With obesity and related diseases on the rise, people are searching for a way to lose weight and become healthy.

While a vegetarian diet is not certain to ward off all diseases, statistically, vegetarians have a lower rate of disease than non-vegetarians.

Dr. Glenn Wiltse of Albuquerque says that vegetarians live 10-14 years longer than the average population. Also, on the average, vegetarians have lower blood pressure, a lower rate of cancer, lower incidence of heart attacks and a lower rate of diabetes. “If you look down at the gamut of degenerative diseases affecting our country today, vegetarians are better off,” Wiltse said.

Wiltse, who grew up on a farm in Iowa, has been a vegetarian for 50 years.

The 87-year old doctor wants to share his knowledge with others.

That is why he is hosting vegetarian cooking classes at the Rio Rancho Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1351 19th Avenue SE.

The classes start Monday at 7 p.m. There will be three more classes on the following Mondays. Registration is $15 for individuals and $25 for couples, which includes a vegetarian cookbook, handouts and food samples.

Joining Wiltse will be Dr. Robert Gardner of Rio Rancho.

Wiltse said the cookbook contains 200 recipes and they will cook three different recipes each evening. This particular vegetarian diet uses no animal products, so it is often referred to as a vegan diet.

“Anyone that can look at you, you leave alone,” Wiltse said.

Many people are skeptical of the vegan diet because of a perceived lack of protein. Wiltse debunks that myth.

“Legumes are our primary source of protein,” he said. “Looking at the protein in beans and the protein quality, it’s about the same as in beef. Beans are a big part of our diet, as well as nuts, potatoes, sweet potatoes, rice and oatmeal.”

Wiltse said the average American eats twice as much protein as the body needs and that produces ill effects, including extra work for the kidneys and creating excess waste.

Wiltse pointed out there are several reasons why one would becomes a vegetarian, including health, spiritual and environment.

“I am a Bible-believing Christian and as Apostle Paul wrote to people back then, he said our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost,” Wiltse said. “We have a responsibility to take care of it.”