There has been much more coverage in the media in the past few years of all the health benefits that can be gained from having a vegetarian weight loss diet. Some of these positive health outcomes include lower risk of type II diabetes, less chance of many kinds of cancer, reduced chance of heart disease and cholesterol and blood pressure issues. Vegetarians also consume a diet lower in saturated fats, which means that it is unusual to see an obese vegetarian.
Not all high protein vegetarian diets are the same; there are various types of vegetarianism. Some people will cut out all forms of animal products and this is called being vegan. If you are a lactovegetarian, then you will eat dairy foods, but not meat. Ovovegetarians will also eat eggs, but do not eat meat, and semi-vegetarians (or flexitarians) do not eat red meat, but may eat fish or chicken.
Some vegetarian diets can be low in some essential vitamins, minerals or nutrients so if considering becoming vegetarian, you must ensure you get all the nutrition you need. It is a good idea to have a nutritional plan if you are vegetarian to ensure you get enough iron and protein in your diet. A vegetarian diet may also be low in vitamin B12, Vitamin D, calcium and zinc.
To aid in getting enough protein, you should plan to eat legumes such as garbanzo beans, lentils, and kidney beans and so on several times a week. Some whole grain cereals are also infused with protein. Foods such as spinach, dried fruit, and iron-enriched cereals can be good sources of iron for vegetarians. A dietary supplement such as Brewer’s Yeast can also boost iron levels.
Wheat germ and nuts are terrific for providing zinc in your diet. Zinc is important for the immune system and also for healthy reproduction in the male. Vitamin B12 is mostly found in animal products, so if you are following a vegetarian diet it is advisable to take a vitamin B supplement that contains B12.
Calcium is responsible for building strong bones and healthy teeth. You may be putting yourself at risk of osteoporosis if your diet lacks calcium and vitamin D. To make sure you are getting enough calcium in your diet you should eat calcium-enriched soy products and lots of green vegetables such as spinach, broccoli and kale.
Vitamin D can be obtained from cereals that are enriched with the vitamin and also sunlight. Most sources of vitamin D from food are found in fish products or milk. Alternatively you can easily find calcium plus vitamin D supplements at the pharmacy.
It is entirely possible to replace the vitamins and nutrient we get from animal products with vegetarian sources. To do this effectively however, you will have to put some thought and planning into your diet. If you successfully plan your diet to include all essential nutrients, then you will most definitely enjoy the health benefits of a vegetarian weight loss diet and lower your risk of developing lifestyle related illnesses and diseases from high intake of saturated animal fats.
