains about 0 to 20 percent animal based foods, compared to an average American diet that's 60 to 80 percent based on animal foods. Plus, Chinese diets have less fat and more fiber.
The researchers concluded that Americans could seriously cut back on their health care costs by eating low-fat plant based diets. In fact, they found that 'rates of high cost chronic degenerative diseases not only would be reduced, but also increasing evidence suggests that these same diseases may be ameliorated or even cured by this same diet.'
And while you might think eating veggie or vegan is limiting, there are plenty of resources online to help you cook up healthy, tasty meals. If you're feeling especially decadent, try the vegan pies from Fabe's Bakery. They sent the Mother Earth News staff a sample box of goodies recently that brightened everyone's day!