What is healthy food? Vegetable or Meat?
To begin, what does it mean to be a “vegetarian”? Lacto-ovo and strict vegetarian diets are the two most common types of vegetarian diets (vegan). The vast majority of vegetarians are Lacto-ovo: They eat only non-animal items (fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, soy, and so on), but animal byproducts like yogurt and eggs are consumed. According to Katherine Tallmadge, RD, LD, former media spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, being a Lacto-ovo vegetarian isn’t all that different nutritionally from being a meat-eater. Vegans, on the other hand, do not consume any animal products and, as a result, “must be very cautious in their food choices so that they obtain all of the nutrients they require,” Tallmadge adds.
According to Tallmadge, a vegetarian diet “can be nutritionally superior to any other manner of eating.” “We know plant meals are filled with nutrients that preserve our health, so it might be one of the best ways to eat.”
A vegetarian diet is linked to a decreased risk of mortality from ischemic heart disease, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Meat eaters tend to have lower levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood pressure, and incidences of hypertension and type 2 diabetes than vegetarians. Vegetarians also had a lower BMI, lower overall cancer rates, and decreased chronic disease risk.
Is your vegetarian coworker likely to be healthier than you, who usually orders the grilled salmon, if he eats fatty veggie burgers and fries every day for lunch? Certainly not!
Tallmadge argues that a vegetarian diet doesn’t always result in weight loss, particularly if you dine out frequently. “The only vegetarian options on the menu are frequently cheesy and fattening.” Restaurants that serve soy burgers or beans and rice might be difficult to come by, and eating restaurant-sized amounts of pasta, rice, nuts, and cheese can rapidly add up to weight gain. Many vegetarians alter their views and begin eating fish, according to Tallmadge, since they want to eat lighter meals with enough protein.
What is healthy food? healthy foods to eat every day for vegetarians of all types to remember are to acquire enough protein, fatty acids, iron, zinc, iodine, calcium, and vitamins D and B-12. Tallmadge says that protein is necessary for growing muscle development, amino function, combating illness, and mending, so make sure you receive it in each meal throughout the day. Vegans must eat soy protein, which is the only vegetarian protein that is as complete as animal protein, in order to receive vital amino acids and minerals, according to Tallmadge. Or they’ll have to combine beans and grains.”
If you’re considering going vegetarian, keep these tips in mind:
- There are several research-backed health benefits to eating a vegetarian diet, but only if you follow it correctly and don’t replace meat with processed or high-fat vegetarian alternatives.
- Vegans and lacto-ovo vegetarians alike must ensure that they obtain enough nutrients. It’s a good idea to obtain a vegetarian diet guide or meet with a nutritionist to go over a few days’ worth of meals.
Keep track of how much of your protein comes from nuts, especially if you’re attempting to lose weight. Nuts contain around 180 calories and 5 grams of protein per ounce. Aim for 20 to 30 grams of protein every meal.