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 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 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.
Alternative sources of protein for vegetarians include legumes, such as lentils, chickpeas and beans or nuts and vegetable seeds. Whole grain foods can also be a source of protein for vegetarians. To ensure you are getting enough iron in your system you should consume plenty of spinach, dried fruits and you can add Brewer’s Yeast to foods. You may also be able to find iron-enriched cereals that will boost your iron levels.
Zinc is an important mineral for maintaining a strong immune system. To ensure you are getting enough you can eat lots of nuts and wheat germ. Vitamin B12 is found almost exclusively in animal products, so you can either look for cereals that are fortified with B12, or take a vitamin B supplement.
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.
With proper planning you can ensure that your low carb vegetarian diet is high in all essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients required to maintain a healthy body. If you cover all your bases, you will also enjoy added health benefits that vegetarian diet can bring to an individual. Some studies have shown that vegetarians are likely to live longer thanks to reduced risk of lifestyle diseases brought on in diets with high meat consumption and saturated fat.
Read More About: Finding The Best Approach To Experience A Vegetarian Diet
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