The Importance Of Eating A Healthful Vegetarian Diet

So often when people say they ar vegetarian they mean that they do not eat meat. But being a vegetarian is about more than just not eating meat. It is possible to be a vegetarian in the sense of not eating meat and eat a very unhealthy diet indeed.

A vegetarian diet may by high in cholesterol if it relies too much on cheese and eggs. It may be low in fiber if it is based on refined grain products like white bread, white pasta and white rice. If it lacks fresh vegetables your diet will be deficient in vitamins and minerals. You may be vegetarian but you may not be eating a healthy vegetarian diet.

Going vegetarian is about more than just not eating meat. It means taking a positive decision to eat a wide range of foods that provide a balanced mixture of nutrients. It is important to plan the shift to a vegetarian diet. This may mean buying some new equipment for your kitchen. If you are used to eating convenience store foods, then you may need to buy some basic items.

The next step is to plan your meals. Not all vegetarian meals rely on cheese, eggs and milk for protein. These are useful ingredients in a vegetarian diet but not by any means essential. It is perfectly possible to get enough protein by combining grains with legumes such as peas, beans and lentils. A bowl of lentil soup with a slice of bread provides all the essential amino acid you need. Chili beans and rice combine in the same way to create what is called a complete protein.

A diet based on legumes and whole grains has the immense of advantage of providing you with enough fiber. This is important to maintain colon health. Cancer of the colon is most common among people who eat a diet based on over-refined processed foods. Fiber is one of the key ingredients in a healthful vegetarian diet.

Switching to a high fiber diet takes a little time. Your body needs to adjust. So take things slowly at first.

A healthful vegetarian diet based on whole grains, legumes, nuts, fruits, and vegetables will also be good for your heart as it is low in fat. The fats you use in vegetarian cooking should be vegetable fats and oils such as olive oil, coconut oil or groundnut oil. There is no reason to exclude butter from a vegetarian diet especially if most of the fat you are consuming is of vegetable origin.

One of the great things about a healthy vegetarian diet is that it helps to maintain your weight at the right level. You will still pile on the pounds if you binge on ice cream but a really healthy vegetarian diet leaves you feeling satisfied so that you are less likely to overindulge in sweet things.