A vegetarian diet is a diet that contains food plants such as vegetables, fruits, dried beans, peas, seeds and nuts, and grains. A well-balanced, carefully planned vegetarian diet (comprising of protein, vitamins and minerals) can provide numerous health benefits including reducing risk of obesity, diabetes, coronary artery disease and several other chronic diseases. It also lowers the risk of illness due to degenerative diseases. Read on to find out what makes up a healthy vegetarian diet.
Foundations Of A Vegetarian Diet And Other Considerations
1. Protein
Protein is vital for a number of body processes such as tissue building and repair. A complete protein usually comprises all amino acids that make up protein, but the majority of plant foods aren't complete proteins - they have a few of the amino acids.
In any case, certain plant foods do contain substantial levels of protein, for example legumes (like soy products, tempeh, beans, peas and lentils) as well as whole-grains. In actual fact, soy products is one of the non-meat sources of complete proteins. Consuming these kinds of foods is essential in a well-balanced vegetarian diet.
2. Minerals
Vegetarians should ensure they get sufficient zinc, iodine, iron and calcium. In fact, experts say that a balanced vegetarian weight loss diet plan is one that meets the current recommendations for these nutrients. For calcium, make sure that you consume enough dairy products such as milk. In addition, try eating leafy greens such as bok choy and kale or calcium-fortified fruit juices since they contain bioavailble calcium (calcium in a form that the body can use immediately).
Plant foods like nuts, legumes, grains and soy products have high levels of zinc. However, iron in plant foods is not the same as that found in meat based foods. How much iron gets absorbed into your body will also depend on what other things that you consume. For instance, absorption of iron will be increased with vitamin C but will be decreased with coffee or tea. Sources of iron to consider includ tofu, lentils, spinach, beans and oatmeal. Get your doctor's advice first before taking iron supplements.
3. Omega 3 essential fatty acids
These are essential for the proper functioning of the heart. Generally, diets that don't comprise of fish or eggs (as is the case with a vegetarian diet) are low in the active forms of the essential fatty acids. Canola oil, ground flaxseed, soybeans, soy oil and walnuts are good sources of omega-3.
Even so, when plant based omega 3 fatty acids are transformed into a usable form for the human body, there is often very little left so it is recommended that people should take additional vitamins and supplements, like algae extract, to guarantee adequate omega 3 intake.
4. Vitamin D and B12
Vitamin D plays a key role in development and health of bones. Eating foods like milk, certain brands of soy and some cereals will ensure your body is supplied with adequate vitamin D. You may also consider consuming breakfast cereals as most of them are normally fortified with the vitamin.
In contrast, vitamin B12 is required for the development of red blood cells and for the prevention of anemia. Normally, it is quite difficult to obtain this vitamin for non-meat eating people as this vitamin is found almost only in animal products. As such, those on a vegetarian or vegan diet plans should think about taking additional vitamins, supplement, cereals with vitamin B12 or fortified soy products to get sufficient vitamin B12.
Foundations Of A Vegetarian Diet And Other Considerations
1. Protein
Protein is vital for a number of body processes such as tissue building and repair. A complete protein usually comprises all amino acids that make up protein, but the majority of plant foods aren't complete proteins - they have a few of the amino acids.
In any case, certain plant foods do contain substantial levels of protein, for example legumes (like soy products, tempeh, beans, peas and lentils) as well as whole-grains. In actual fact, soy products is one of the non-meat sources of complete proteins. Consuming these kinds of foods is essential in a well-balanced vegetarian diet.
2. Minerals
Vegetarians should ensure they get sufficient zinc, iodine, iron and calcium. In fact, experts say that a balanced vegetarian weight loss diet plan is one that meets the current recommendations for these nutrients. For calcium, make sure that you consume enough dairy products such as milk. In addition, try eating leafy greens such as bok choy and kale or calcium-fortified fruit juices since they contain bioavailble calcium (calcium in a form that the body can use immediately).
Plant foods like nuts, legumes, grains and soy products have high levels of zinc. However, iron in plant foods is not the same as that found in meat based foods. How much iron gets absorbed into your body will also depend on what other things that you consume. For instance, absorption of iron will be increased with vitamin C but will be decreased with coffee or tea. Sources of iron to consider includ tofu, lentils, spinach, beans and oatmeal. Get your doctor's advice first before taking iron supplements.
3. Omega 3 essential fatty acids
These are essential for the proper functioning of the heart. Generally, diets that don't comprise of fish or eggs (as is the case with a vegetarian diet) are low in the active forms of the essential fatty acids. Canola oil, ground flaxseed, soybeans, soy oil and walnuts are good sources of omega-3.
Even so, when plant based omega 3 fatty acids are transformed into a usable form for the human body, there is often very little left so it is recommended that people should take additional vitamins and supplements, like algae extract, to guarantee adequate omega 3 intake.
4. Vitamin D and B12
Vitamin D plays a key role in development and health of bones. Eating foods like milk, certain brands of soy and some cereals will ensure your body is supplied with adequate vitamin D. You may also consider consuming breakfast cereals as most of them are normally fortified with the vitamin.
In contrast, vitamin B12 is required for the development of red blood cells and for the prevention of anemia. Normally, it is quite difficult to obtain this vitamin for non-meat eating people as this vitamin is found almost only in animal products. As such, those on a vegetarian or vegan diet plans should think about taking additional vitamins, supplement, cereals with vitamin B12 or fortified soy products to get sufficient vitamin B12.
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