Are you considering making a switch to a plant-based diet? Going vegetarian (or even vegan) could be the best thing that you do for yourself this year.
The benefits of a vegetarian diet far outweigh the downsides. Once you get the hang of it, you won’t miss meat at all.
Read on to learn all about some of the benefits of becoming a herbivore!
1. You’ll Get Creative With Meals
This might seem like a silly benefit, but it’s a lot of fun if you’re someone who’s always struggled to try new things in the kitchen. Once you cut meat out of your diet, you’ll find yourself eating a wide variety of new things!
Finding new protein sources is more exciting than it sounds. How can you turn walnuts into taco meat? What can you do with a big bag of dried garbanzo beans?
A lot of unprocessed vegetarian staples are also more affordable than meat, so you’ll have more money to get creative with.
2. You’ll Eat More Fiber
Did you know that 95% of Americans don’t get enough fiber? A meat-heavy diet won’t contain much fiber. You need plants!
While there are plenty of vegetarian foods without a lot of fiber, your protein sources almost certainly will have some. When you swap out your meat for plant proteins, it will make a huge difference.
Note that this might cause a small amount of stomach discomfort when you first make the change. It will pass.
3. It’s an Ethical Choice
One of the top reasons that people go vegetarian or vegan is for ethics. Cutting down on your animal product consumption is good for the animals and for the environment.
Modern factory farms use cruel practices to mass-produce animal products. They’re also responsible for deforestation and harmful gasses entering the atmosphere.
4. You Might Lose Weight
Note that vegetarianism is not a weight loss diet. It’s a lifestyle change. That said, many people do find that they lose weight when they remove meat from the menu.
There are plenty of unhealthy vegetarian foods. After all, most of your favorite sweet and salty snacks are vegetarian-friendly! With that in mind, if you get creative in the kitchen, you’ll discover tasty vegetarian foods that are lower in calories but still just as delicious as their meat-filled counterparts.
For example, you might swap your spaghetti and meatballs for tomato basil spaghetti squash for a low-calorie and delicious meal. Even when you’re ordering fast food, vegetarian options are often lower-calorie than standard options.
Again, you’ll also be eating more fiber. Fiber keeps you full and makes you “regular” which can promote weight loss and de-bloating.
5. You’ll Boost Your Heart Health
Eating red meat isn’t good for your heart. Vegetarian diets, even if they’re not perfectly healthy, can lead to lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and overall better heart health.
Because plant foods only contain a small amount of cholesterol (if any), you never have to worry about high cholesterol levels as a result of your diet.
Take Advantage of the Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet
Going meat-free might be the best thing that you do for your body (and the environment) in 2022. The benefits of a vegetarian diet extend beyond weight loss. You’ll be a stronger and healthier (and more ethical) you.
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