Table of contents:
- What is the flexitarian diet?
- What are the benefits of the Flexitarian diet?
- How do you go on a flexitarian diet?
The decision to change course to become a vegetarian may not be as easy as turning a palm. Fortunately, there are always easy ways to start a healthier life. The flexitarian diet can be your solution to start slowly shifting from an all-meat and fatty diet to fresh vegetables and fruits.
What is the flexitarian diet?
The term "flexitarian" is derived from combining two words, namely "flexible(Flexible) and "vegetarian".
Simply put, the flexitarian diet is a flexible diet that helps you get used to reducing the portions of meat and animal products while increasing your plant-based food sources. That way, you will start eating a vegetarian-style diet while still enjoying (a small portion) of animal foods.
What are the benefits of the Flexitarian diet?
A plant-based diet has long been associated with better cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) health. With a flexitarian diet, you will increase your intake of fiber and good fats which have been proven to reduce bad cholesterol and blood pressure. In effect, a diet high in fiber can reduce the risk of heart disease by up to 32 percent, says a study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
A diet high in natural fiber from vegetables and fruits has long been associated with more drastic weight loss. Fiber intake can even help you maintain an ideal body weight. A study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine reports that a vegetarian diet for 18 weeks was able to lose two kilograms of body weight more than those who did not eat the diet.
How do you go on a flexitarian diet?
There are no clear rules about how much animal products are allowed while on this diet.
At its core, the flexitarian diet requires you to:
- Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts and seeds that have not gone through a lot of (natural) manufacturing processes.
- Get a source of vegetable protein from plants, not animals. Make sure you only get animal protein intake only a few times a week.
- Limit portions of sugar, sweeteners, and sugary foods and drinks.
However, to start a flexitarian diet, try to get in the habit of not eating animal products in the first 2 days. Next to three to four days without animal meat, until you can go five consecutive days without eating animal meat.
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