The vegetarian diet has been proven to be healthier for long term longevity. Other people switch to a vegetarian diet to reduce their risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. Some switch for animal welfare reasons too.
Vegetarian Diets vary
When people think about a vegetarian diet, they typically think about a diet that doesn't include meat, poultry or fish. But vegetarian diets vary in what foods they include.
But whichever you select, to get the most out of your vegetarian diet, choose a variety of healthy plant-based foods, such as whole fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains. At the same time, it’s important to cut back on less healthy choices, including sugar-sweetened beverages, fruit juices and refined grains.
To be sure your diet includes everything your body needs, you need to also pay special attention to the following nutrients:
Calcium and vitamin D
Calcium helps build and maintain strong teeth and bones. Milk and dairy foods are highest in calcium. Dark green vegetables, such as kale, and broccoli, are also good sources when eaten in sufficient quantities. Calcium-enriched and fortified products, including juices, cereals, soy milk and yogurt are other options.
Vitamin D also plays an important role in bone health. Vitamin D is added to cow's milk, some brands of soy and rice milk, and some cereals and margarine. If you don't eat enough fortified foods and have limited sun exposure, you may need a vitamin D supplement derived from plants.
Protein
Protein helps maintain healthy skin, bones, muscles and organs. Eggs and dairy products are good sources, and you don't need to eat large amounts to meet your protein needs. You can also get sufficient protein from plant-based foods including soy products and meat substitutes, lentils, nuts, seeds, and whole grains.
Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are important for heart health. Diets that do not include fish and eggs are generally low in omega-3 fatty acids. Therefore, walnuts, flaxseed and soybeans are good sources of essential fatty acids.
Iron and zinc
Iron is a crucial component of red blood cells. Dried beans and peas, lentils, whole-grain products, dark leafy green vegetables, and dried fruit are good sources of iron. Because iron isn't as easily absorbed from plant sources, the recommended intake of iron for vegetarians is almost double that recommended for non-vegetarians.
To help the body absorb iron, we should eat foods rich in vitamin C, such as strawberries, citrus fruits, tomatoes, cabbage and broccoli, at the same time.
Like iron, zinc is not as easily absorbed from plant sources as it is from animal products. Cheese is a good option if you eat dairy products. Plant sources of zinc include whole grains, soy products, nuts and wheat germ.
Conclusion
One way to help move over to a vegetarian diet is to gradually reduce the meat in your diet while increasing fruits and vegetables. Substituting foods can be really helpful too – simply take a favourite recipe and try it without meat. (Source: Mayo Clinic.org)
Most every meal I eat includes something I shouldn't consume, which makes me an accomplice to my weight gain.
Thanks for reminding me to eat better.
You're welcome Tim. We're probably all guilty. My blog serves as a gentle reminder, including myself.
We must all try to do better with the food we eat.
I often eat vegetarian meals, not necessarily through design but so many foods don't agree with me nowadays.
You are right in that it can be as simple as replacing meat with soy or pulses, to make a meat free alternative that tastes similar to the original dish or just by adding more vegetables. The health benefits are well worth the extra effort.
Yes, what we used to find we could tolerate we no longer can, but the health benefits far outweigh most things.
It's also about what we get used to, what we like to eat. I tend to go with what works. There are so many reasons why foods don't agree with us.
But there is no point in trying to eat something that doesn't agree with us and it makes us ill, just because we don't want to give up on that food. There are alternatives out there that act as good replacements.
Some of us put that secondary, either because we haven't made the correlation of what's making us ill, or we're just not prepared to give up eating the foods that we love.
But we must look at foods and our longevity.