Going Vegetarian: Taking Meat Out of Your Diet

Going vegetarian will bring many healthy benefits to your life including weight loss.Over 4 million people in this country are following a vegetarian diet. The average vegetarian's body mass is much lower than the average person in comparison. Their cholesterol is lower, and the risks of getting diabetes and coronary artery disease.

There is more than one type of vegetarian diet out there. Obviously, vegetarians eliminate meat from their diets. Some of them allow themselves to eat dairy products and eggs. there are still some that prefer to leave out the eggs. then there are what we call vegans who eat only plant foods. Regardless of which you prefer, make sure you get vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, and protein in your daily diet.

You will not get all the amino acids that your body will need by cutting out meat protein from you r diet, but you can substitute by eating plenty of nuts, grains, and legumes. Beans are rich in lysine which is an amino acid, yet low in sulfur-rich amino acids. Grains will give you the opposite effect. Therefore, if you were to eat a plate of rice and black beans it would give you a balance of these proteins.

Another good substitute for meat is soy protein. There are meatless chicken nuggets, hotdogs, and breakfast sausages that have soy as a prime ingredient. Try to use meatless versions of your favorite recipes. This will make it a little easier to transition into a vegetarian way of thinking. If you love lasagna try it with spinach and some tofu rather than using the traditional ground beef. When making an omelet, try using mushrooms, carrots, and spinach instead of ham and cheese.

This is a good replacement for making chicken parmesan, use thin slices of eggplant as a substitute. If you are deciding not to use dairy, try some soy-based cheese in place of the real parmesan cheese. If you like chili, use some ground tofu to replace the ground beef.Grilled portabella mushroom on wheat topped with lettuce, tomato, and cheese is a good choice as well. Veggie burgers are found in nearly any grocery store which blendsvegetables, soy, and grains together to give you a balance of proteins.

To be a vegetarian, there is a reduced chance of getting certain diseases since it ups your intake of phytochemicals. They are compounds that are found in colorful fruits and veggies. Broccoli has lutein while tomatoes have lytcopene. These are some powerful antioxidants that can help you protect yourself against cancer. Vegans need to make sure they get enough calcium by drinking soy milk or orange juice with calcium. They can also get it from some green vegetables, seeds and nuts.

WedMD. Vegetarian Diet Slideshow: Becoming a Vegetarian.http://www.webmd.com/diet/slideshow-vegetarian-diet?ecd=wnl_wmh_050611