Take a 1-min quiz to get a meal & workout plan Male Female

The Basics Of A Vegetarian Diet: How Safe Is It?

These days more and more people are making a gradual transition into vegetarianism. If you’re ready to overhaul your diet and dive into the meat-free lifestyle, you should learn all the facts necessary for making an educated decision. We’ve laid out all the facts about the vegetarian diet in this article.

Get your personalized

meal plan!

What's your main health goal?

Lose weight Feel great

What Can You Eat On A Vegetarian Diet?

There are several options to choose from that are about avoiding some or all animal products, and giving preference to fruit, vegetables and legumes instead. Vegetarian diets fall into certain types (4):

  • Flexitarian: plant-based, but with occasional meat, fish or poultry.
  • Pescetarian: allows fish and sometimes eggs and dairy.
  • Lacto-ovo-vegetarian: no animal products except for dairy and eggs.
  • Lacto-vegetarian: dairy is allowed.
  • Ovo-vegetarian: eggs are allowed.
  • Vegan: avoids all animal-derived products, including honey.

Read More: Vegetarian Weight Loss Meal Plan For 1200 Calories: Revamp Your Diet Right Now!

Benefits

  • Embarking on a vegetarian diet will have your fat-burning system working in full swing. Firstly, the diet consist of fewer calories. At least in the beginning, you’ll start shedding pounds because of that. Additionally, its followers naturally gravitate to healthier meal options (6).
  • Your heart will be in tip top shape. It’s so because you’ll start consuming less saturated fats and cholesterol. A study, published by the American Dietetic Association, suggests that a vegetarian diet promotes a lower risk of death due to heart disease (3).
  • Adopting a plant-based diet may increase longevity.

  • Loading up on fiber-rich foods can improve blood sugar control and insulin response.
  • Vegetarian foods are usually full with water, so you’ll always stay hydrated. Consequently, it will have a pleasant impact on your skin as a bonus.
  • Besides, research says that vegetarians have lower scores on depression tests and mood profiles in comparison to meat or fish-eaters.

Betterme will keep you laser-focused on your weight loss journey! Nutrient-packed meal plans, fat-blasting workouts, galvanizing challenges and much more. Try using the app and see for yourself!

Downsides

  • Cutting out entire food groups may result in nutrient deficiency. So, make sure you’re not skimping on vitamin B12, calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, or protein.
  • To be on the safe side, the vegetarian diet may require supplementation.
  • Changing habits is difficult. You could find yourself consuming vegetarian friendly but highly processed food that lacks nutrients.

How To Start A Vegetarian Diet?

The easiest way to make the transition smooth is to avoid rapid changes. Therefore, start small and then ramp up. Try several vegetarian-friendly recipes per week and search for plant-based alternatives of your favorite dishes.

The vegetarian diet pyramid, for example, is a helpful tool to remember what products to consume and how often. A healthy vegetarian diet provides adequate non meat protein. So, if you choose not to eat dairy and eggs, you can get protein from other sources. For instance, spirulina, soya and tofu. Beans, nuts and seeds are full of protein and healthy fats that are necessary. You can also include nutritional yeast for protein and B vitamins that you may be missing out on.

Summary

To sum up, for those who decide to stick to a vegetarian lifestyle, there are options to choose from: you can eliminate meat or avoid all types of animal products. Above all, vegetarians are able to keep their health in check and live a long fulfilling life supporting animal rights and environment.

DISCLAIMER:

This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!

SOURCES:

  1. Becoming a vegetarian (2018, health.harvard.edu)
  2. Is It Better to Be a Vegetarian? (2018, webmd.com)
  3. Position of the American Dietetic Association: vegetarian diets. (2009, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  4. Vegetarian diet: How to get the best nutrition (2019, mayoclinic.org)
  5. Vegetarian diets: what are the advantages? (2004, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  6. Vegetarian, vegan diets and multiple health outcomes: A systematic review with meta-analysis of observational studies (2016, tandfonline.com)
  7. What to know about the vegetarian diet (2020, medicalnewstoday.com)
Share
150 million people
have chosen BetterMe

Honestly this app is awesome

Victor M.
Honestly this app is awesome I never thought this app was this good and so helpful, have tryed and texted it ! It gave me options on how I want my dairy goals to be with the reminder It's easy to use simple question when sign in and anyone can use, more exposure when you want to lose weight would simply say it has more options you want to gain weight, lose weight or build your body. I highly recommend it for the fact that it even has first one week free trial when you don't like it you leave it

Great Experience!

Ryan N.
Great Experience! Easy to use and is always with me on my phone. I now have a diet plan,the app helped me gain weight in a short period of time, my training schemes have benefited from BetterMe. Before I started the training programs and fitness training plans, I had trouble eating late at night, but since then I have been in good physical shape and sleep. It has been truly mind-blowing, and I suggest it. literally the most complete. I hope it helps me achieve my dream body.

Very helpful

Lady L.
Very helpful. Very encouraging. I am more motivated with this app. I live the dietary suggestions and meal plans. And I'm actually doing yoga! I assumed I couldn't do it. But with the live coaches and support... they encourage you and never judge you.