What Is Vegetarianism?
Some people follow what is called the vegetarian diet. There is no specific meal plan for a vegetarian diet, however there are several different vegetarian diets. The total vegetarian diet only eat foods from plants like fruits, vegetables, dried beans, grains, seeds and nuts. The lactovegetarian eats plant foods plus cheese and other dairy products. The ovo-lactovegetarian also includes eggs. And the semi-vegetarian don’t eat red meats but they do include chicken and fish into their diets.
Are Vegetarian Diets Healthy?
Vegetarian diets are low in animal products and they are also lower than non-vegetarian diets in total fat. People that follow the vegetarian diet have a lower risk for obesity, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and some forms of cancer. So you vegetarian diets are healthy. However a vegetarian diet can be unhealthy if it contains too many calories and saturated fats and not enough important nutrients.
Some things that you need in a vegetarian diet so that you have a well balanced diet are protein, whole grains, soy, iron, vitamin B-12, vitamin D, calcium, and zinc.
All vegetarian diets should include a wide range of foods and enough calories to meet your energy needs, but you should keep your intake of sweets and fatty foods to a minimum, choose whole grain products when possible or use fortified cereal products. Use a variety of fruits and vegetables including ones that ate good sources of vitamin A and C. Eggs are high in cholesterol so limit your intake of them.
Where’s The Beef?
Many people go on the vegetarian diet because meat makes them sick or it is just the lifestyle that they chose. People that are not on the vegetarian diet do not understand how a person can be on a vegetable diet. Each person is different and what may be good for you may not be good for me. If being on a vegetable diet is what you choose than that is what makes you happy and you should not let anything any one says discourage you.
Since there are several different types of vegetarian diets you are not limited to just vegetables. This is what most people think and that is way off base. In reality a person on the vegetarian can eat most of what anyone can eat that is on any other diet except meat. I think that the reason most people are so negative toward vegetarian diets is because they do not fully understand them.
As long as you get everything that your body needs to be happy and healthy is all that matters. Your health should be the most important thing to you and if you go on the vegetarian diet and you begin to feel sick that you should stop the diet immediately. Be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin any diet program. If you know someone on the vegetarian diet you may want to talk to them and get their opinion before you begin the diet.
Related Posts
The positive benefits of being a vegetarian are well known. These include:
more energy
less chance of being overweight
healthier glow/clearer complexion
higher fiber diet
less...
Some people decide to go vegetarian based off of their moral issues with the mass slaughtering of animals for human food consumption requirements, other people decide that the...
Have you considered becoming a vegetarian? People change their eating habits for a wide range of reasons. Some are against harming animals for our consumption. Others simply want...
If you are a vegetarian, you may think that you are in general good health because of your diet. The truth is that your health may be suffering because of your diet. Vegetarians...
Everyone knows about the original food pyramid which outlines what foods should be consumed and in what quantities. Since one size doesn’t fit all, different groups have come...
Leave a Reply
October 17th, 2008 at 5:04 am
Comment: I was raised as a vegetarian and in the last several years I have chosen to become a total vegetarian. There is so much variety when it comes to vegetarian food! My suggestion for readers who are interested in becoming vegetarian is to go at your own pace. Don’t just go cold-turkey and eat poorly prepared meals instead. You want to make sure that you are replacing meat dishes with healthy veggie dishes that appeal to your taste buds just as much if not more than the foods you are leaving behind. Food is meant to be enjoyed, not dreaded. That is part of the way that food can be very healing to your body.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:14 am
Comment:Nice article about subject.
I have been a vegetarian during my whole life (53 years now). My parents started to be a vegetarian in 1930.