Added: 10/14/2005 |
Different Styles of Vegetarianism?How to Make the Right Lifestlyle Choices for A Low-Fat Vegetarian LifestyleIf you've just decided to make the switch to vegetarianism, you've already significantly decreased the amount of fat you'll consume on a daily basis. Much of the fat that we find in our foods comes from meat, and many vegetarians report healthy and sometimes rather quick weight loss as a result of the diet change.
While it has already been proven that a vegetarian diet can reduce the risk of osteoporosis, certain cancers, and even menstrual pain in some women, as well as cure some of these ailments in individuals who are already battling these conditions, a low-fat vegetarian lifestyle could be twice as beneficial. New studies are even suggesting that a low-fat vegetarian diet could significantly reduce cholesterol levels-almost as well as statin drugs.
However, many followers of the 'low-fat' vegetarian lifestyle may still struggle with losing weight by not removing other 'fats' from their diets. For instance, there are a number of dairy products, as well as vegetarian meat substitutes that have an extremely high fat or sodium content. Certain breads and desserts that are rich in calories and high in fat may also cause health problems with vegetarians, making it hard to lose weight, or causing other problems, such as chronic fatigue or heart disease. So, while it may be easy for some to eliminate meat from their diets, there are other sources of fat that a vegetarian should be aware of in order to stay within a healthy weight according to age and height regulations, and to avoid certain diseases in the future.
A diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables is the key to fighting off a number of diseases, for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. And since these foods are low in fat and cholesterol, you can certainly maintain a low-fat vegetarian diet by consuming large amounts of these foods. However, many vegetarians do not get the daily allowance of fruits and vegetables per day, which can cause malnourishment. Many individuals are also embracing a low-carb vegetarian diet in order to maintain a healthy weight, and this may work for vegetarians as well. By reducing the amount of breads and pastas that are eaten per day, vegetarians can increase their energy, adopt better sleeping patterns, and even help their bodies fight off depression and anxiety. Eliminating dairy products has also proven to help many people lose weight, especially those who are lactose intolerant. Many vegetarians are ovo-lacto, which means they do consume eggs, dairy products, and foods made with eggs, milk, or cheese, but these ingredients, especially when eaten with breads or pasta, can make weight loss and ideal health rather difficult. Lacto vegetarians may consider becoming vegan (the type of vegetarian diet where no animal products are consumed). This diet has been known to prevent and cure certain diseases, as well as improve sinus or allergy problem and cure acne in some teens and adults. So, not only can a low-fat vegetarian diet help you to lose weight, you may also be able to eliminate other health problems by making the right food choices.
If you want to know more about how to enjoy a low-fat or lacto vegetarian lifestyle, here are some suggestions to try that the whole family will love:
-Replace dairy products with soy-based foods. For instance, there are a number of soy milk products that taste great that you can use to for cooking and baking, and you can use tofu in place of meat for some of your favorite dishes, such as tacos or lasagna. Be sure to buy extra firm tofu if you're using it in the place of ground beef, and season it the night before to enhance the taste. This will keep your low-fat vegetarian diet on track.
-Give your family more fruit and vegetable options during the day. Give your kids two or three fruits for lunch or a snack, and try eating fruit for breakfast in the morning to start the day. Serve as many vegetables as you'd like for dinner, and let each member of the family choose their favorites. You're much more likely to eat foods that are good for you when you can prepare them in new and creative ways.
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