Living in our beauty obsessed society can be overwhelming.

From diet pills to "quick fix" diet plans, getting fat is stressed to be one of our biggest concerns.

We are consumed by the thought of what we consume.

As a college student, food has become a central part of my life. I meet up with friends for lunch and dinner, cook dinner with my boyfriend and snack during late night study sessions.

The lesson we learn from this college eating routine comes in the form of the "freshmen fifteen" and unwanted weight gain through our college years.

The best way to deal with the constant bombardment of food and snacks, is to find your own personal way of eating healthy.

Mine is vegetarianism.

Since junior year of high school, I have opted out of eating most meats. Unlike vegans, who do not eat anything that has eyes, I still eat fish, dairy, and egg products.

I've always felt that being a vegetarian has made me a healthier person.

I don't go to McDonalds for a big mac or grab a slice of pepperoni pizza.

But am I right?

Is being a veg all that it's cracked up to be?

Is it the healthiest choice?

I decided to do some research to see if, in fact, my way is the best way.

I started my search through WebMD, the Web site that allows me to search by body part, any ailment that I think I may have.

I'm shocked to discover that I fit under a certain eating type-a lacto-ovo vegetarian.

These "types" of vegetarianism and veganism continue and cover a spectrum of different eating styles.

According to WebMD, "There are also pescatarians, vegetarians who eat fish and seafood, and lacto-vegetarians, who eat dairy products but not eggs. Fruitarians follow a diet that includes fruits, nuts, seeds, and other plant food."

With the many types of "tarians" in front of me, I still wondered if these lifestyles were healthy.

Could eating a diet of just plant food really give you all the nutrition your body needs?

The answers were abundant and full of good news about the health status of my body and heart.

"Most doctors and nutritionists agree that a low-fat diet high in fruits, vegetables, and nuts can be a boon to health. There is also widespread acknowledgment that reducing or eliminating red meat from the diet cuts the risk of heart disease," said WebMD.

Besides the perks of lowered risk of heart disease and an overall healthier life, I learn that there is also some speculation about vegetarians having a lesser risk of getting cancer.

Studies linking cancer and vegetarianism tell us that if you practice a diet rich in fibers, carotenoids (which includes carrots, sweet potatoes, and spinach) minerals, vitamins, and beans, you are better protected from getting diseases, including cancer.

The good news about this health find concerning cancer is that it still holds true if you are a carnivore.

Adding these foods into your diet, can promote a more healthy and disease fighting way of life.

But before I go around preaching my vegetarianism, there are some downfalls to the meat-free diet.

Nutrients and vitamins, especially calcium, iron, and vitamin B12 are lacking in a vegetarian diet and can cause more serious health problems.

Vegetarians are encouraged to take supplements to make sure they are getting these essential nutrients.

Without them, anemia, blindness and muscle weakness may occur.

But does being a vegetarian make you less susceptible to gaining weight?

Not necessarily.

The United States department of agriculture offers a plethora of information regarding the healthiest ways to be a vegetarian on their site mypyramid.gov.

"Build meals around protein sources that are naturally low in fat, such as beans, lentils, and rice. Don't overload meals with high-fat cheeses to replace the meat," said the mypyrmaid.gov web site.

It's also recommended to avoid substituting pizza, pasta, and more carbs for a piece of meat.

In addition to the health benefits of being a vegetarian, many people in the veg community do it for the animals.

"I've been a vegetarian for over five years," said sophomore Olivia Lucas. "I just think that it's cruel to eat meat and that it takes away the value of a life, no matter what kind of animal it comes from."

But has being a vegetarian helped Olivia's health?

"Actually, besides the occasional slip-up with fries at McDonalds, I find myself eating much healthier. My doctor even told me that my cholesterol level was better than any of her other patients," said Lucas.

Like Lucas, opting out of meat dishes because of personal morals is the reason for many other vegetarians.

PETA, a well-known animal rights group is a huge promoter for vegans and veterinarians and provides a lot of information regarding this diet on their Web site.

Although it can be said that PETA has done a lot of positive things for the rights of animals, their methods have been said to be fanatical.

According to the AP, protestors in Germany set to the streets to let their views about the killing of animals for food be publicly displayed.

"The demonstrators [are] only wearing their underwear and are painted with mock blood to admonish humans to limit their meat consumption," said photographer of the above photo Volker Wiciok.

Whether you're an animal lover or just don't like meat, being a vegetarian does promote certain health benefits that can help you in the long run as long as your conscious about what you eat.

If you're thinking about making the switch to a meat-free diet, there are tons of resources to check out online.

It's also recommended to let your physician know about your change in diet so that he/she may help you better create a diet plan.