Vegetarianism is a personal choice. Some people choose to abstain from meat for ethical or religious reasons. For others, it is a matter of personal taste. Just as there is no magic weight loss pill, there are no magic vegetarian diet foods. With...
Vitamin D, also know as the "sunshine vitamin," isn't technically a vitamin at all. In its active form, calcitriol, it is a hormone. Synthesis of active vitamin D in our skin is triggered by ultraviolet rays from the sun. In the diet, vitamin D...
Between 5 and 7 percent of people in the U.S. consider themselves vegetarian, according to the Vegetarian Resource Group. However, definitions of vegetarians vary considerably, with some diets being stricter than others. A vegetarian diet may...
People have many reasons for choosing a vegetarian lifestyle. Some are against cruelty to animals, while some fight for the environment, which is impacted by the meat industry. Others choose the lifestyle due to religious beliefs or health...
A healthy vegetarian diet relies on the same essential nutrients that an omnivorous diet does, but the source of those nutrients may be different for vegetarians. Because a vegetarian diet focuses on plant-based foods, it tends to be naturally...
While vegetarianism is a diet and lifestyle choice on its own, there are also choices as to which type of vegetarian you can be. Among other types, there are three major groups. Vegans eat no food that comes from animals, including dairy and eggs....
On average, vegetarians consume less saturated fat, salt and protein and fewer calories--choices that generally are healthier, according to the American Heart Association. Vegetarians typically eat more fiber and fresh vegetables as well. On the...
A vegetarian diet lowers your risk of heart disease, cancer, obesity and other health threats, according to the American Dietetic Association. Skeptics focus on the various nutrients that you miss with a meatless existence and generate fear of...
There are three types of vegetarian: vegan, lacto-vegetarian and lacto-ovo vegetarian, according to MayoClinic.com. Vegans eliminate all animal-based foods from the diet, including meat, fish, dairy products and eggs. Lacto-vegetarians eat...
A vegetarian diet consists of plant-based foods or mainly plant-based foods. A vegan diet excludes all flesh and animal products, such as dairy and eggs, as well as foods containing these products. A lacto-vegetarian diet allows diary products, an...
While some follow a vegetarian diet because of animal rights or religious duty, others follow it for health reasons. For those trying to manage or prevent chronic diseases it can be an option. Some people wrongly believe that vegetarians do not...
Approximately 3 percent of (slightly more than 7 million) Americans are vegetarians--those who eat a diet without red meat, poultry or fish, according to The Vegetarian Resource Group. Individuals choose this dietary system for a number of...
If you are just beginning a new vegetarian diet, you have a few options open to you. A traditional vegetarian eats a primarily plant-based diet and excludes all meat and fish. Some vegetarians will choose to eat fish, but not meat or poultry,...
Cholesterol is found in foods from animal products, such as meat, dairy and eggs, and anything made with these ingredients. Therefore, a vegetarian diet will result in consuming less cholesterol. This is not always the case, however, if you eat a...
A vegetarian diet is characterized by the absence of meats and meat products, such as bacon, hamburgers, fish, chicken, ham and turkey. Some vegetarians, called strict vegetarians or vegans, also avoid food products produced by animals, such as...
A vegetarian diet is one that excludes animal products. The term "vegetarian" extends to numerous diet protocols. Lacto-ovo vegetarians exclude meat from their diet while still allowing dairy and eggs. Vegans abstain from eating any animal...
There are plenty of myths about vegetarian diets. One of them concerns the inability to consume enough protein from plant food sources to meet protein and energy requirements. A vegetarian diet can be nutritious and healthy if essential nutrients,...
Vegetarian diets have been shown to meet the nutritional needs of children, teenagers and adults, including pregnant or breast-feeding women. Although there are variations, many vegetarian diets exclude meat and dairy products. Familiarizing...
The basic vegetarian diet can meet all nutritional needs. Select plant-based food choices from each food group in the USDA MyPyramid food guide or follow the Mayo Clinic Vegetarian Diet Pyramid. Each of these programs features whole grains, fruits...
Composed of smaller chemicals called amino acids, protein obtained from your diet provides the tools your cells use to create new proteins within your cells. Though animal meat contains a rich source of dietary protein, many plants and nonmeat...
The benefits of following a vegetarian diet are well known and well documented. But before making the leap to vegetarianism, it's also important to consider possible disadvantages of the diet. Some may be more relevant to your life than others,...
Many people choose to follow a vegetarian diet for several reasons, including health concerns, animal-rights beliefs, environmental issues or religious views. A vegetarian diet full of healthy options provides most of the nutrients needed for...
Vegetarian diets encompass a variety of eating patterns, generally depending on personal preference, religious beliefs, economics or health and environmental concerns. A vegetarian diet that includes a variety of selections from each food group...
Maintaining balance in a vegetarian diet simply means getting all the nutrients you need, in the amounts necessary to stay healthy. A vegan diet, which includes no animal products whatsoever, could be low in protein, calcium, iron, zinc or...
Your thyroid is a small gland located just below your Adam's apple. It produces hormones that help regulate your metabolism. Hypothyroidism is a condition in which your body does not produce enough of the necessary hormones, causing your...
Based on centuries-old culinary traditions of the countries situated along the Mediterranean Sea, the Mediterranean diet provides a solid nutritional foundation for vegetarians. Because the Mediterranean diet emphasizes plant-based protein...
Contrary to common belief, vegetarians need not include meat in their diet to get enough protein. Vegetarians and vegans alike can meet recommended daily requirements for protein by following a few simple guidelines, paying a little extra...
About 2 percent of teens 13 to 17 years old report consuming a vegetarian diet that does not include fish, milk or poultry, according to a 2000 survey conducted by the Vegetarian Resource Group. There are several vegetarian diets for teens. Most...
When you think of protein foods, meat might be the first thing to pop into your mind. There are other non-meat sources of protein, however. Vegetarians can easily meet their protein needs without including any animal products since almost all...
The Ornish diet resembles vegetarian or vegan diets, prohibiting meats, egg yolks, and allowing only fat milk or cheese. Try these tips for weighing the Ornish diet in this healthy shopping video.
Eating tips can be important for people who have fibromyalgia. Learn how to adjust your diet to fit your specific health and nutrition needs in this healthy shopping video.
Soy products can provide a healthy source of protein, while reducing your risks to cancer. Learn how to make some healthy soy decisions in this healthy shopping video.
The Macrobiotic Diet originated in Japan as a combination of Zen Buddhism and western vegetarianism. Learn how to make healthy food choices for the Macrobiotic Diet from a licensed dietician and nutritionist in this health and nutrition video.
Blood type diets correlate with specific foods due to your digestive system. Learn some tips about your blood type diet in this healthy shopping video.
