How to Be a Healthy Vegetarian

In a world that promotes a double quarter pounder as a “delicious” lunch or dinner, it can be hard to say no to frequent offers of meat and animal products. Many of us even consider vegetarian diets as “boring” or “restrictive.” But these harsh stereotypes aside, there are a wide variety of health benefits for those who go for veggies over veal.

Benefits of Becoming Vegetarian

• Lower risks for chronic diseases

• Slimmer waistlines

• Lower cholesterol

• Supports healthy glucose levels

• Healthier digestive systems (high fiber diets)

Getting Started

Going Vegetarian doesn’t mean nibbling on lettuce and carrots like a rabbit. In fact, there are a wide variety of vegetarian diets that can be customized to suit your needs.

Felixtarian:
As the name implies, these vegetarians are flexible-occasionally eating meat, but not to the same extreme that many people indulge in.

Pesci-vegetarian:
These vegetarians avoid the standard meat or poultry, but they don’t deprive themselves of the benefits of fish, dairy, and eggs.

Lacto-ovo vegetarian:
Lacto = Milk, Ovo = Eggs. Lacto-ovo vegetarians don’t eat meat, but do eat eggs and dairy products.

Ovo vegetarian:
Eggs are “egg”cellent for these vegetarians but all other meat products are excluded.

Vegan:
Probably the most harshly stereotyped diet; Vegans avoid eating animal products including milk, cheese, eggs, honey, or gelatin. In protest against animal abuse, many vegans choose not to wear clothes made from animal products such as silk, wool, or leather.

Don’t Forget the Protein

Meat is an excellent source of protein, and what many beginning vegetarians don’t realize is that cutting out meat can lead to serious complications such as muscle failure, fatigue, depression, organ failure, and even death.

Any new diet requires careful planning. If you think vegetarianism is right for you, be sure that your new diet includes protein rich foods that will complement your new lifestyle. Foods such as soybeans, quinoa, beans, seeds, nuts, and grains are excellent sources of protein-but many of these need to be combined to give you the complete amino acids your body needs to survive.

However, it is possible to consume a vegan diet and still hit your daily recommended amount of protein. Some of these common foods may be especially helpful.

• ¼ cup almonds – 8 g of protein

• 1 cup black beans (cooked) – 15 g of protein

• 1 cup black-eyed peas (cooked) – 11 g of protein

• 1 cup Chickpeas (cooked) – 12 g of protein

• 1 cup kidney beans (cooked) – 13 g of protein

• 1 cup lentils (cooked) – 18 g of protein

• 1 cup quinoa (cooked) – 9 g of protein

• 1 cup soybeans (cooked) 29 g of protein

• 1 cup tempeh – 41 g of protein

If you’re just starting you, a few of these foods may be unfamiliar with you. Take some time to research healthy foods, and then have fun with it. Just because you’re going vegetarian doesn’t mean that your menus have to be boring.

Supplements

Even the best dieters need a little help now and then to ensure they get all the nutrients they need to stay healthy. Multi-vitamins and supplements are often great ways to stay healthy and trim, and the best diet pills will not only help you lose weight but can provide you with additional ingredients to complete your vegetarian diet.

You can read more about different diet pills, as well as their pros and cons at DietPills.md.

If you’re looking for a safe supplement, you may wish to consider Colovexus, a powerful cleanser and weight loss aid with several clinically proven ingredients to help you shed those stubborn pounds safely and effectively.

It even comes with a money-back guarantee, so if you’re not satisfied with your purchase then you can return it for a full refund.