Since beginning a pescatarian diet a few years ago, people have often questioned me as to why on Earth I would choose to exclude poultry and non-seafood meats from my diet. Others have questioned my sanity when I select a tofu-based dish over its meat-based dish counterpart, people are constantly curious as to what would make me choose such an “unfortunate” meal. Besides the facts that I actually enjoy tofu and love seafood, there are researched benefits to a pescatarian lifestyle; benefits that surpass leading vegetarian or vegan lifestyles.
The most discussed benefit of a pescetarian diet, as is also true with vegetarian and vegan diets, is the many health improvements. Even though it’s the most discussed benefit, few people actually understand the grandness of the improvements; various studies by the Yale School of Medicine discovered that healthy diets which include low amounts of fats and oils, but high levels of fiber, can help prevent your chances of cancer by eighty percent. Pescatarianism perfectly follows the dietary choices talked about in Yale’s research and it’s known to help reduce risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, obesity, arthritis, high blood pressure, and many types of cancer. Lesser known benefits are the improvements a pescatarian diet can have on eye health, the brain, mental health, and joints. Pescatarianism has more health benefits than other vegetable-based diets due to its inclusion of seafood and fish, both of which are extremely high in protein, omega-3s, and iron. Along with other benefits, pescatarians have a lower chance of becoming anemic and that can be a concern among other vegetable-based diets.
While the personal health benefits are a huge reason behind a pescatarian diet, some select this dietary preference due to the health benefits for our beloved planet. For anyone looking to improve the environmental situation our world faces, pescatarianism is a small step in the right direction. By switching to soy products, ten times less water is used (one pound of beef requires 2,500 gallons of water while one pound of soy needs only 250 gallons). Soy products and seafood are also significantly cleaner for our planet, while livestock create a larger amount of waste and toxic emissions that only further harm our beautiful world.
Another strong reason behind someone choosing pescatarianism is their personal ethics. Many believe that due to their beliefs concerning animal cruelty and caring for the planet, they cannot — in good conscience — eat meat; this is the belief of many, if not most, who follow a vegetable-based diet. Not everyone, though, can follow a vegetarian diet; due to a variety of reasons (age, health conditions, lifestyles, etc), some cannot consistently continue the dietary requirements presented by vegetarian or vegan diets and they turn to pescatarianism as a diet they can consistently follow. For example, doctors typically suggest against becoming vegetarian if anemic and guide people more towards pescatarianism.
While those are just a few of the many reasons to become a pescatarian, or eat less meat, they are the main causes that draw people to changing their diet. Other reasons include things such as religion, an actual dislike of meat, or various personal beliefs. Some do not wish to follow a strict, daily no-meat diet and participate in Meatless Mondays or a semi-vegetarian plan. Either way, each is valid and people should select the diet that best fits their lives, goals, and beliefs.
