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The Foundations Of A Vegetarian Diet And Other Considerations

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By Adelia Besse


A vegetarian diet is a diet that contains food plants such as vegetables, fruits, dried beans, peas, seeds and nuts, and grains. A well-balanced, carefully planned vegetarian diet (comprising of protein, vitamins and minerals) can provide numerous health benefits including reducing risk of obesity, diabetes, coronary artery disease and several other chronic diseases. It also lowers the risk of illness due to degenerative diseases. Read on to find out what makes up a healthy vegetarian diet.

Essential Components of a Vegetarian Diet Plan

1. Protein

Protein is vital for the many functions of the body like the creation of tissues and tissue repair. A full protein molecule in most cases should consist of numerous amino acid molecules. Plant foods, however, do not have such proteins as plants don't have as many amino acids.

Some food plants that are good sources of protein include nuts and seeds, legumes (like beans, lentils and peas, soy products (soy beverages and tempeh) and whole grains. Soy is a complete vegetable protein. These foods also provide the body with other essential nutrients.

2. Minerals

Vegetarians should ensure they get sufficient zinc, iodine, iron and calcium. In fact, experts say that a balanced vegetarian diet weight loss plan is one that meets the current recommendations for these nutrients. For calcium, make sure that you consume enough dairy products such as milk. In addition, try eating leafy greens such as bok choy and kale or calcium-fortified fruit juices since they contain bioavailble calcium (calcium in a form that the body can use immediately).

Plant foods like soy products, legumes, grains and nuts are rich in zinc. When it comes to iron, the form contained in plant foods is slightly different from what is found in meat sources. Its absorption can be influenced by other foods in your diet-vitamin C will enhance its absorption while coffee and tea will inhibit it. Good sources of iron include fortified cereal, beans, tofu, spinach, oatmeal and lentils. Never take iron supplements unless recommended by your doctor

3. Omega 3 fats

These fatty acids are vital for the proper functioning of the heart. Generally speaking, diet plans that exclude fish or eggs (like a vegetarian diet) offer very low amounts of such fats that are in an active form. Soy oil, soybeans, ground flaxseed, walnuts and canola oil are excellent source of omega 3 essential fatty acids.

However, the conversion of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids to the type used by human beings is usually inefficient, so you may consider taking fortified products or supplements like algae extract supplements. These will ensure that your body get the 2 forms of omega-3 which plant foods don't have.

4. Vitamin D and B12

Vitamin D plays a key role in development and health of bones. Eating foods like milk, certain brands of soy and some cereals will ensure your body is supplied with adequate vitamin D. You may also consider consuming breakfast cereals as most of them are normally fortified with the vitamin.

Vitamin B-12, on the other hand, is important for the formation of red blood cells and prevention of anemia. It may be pretty difficult to get enough of this vitamin on a vegetarian diet since it is almost exclusively found in animal products. Vegetarians should consider taking vitamin supplements, fortified soy products or vitamin-enriched cereals to get enough B-12.




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