The Vegetarian Diet: A Weight Loss Solution?

If you’ve been to any large banquets recently, you may have
noticed people passing up the prime rib and baked chicken in
order to feast on a vegetarian meal. Vegetarianism seems to be
gaining in popularity each year, spurred on by health concerns,
weight difficulties, and celebrity endorsements. You may find
that a vegetarian diet is the key to weight loss in your
particular case.

First of all, it is important to define the vegetarian diet.
You may be surprised to learn that there are actually a variety
of vegetarian diets in use today. In some cases, vegetarians eat
only fruits, vegetables, beans, and nuts. In other cases, they
may also eat cheese and drink milk, while in still other cases,
they may eat eggs.

One of the advantages to the vegetarian diet is that it tends
to be low in fat and cholesterol. As a result, a vegetarian diet
can help you avoid heart problems and even cancer. However, you
may also find that you are missing some important vitamins and
minerals on a strictly vegetarian diet.

It has been said that the key to a successful vegetarian diet
is planning. You must decide what you will be eating for every
meal in order to ensure that you receive the proper nutrients.
Otherwise, you may end up starving your body of the nutrients
you need in order to be healthy.

A major benefit of the vegetarian diet is that it tends to
involve a healthy serving of fruits and vegetables, along with
whole grains. However, getting enough protein can be a
challenge. Therefore, you might consider adding soy to your
diet, which is high in protein content. Another important
consideration is iron. You’ll need to make sure that you eat
spinach and beans in order to guarantee that you receive enough
iron, since you will not be consuming customary sources of iron
such as liver and roast beef.

You may need to supplement your diet with vitamins in order to
ensure that you receive the appropriate amount of B-12, Vitamin
D, calcium, and zinc. Otherwise, you’ll have to load up on
cereals, soy milk, spinach, and broccoli. Also, eating a
vegetarian diet does not mean you have a license to eat as many
sugary foods as you want. You’ll still have to restrict
high-calorie foods.

Variety has been called the spice of life and it is also the
key to an effective vegetarian diet. You’ll need to eat an array
of fruits and vegetables. Also, if you do use dairy, be sure
that you choose non-fat or low-fat milk and cheese. Since eggs
are rich in cholesterol, you should eat them only in moderation.

Studies have shown that vegetarians tend to consume fewer
calories each day than meat-eaters. Also, the body mass index–a
tool used to measure obesity–is generally lower for vegetarians
than for the population at large. However, as a vegetarian, you
will still need to pay attention to portion control and calorie
counts. Therefore, while vegetarianism may not be a panacea for
weight loss, it can certainly help in the battle against the
bulge.

However, it should be noted here that some people mistakenly
look upon vegetarianism as a quick fix. They figure that if they
give up meat for a couple of weeks, they’ll lose weight. Then,
after their trial period is over, they go back to their old
eating habits. This is a bad pattern because it encourages yo-yo
dieting. If you decide to go on a vegetarian diet, it is very
important that you stick with it. Otherwise, you may be greatly
disappointed in your weight loss progress.

Vegetarianism is not for everyone. However, if you enjoy fruits
and vegetables, are non-committal about meat, and are good at
planning meals, you may want to go vegan. But if you do not fall
into that category, another diet plan may be preferable. Which
diet program you ultimately choose may depend greatly upon your
personal preferences and what kind of diet regimen you are
prepared to follow over the long run. The key to any successful
diet is commitment; you must be determined to succeed.

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