Is a vegetarian diet really healthier than a meat-based diet? Good question. The answer is: It depends. What are the foods you're choosing to include in your diet?

It has been known for some time that vegetarians generally live healthier lives than most. But research shows that adding fish to the diet can be a very good idea.

It has been known for some time that vegetarians generally live healthier lives than most. But research shows that adding fish to the diet can be a very good idea.

Live longer, lower your weight, slash pollution and twelve other good reasons to start cutting meat out of your diet.

But a new study from a Cornell University using ecological footprint analysis (a calculation of the land area required to produce enough energy and resources to support an average person's consumption habits) suggests that eating a very little meat is ecologically more efficient than eating a vegetarian diet.

Vegetarianism is the practice of a diet that excludes all animal flesh, including poultry, game, fish, shellfish or crustacea, and slaughter by-products. The reasons for choosing vegetarianism may be related to morality, religion, culture, ethics, aesthetics, environment, society, economy, politics, taste, or health.There are several variants of the diet, some of which also exclude eggs and/or some products produced from animal labor such as dairy products and honey. Veganism, for example, excludes all animal products from diet. By some strict definitions, animal products are not used for attire either, whether or not the production of clothing or items has involved the actual death of an animal (dairy, eggs, honey, wool, silk, down feathers, etc.) A generic term for both vegetarianism and veganism, as well as for similar diets, is "Plant-based diets".Vegetarian diets have been found to satisfy the nutritional needs for all stages of life, and large-scale studies have shown vegetarianism to increase longevity, improve health, and significantly lower risks of cancer and other diseases.