Vegetarianism as a Weight Loss Diet

March 10, 2013 By Amy Leave a Comment

Do you have a weight problem? Are you dealing with obesity and the gamut of issues related with being overweight like a greater risk of colon problems and heart disease? Sadly, the latest statistics show that in America, 60% people are either overweight or obese.

All over the world, cardiovascular surgeons and dieticians have been recommending a high fiber diet for successful weight loss. Research has shown the key role played by a balanced diet in prevention of chronic illnesses and longevity. A balanced diet should be low in animal products and fat, and high in vegetables, fruits and any other high fiber foods.

A balanced diet, by its very definition tends towards ‘vegetarianism.’ Such a diet can help regulate digestion, maintain healthy cholesterol and blood sugar levels. However vegetarianism is not a short-term diet – it’s a lifestyle choice. Research shows a statistical correlation between long term vegetarianism and more physical activity and less smoking and drinking related toxicity. Vegetarians also show lower death rates from chronic disease.

There are various types of vegetarians:

• Vegans or strict vegetarians – They do not eat or use any animal products. Fur and leather is avoided along with edible products of animal origin like honey. Their staple diet is rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes, grains, seeds and plant based fats.

• Raw vegans – They are vegans whose diet consists of largely raw vegan foods. This includes foods like sprouted grains, fermented foods, and untreated plant fats. In recent years, this diet has become popular because it is provides a simple and tasty way to weight loss. Raw vegan foods also have high fiber content so people don’t feel hungry on this diet.

• Lacto-ovo vegetarians – They include dairy products (lacto) and eggs (ovo) in their diet along with fruits and vegetables. This diet provides a great way to transition from a non-vegetarian diet to a vegetarian diet because its not as strict as vegans.

• Pesco- and Pollo-Vegetarians – Pesco-vegetarians include fish in their diet whereas pollo-vegetarians include chicken. Thus, these cannot be strictly included in vegetarianism. However, they are strong advocates of healthy and organic food choices for detoxification and health reasons.

A vegetarian diet, regardless of its form, gives a weight loss benefit mainly due to its calorie density. This means that a fiber rich diet fills you up quicker, and helps curb your appetite. That is a natural way to eat less and shed excess weight.

However, even vegetarians need to watch their overall calorie intake to remain healthy. A vegetarian brownie or lasagna can add to the waistline as easily as burgers and fries. If you go vegetarian, you must have a variety of plant based foods and high fiber whole grains and avoid fatty foods to maximize benefits.

If you are concerned with good health and a long life, you must consider vegetarianism or at least increase your intake or raw foods and fiber. Along with weight loss benefits, a vegetarian diet can increase our energy levels and reduce risk of chronic diseases. Isn’t that worth considering?

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How To Raise a Vegetarian Family

April 1, 2010 By Amy Leave a Comment

Vegetarians follow a diet that contains no meat. Often times they may limit or refuse of animal products too… like milk, cheese, or eggs. Vegetarians often choose their diet for health reasons or because they consider it exploitive or cruel to kill for food. Some of the things they avoid may seem strange but not if you know what is in them. Jell-o contains gelatin, a product made from animal hooves and connective tissues. And part of the processing of white cane sugar involves the use of charcoal filters that may contain animal bones (beet sugar does not have this filtering step and is therefore vegan/vegetarian).

As more information comes to us about the health benefits of a vegetarian diet, some of the myths about it are being dispelled. A balanced diet is important, and it is possible to achieve this without meat or any animal products if you want to go that far. If you would like to raise a vegetarian family, here are some helpful tips.

1. Be informed. Research the vegetarian diet before you change your families eating habits. Know why the diet is the right choice for your family, and believe it. This knowledge will give you confidence to stick to your choices. Some good books include You Don’t Need Meat and The New Becoming Vegetarian: The Essential Guide To A Healthy Vegetarian Diet.

2. Be prepared. Doctors and family members may not be supportive of a vegetarian diet, and may actively attempt to undermine it. Once again, knowledge is key – be ready to discuss your reasons for choosing a veggie based diet, and do not expect to make believers out of everyone.

3. Be confident. Don’t be intimidated by your children’s pediatrician or your family doctor about your dietary choices.

4. Find alternatives to traditional fare so your child will not feel ostracized. For example, there is vegan chocolate available for holiday celebrations, vegan birthday cake recipes, and even fake “meat” made from soy products. All of these can be quite tasty!

5. Don’t be afraid to work with a dietician or nutritionist to make sure your family is getting a balanced diet.

6. Read vegetarian mom/family blogs for recipe inspiration and advice. Seeing how other families thrive is great incentive.

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Basic Vegetarian Food Pyramid Facts

March 19, 2010 By Amy Leave a Comment

 

The vegetarian food pyramid lists recommended foods and quantities just as a traditional food pyramid does but also lists legumes and nuts instead of meat. Because of their high fiber content, fruits and vegetables replace the fiber category at the bottom tier of the pyramid, and make it unnecessary to include fiber as a separate category.
Be aware that the regular vegetarian food pyramid is not suitable for strict vegans since the dairy products listed are not within their guidelines. Replacing dairy with soy products, for example, is an alternative. The main difference between the vegan food pyramid and the vegetarian food pyramid would be the addition of breads and grains instead of dairy or egg products.
The vegetarian food pyramid is a great tool to figure out what nutrition your body needs. If you worry about having the right foods and the right amount of foods, you only need to reference the pyramid and plan from there. Adhering to a vegetarian diet is easier also as you will learn the correct foods and proportions for each type of food in order to maintain a balanced diet that means your nutritional needs.
The vegetarian food pyramid also helps you determine how much of each type of food your body needs and what is over the limit. At the top of the pyramid for the smallest amounts are fats, oils and sweets. This is the way it should be if you are looking for the healthiest diet available.
The food pyramid that a vegetarian follows is a graphic representation of the healthy compenents of their diet. When the food pyramid is followed religiously, you can be assured that your diet is as nutritious as it could be. This is a great way for dieters, who also follow a vegetarian diet, to design their food plan to get the proper nutrition while they are trying to lose weight.
People choose a vegetarian diet for many reasons and healthy nutrition is right at the top of the list. It can be a little more difficult for a vegetarian to get the nutrition they need without the inclusion of meat, but as the pyramid shows, it can be done. The effort that is expended on planning your food consumption will be rewarded with a greater degree of health and longevity. Most vegetarians are noticeably healthier than their meat eating counterparts.
When beginning a vegetarian diet, look to the vegetarian food pyramid when planning your meals. This will help you to understand how to get the nutrients you need to stay healthy. This information makes is very easy to move into a diet that is actually healthy. You will soon discover how to make delicious vegetarian meals that are also healthy.

Visit Vegetarian Food Pyramid to learn more about being vegetarian at http://www.vegetariandiet.us We cover a lot of information on this topic.

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Make the Most of the Vegetarian Food (vegetarian Diet: How to Get the Best Nutrition?)

March 19, 2010 By Amy Leave a Comment

 

There is a lot of attention being given to vegetarian food these days on the grounds that it is healthy heating habit. However, there is no particular study to indicate whether vegetarian diet alone constitutes healthy food. No doubt, the vegetarian food provides the necessary vitamins, carbohydrates and fats, but it is recommended that people enjoy a balanced diet. Opt for vegetarian if you are keen on seeking all the essential building blocks from the vegetarian diet. It is also found that vegetarian food assists easy digestion. If you are planning to go in for full time vegetarian diet, opt out of non vegetarian food. Though both are considered good for health, it is up to the individual to choose between vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.

 

Start the day with juice. There are a plenty of fresh fruits from which juice can be prepared. Similarly, if you are not interested in fresh fruit juice, opt for juice from vegetables. Juice can be made from greens, spinach and vegetables such as bitter gourd, cucumber, radish and carrot to name a few. The juice made from vegetables is very popular these days considering the fact that they have all the necessary and essential vital ingredients. However, it is recommended that no sugar or artificial flavors are added to the juice. Drink the vegetable juice in its most natural form. Adding sugar will dilute the originality of the vegetable juice. If possible, mix juices of multiple vehicles such as carrot and cucumber. A juice of mixed vegetables will help the overall diet of an individual.

 

The vegetable juice can also be applied to the skin to improve its condition. Over a long period of time, if vegetable juice is applied to the skin, it will glow. Similarly, potato slices, if placed on the eyes, will provide relaxing effect. Both are tried and tested over a period of time to provide the desired results. It can be tried on a daily basis by individuals willing to switch over to vegetarian diet.

 

The morning breakfast too could consist of vegetables. Try and practice to vegetables in their raw form. Some of the vegetable that can be eaten in the raw form include radish, cabbage, spinach, broccoli, cucumber, carrot, beans and many categories of pulses. It is recommended that these vegetables are consumed raw since cooking or boiling them in water might result in loss of vitamins and carbohydrates. However, ensure that vegetables consumed raw are grown organically without the use of any kind of fertilizer. Also, wash the vegetables thoroughly before consuming them. If possible, ionize the vegetables to kill the microbes if any before consumption.

 

While preparing vegetarian food, avoid addition of artificial flavors. Do not use much water since it might wash away the vitamins. Some fruits and vegetables are best consumed without peeling the skin. However, some vegetables have to be peeled before being eaten. Cook and bake the beans optimally before eating them. Eat plenty of fiber containing diet such as beans, pineapple and various gourds for a healthy life.

Article written byRobert Riles, who is a sports expert and owner ofskyfireproducts.com

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