Vegetarian Benefits

In 2000 I attended a meeting at my local library after reading the information boards that advertised different activites, and speakers that were coming to the library. On the appointed day I went to the meeting and was introduced to the Qin Yang mediation organization. They were a friendly, peaceful and enlightened group of people. I was intrigued and looking forward to starting their meditation group.

I was looking for a change in my life and I was impressed with the story in Daniel where he and the three Hebrew boys asked to be put on a special diet of vegetables and water. Not only was their countenance more striking than the kings’ princes but their spirituality increased also. I wanted to experience an increase in my spirituality as well as a more healthier lifestyle.

I started the process of becoming a vegetarian by eating meatless dinners twice a week, for about a month, gradually increasing the vegetarian dinners until I was completely converted. This process was not difficult at all, as I just increased some of my meatless favourite foods.

Indeed looking back it was one of the most satisfying spiritual times in my life. The  meditations were easier to conduct, and the visions were clearer than ever before. Hearing from God was easier because I had sacrificed something which I loved, red meat and chicken to be specific.

For those who wish a change in their life a vegetarian lifestyle is worth thinking about. Depending on what you want out of life, what you expect the vegetarian way of life to do for you, it can be rewarding. I was a vegetarian for a year and a half, during that time I had less aches and pains. Increasing my intake of vegetables and fruits, I had more energy and felt physically the best I had in years.

There are great benefits to eating a vegetarian meal, even 2 or 3 days a week. It is a fact that vegetarians live at least 7 to 15 years longer than those that eat fat and animal products. Studies by the China Health Project on diet and health claim that Chinese people who eat the least amount of fat and animal products have the lowest risks of cancer, heart attack and other chronic degenerative diseases. British studies tracked 6,000 vegetarians and 5,000 meat eaters for 12 years found that vegetarians were 40 percent less likely to die from cancer during that time and 20% less likely to die from other diseases.

The vegetarian way of life is high in fiber which helps keep the digestive system in order, but lacks ‘ good’ Omega 3 fatty acids, which promotes increased intelligence and concentration.

The only way meat is healthier today is if it has been grass fed. Grass fed animals cannot acquire Mad Cow Disease. Grass fed animals are lean, flavorful health food providing high levels of the antioxidantConjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) which may be one of our most potent defenses against cancer and also fights and reduces obesity, heart disease, bad cholesterol, adult onset diabetes and many other ailments. Unfortunatley the meat we buy in our grocery stores are filled with toxic chemicals. The EPA estimates that nearly 95% of pesticide residue in our diet comes from meat, fish, and dairy products, Fish in particular contain carcinogens(PCBs, DDT) and heavy metals(mercury, arsenic; lead,cadmium) that cannot be removed through cooking or freezing. Meat and dairy products are also laced with steroids and hormones.

Abstaining from eating meats can cause those that work in spiritual deliverance ministries to be susceptible to weakness and illness from the lack of protein. Finding grass fed meat, free of toxins is the key to attaining all the healthful benefits of eating meat that God intended. Look at the various spiritual warriors of renown in the bible, every time before they engaged in a great battle, God prepared them with the eating of meat. For instance, Elijah, his menu was provided for him by God personally during his time of preparation just before he faced all the prophets of Baal.