The Vegetarian Diet
A Weight Loss Solution

Have you been to any large banquets lately? If so, did you notice people passing up the baked chicken and prime rib in order to feast on a vegetarian meal? Spurred on by celebrity endorsements, health concerns, and weight difficulties, vegetarianism seems to be gaining in popularity. The key to your weight loss may be a vegetarian diet.

Definition

You may be surprised to learn that there are a variety of vegetarian diets in use today. In some cases, vegetarians eat only beans, fruits, nuts, and vegetables, while others may also eat cheese and drink milk and others may even eat eggs.

Due to the fact that a vegetarian diet tends to be low in cholesterol and fat, it may help you avoid heart problems and even cancer. However, on a strictly vegetarian diet, you may be missing some important minerals and vitamins.

Key To Success

Since you don't want to starve your body of the nutrients you need in order to be healthy, the key to a successful vegetarian diet is in the planning. It's up to you to decide what you will be eating for every meal in order to ensure that you receive the proper nutrients.

A major benefit of the vegetarian diet is that it tends to involve a healthy serving of fruits and vegetables, along with whole grains. However, because getting enough protein can be a challenge, you might consider adding soy (high in protein) to your diet. Also, in order that you receive enough iron (remember, vegetarians don't eat liver and roast beef), you'll need to make sure that you eat plenty of beans and spinach.

Supplements

It's important to ensure that you receive the appropriate amount of B-12, calcium, Vitamin D, and zinc. If you don't want to supplement your diet with vitamins, you'll need to load up on broccoli, cereals, soymilk and spinach. Just because you're a vegetarian doesn't give you a license to eat fattening foods -- you'll still need to count those calories!

Yes, it's true, when it comes to an effective vegetarian diet variety is a key factor. You'll need to eat an array of fruits and vegetables. If you consume dairy, be sure you choose low-fat or non-fat milk and cheese and eat eggs in moderation, as they are rich in cholesterol.

Battling That Bulge

A tool used to measure obesity -- the body mass index -- is generally lower for vegetarians than for the population at large. Studies have shown that vegetarians tend to consumer fewer calories each day than meat-eaters. However, a vegetarian still needs to pay attention to calorie counts and portion control. While it may not be a panacea for weight loss, vegetarianism can help battle that bulge.

It should be noted here, however, that some people mistakenly believe vegetarianism is a quick fix to weight loss. Some people figure they can give up meat for a couple weeks, lose that weight, then go right back to their old eating habits. This encourages the bad pattern of yo-yo dieting. Therefore, if you go on a vegetarian diet, and don't stick with it, you'll be very disappointed in your weight loss progress.

Not for Everyone

Vegetarianism is not for everyone. You may want to go vegan, however, if you enjoy fruits and vegetables over meat. If you don't fall into that category, you'll need to find another diet plan to follow. Whatever diet program you ultimately choose should depend upon your personal preferences and what kind of diet regimen you are prepared to follow over the long run. Remember, the key to any successful diet -- vegetarian or not -- is commitment; simply being determined to succeed.