The Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet

At Jaya Aum health retreats, we follow a vegetarian diet which is high in fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables, while balancing energizing carbohydrates with non-animal proteins for optimal nutrition. We feel that the importance of a vegetarian diet cannot be understated, either for the environment, the animals themselves or for our own bodies. There are so many alternatives to meat products available today that we can guarantee you won’t even miss the meat by the end of your four-day Jaya Aum experience, plus you’ll walk away with plenty of delicious and easy to prepare vegetarian recipes to use and share when you get home.

It’s been proven that several of the leading killers of Americans, from heart disease and obesity to cancer, can be traced back to meat-based diets. Meat is high in cholesterol and saturated fat, both of which contribute to the clogging of arteries, which is a major cause of most heart problems. The cancer rate of people who eat no animal products is only 40% that of meat-eaters. The rates of hypertension, diabetes and even Alzheimer’s and asthma are also considerably lower in people who abstain from eating animal products. For children, too, it’s been shown that a vegetarian diet results in higher IQ’s and taller kids.

Vegetarianism is the best way to prevent disease, increase energy levels and live longer lives. On average, vegetarians live six to ten years longer than meat-eaters, and since a plant-based diet is naturally low in saturated fat, high in fiber and in cancer-preventing phytochemicals, they generally live healthier lives as well. A diet of whole grains, nuts, legumes, fruits and vegetables is the best thing anyone can do for her body, and many Olympic athletes, people who must constantly keep their bodies in top condition, follow just such a diet.

Besides the benefits for us as eaters, we also recognize the environmental damage that results from raising animals for food. A vegetarian diet is an easy and effective step toward a greener world for all of us. About half of the water that is used in America today goes towards meat production, and 22% of the wheat grown in the United States eventually becomes animal feed. Such a waste is absolutely unacceptable, especially considering that 14-22% of the greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming are emitted into our atmosphere through industrial animal agriculture. Out of respect for the importance of maintaining our planet for future generations, we choose to abstain from eating meat, and serve only vegetarian meals at our retreats.

We do our best to keep our diet as karma-free as possible, meaning we try to eat without killing or mistreating any living creatures along the way. Industrial agriculture and factory farms are not only extremely harmful to the environment, but they contribute to the death and needless suffering of millions of animals every day. In the United States alone, about 72 million animals are killed daily so that the meat industry can continue to thrive.

Whether you are a lifelong vegetarian or an omnivore, we hope that your Jaya Aum experience is both educational and inspiring. We look forward to showing you how good a vegetarian diet can feel, and how easy it can be to maintain all of your nutritional needs without meat.