The vegetarian diet is becoming increasingly popular all the time. Is the vegetarian or meat diet better? A .

             decade ago and earlier, the impression was that a vegetarian diet was lacking in the nutrients found in meat .

             products. Today though, through research and nutritional science, it has been proven that all the nutrients found .

             in meat can also be found in the correct vegetarian diet. .

             Some may argue that by only consuming meat that is low in fat, meat and vegetarian diets have identical .

             benefits. This is true only if one eats only very low fat meat. The lack of meat is not necessarily the main benefit .

             of to the vegetarian. Vegetarians tend to eat more fruits, vegetables and grains that the meat eater. They also .

             tend not to use tobacco and excessive alcohol. In addition, vegetarians tend to get more exercise. .

             The term vegetarian can be misleading. This diet can take on many different variations. A fruitarian eats only .

             fruits, seeds and nuts while the vegan eats these and vegetables, grains and legumes. A lacto vegetarian .

             consumes the same as a vegan as well as dairy products. A lacto-ovo vegetarian follows after the lacto vegetarian .

             but also includes eggs while the ovo vegetarian excludes dairy products. Finally, the partial vegetarian eats .

             anything except red meat, or at least strictly limits it. Because the term vegetarian is used to cover all facets and .

             variations, it is difficult to identify health benefits resulting from the vegetarian diet including all of the above. .

             Most meat eaters do not realize that there are so many variations to the vegetarian diet, which makes accurate .

             studies even more difficult. .

             As a whole though, vegetarians tend to have less body fat than nonvegetarians. This is most likely due to the low .

             fat and high carbohydrate content of their diet. Vegetarians usually have lower blood pressure than meat eaters .

             because of lifestyle and diet. Other factors probably include exercise and resistance to smoking and alcohol .