As any dietitian or nutritionist will tell you, achieving and maintaining a vegetarian diet can be hard. It can seem like you’re always hungry, your body is low in protein, and you miss out on important nutrients. But if getting a balanced vegetarian diet is your goal, then we’re about to help you out! We’ve compiled a list of the best reasons why vegetarians should consider following this lifestyle. Tons of these benefits are guaranteed to make the switch worth it.

1. Vegetarian diets are healthier

A lot of research has shown numerous positive aspects of vegetarian diets compared to meat-based ones. Some of these include: A lower body mass index, a decreased risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure, and a decreased risk of diabetes. (1) (2) (3) By cutting out meat from your diet you can be certain that you’re taking steps towards a healthier lifestyle.

2. Vegetarian diets are cheaper

It’s no surprise that meat can be expensive. If you’re opting for red meats such as beef, chicken, lamb and pork, you’re definitely going to need a bigger bank account. The reason that meat is more expensive is because it takes much more to produce even a small portion of it. You will find that most vegetarian foods are actually quite cheap in comparison. For example, lentils and beans will run you around $1 per pound while beef costs around $8 per pound on average.

3. Vegetarian diets are good for the environment

A big issue on a global scale is agriculture’s effect on our environment. Think about all of the waste that animals produce, and then think about how edible food is turned into animal feed. Also, consider the fuel used to ship meat across the world. Vegetarian diets don’t put any strain on our environmental resources and can have a positive effect on it by reducing emissions from livestock.