The benefits of a vegetarian dietVegetarianism is not just about not eating meat. A vegetarian is generally attentive to his health, makes choices regarding his diet and respects animals. There are no rules to being vegetarian; a vegetarian sets his own guidelines and restrictions. We choose not to eat meat for many reasons; it could be due to religion, respect for animals, health or sometimes a person just doesn't like meat. Most people think that a diet without meat or animal products is just a trend, but vegetarianism has been a growing movement since its beginnings in 600 BC. Pythagoras is considered the “original vegetarian”. Groups called Pythagorean societies were created to discourage a diet of meat (Parr p. 26). Modern vegetarianism originated in England in the 17th century. In 1847, the word "vegetarian" began to be used. It is derived from the Latin word vegetus, meaning vigorous and lively (Parr p. 31). Today, there are approximately 7.3 million vegetarians in America and approximately 22.8 million follow a “vegetarian-leaning diet.” A basic vegetarian diet prohibits meat and you can choose whether you want to eat other animal products like milk, cheese, eggs, honey, etc. There are many subcategories of vegetarianism: lacto-ovo, lacto, ovo, vegan and semi-vegetarian. The difference between these categories is the exception of things like egg (ovo), milk (lacto), and other animal products. A vegetarian diet benefits personal health, the environment and basic animal rights. Studies have shown that a vegetarian diet can benefit your health. The mortality rate of vegetarians is 20 percent lower than that of regular meat eaters, meaning they tend to live longer and get sick less often...... middle of paper .... .. animals are not so different from humans, they feel pain and emotion. Killing them is not acceptable just because they are not human. Many people do not see the importance of vegetarianism, but only see it as a trend. They ignore the mistreatment of animals and how their diet affects their bodies and the environment around them. Many people become vegetarian without knowing how important it is. They don't know that they are helping themselves, the environment and the animals. People will criticize or question a vegetarian's choices, but many will be interested. Getting the word out is just as important as becoming vegetarian. Works Cited Om, Shanti. “HUNDRED AND ONE REASONS TO BECOME VEGETARIAN.” 101 reasons to become vegetarian. Np, and Web. April 9, 2014. Parr, Jan and Sarah Durham. The young vegetarian's companion. New York: Franklin Watts, 1996. Print.