Eat Green, Drive Green -- Ditch the Blues? (Part One)

For most people, the advantages of eating green are known, if only at the periphery of their lives. More often than not, the health, moral, and environmental aspects of vegetarianism are touted. From longevity, heart disease-risk reduction, fewer animal deaths, reduced environmental waste, etc. – there’s no doubt about it: greening the belly just makes sense. And when we hit the road, there’s nothing like a hybrid to compound our green efforts. For starters – and most prominently – hybrid autos emit less than their 100-percent gasoline counterparts. Too, hybrid automobiles typically require less components in their construction, making for lighter autos overall. Of course, how one drives a hybrid plays an important role in whether they’ll reap any of the pocketbook and environmental benefits associated with such vehicles. But in our minds, whatever our reasons for choosing to eat green or drive green, what are these lifestyles' associated internal, psychological benefits or drawbacks?

A 2007 study of 9,113 Australian women found that female vegetarians and semi-vegetarians, when compared to female non-vegetarians, had "poorer mental health." For years, this assertion has dominated both academic and vegetarian circles -- it seemed something was missing from the most common vegetarian diets, a magical ingredient our neurochemistry had become dependent on in its balanced day-to-day functioning. Turns out the missing ingredients -- at least primarily -- were fatty acids, vitamin B-12, calcium and iron, all of which are typically found in omnivore diets. Still, a more recent analysis of mood states of vegetarians asserts that what has traditionally been thought to cause mental health problems in vegetarians is somewhat overblown, and their statistical evidence -- based on self-reports -- does seem to conflict with other research, with the authors stating, "We found no evidence that the absence of direct intake of [important] fatty acids in vegetarians adversely affects mood state."

What does this even mean, you might ask.

It seems the act of going green, with regard to the belly, carries an easy win -- the hopeful vegetarian (or even long-standing green-eaters) merely need keep in mind that their bodies (aside from any issues of individuality, politics or environmental awareness) are still hard-wired to operate most efficiently on certain inputs. A cave-dwelling vegetarian probably doesn't get enough Vitamin D, and so the smart hermit would probably plan ahead by purchasing a case of dietary supplements. Taken a step further, though, the informed, smart cave-dwelling vegetarian should probably diversify their collection of dietary supplements, else plan their meals to include all that nifty, healthy stuff that keeps us chugging along like good little choo-choo trains. And while researchers argue over whether green diets equal happy people, it's best to err on the side of caution by supplementing your diet with either variety or, if you're worried (and not prone to paying strict attention to the nutritional value of what's going down your gullet), a few vitamins. Still, it seems the only gains vegetarians make by keeping balance in mind is just that: a normal balance of mind.

So, is ignorance bliss? A non-vegetarian may never consider the implications of their diet, whether on the environment or their pocketbook, or even Wilbur, and so their intrapsychic life continues on: largely unaware, and probably just as variably moody as everyone else. In this, we find a trophy, though. Our emotional lives -- whether internal or expressed as self-reported mood states -- typically benefit from us making 'good choices.' We ace an exam, land a good job, enjoy and perform well in relationships, and those successes help us build confidence in ourselves, in our choices and beliefs. It's just a matter of reasoning, then, that while any one person has both countless opportunities throughout life from which to grow, lessons to be learned to influence their intrapsychic lives, vegetarians might just have a few more reasons to feel good simply because of their choice to eat green, less the contents of their diets.

Indeed, studies show vegetarians are more likely to have larger social circles and more group memberships than meat-eaters. Too, less conservative people -- be they from any age group, race, ethnic group, etc. -- are more likely to be vegetarian, as are people that demonstrate stronger degrees of altruism. And it's becoming more common for researchers to posit that smart children are more likely to become vegetarians. This doesn't mean socialites, radical liberals or Ainan Cawley, thought by many to be the world's smartest child, are happier than non-vegetarians. Socialites can be drama queens! Radical liberals can be annoying! And smart kids...well, they're just so pretentious. Right?

Kidding.

But it goes without saying that eating green gifts more than just external benefits -- feeling good about what you're doing, aside from knowing it's making a difference in the ether, definitely helps.

By Jason M. White