Torn between trying to be vegetarian or not vegetarian? You always crave for a hamburger or chicken tikka. But also want to reduce meat consumption? Let us introduce you to the flexible diet which has been dubbed the best diet. with this flexible eating method You can have kale and steak too! It’s time to bring the fun back to healthy eating with flexible eating, so let’s explore the insights of this diet trend and discover how it can benefit your taste buds. of you and the environment!
What is a flexible diet?
The flexitarian diet is a flexible approach to eating a plant-based diet. But also the occasional consumption of animal products. Flexitarian eating is a relatively new term that combines the terms “flexible” and “vegetarian.” Flexitarians also eat animal products. Therefore, they are not considered vegetarian or vegan. But they are more focused on plant foods. So they’re not all non-vegetarians either.
“This diet has no clear rules or recommended number of calories or macronutrients. So it’s a lifestyle change rather than a strict diet,” says nutritionist Dr. Meghana Pasi. The Flexitarian diet is not a strict vegetarian or vegan diet. Moderate amounts of certain animal products, such as fish, poultry, eggs and milk, are allowed. However, the focus is on reducing meat consumption and increasing plant-based diets. The recommended ratio is 80 percent plant products and 20 percent animal products.
Read more: Dear Vegetarians and Vegans Power Up Your Protein Intake With These 5 Foods
The Flexitarian diet is primarily plant-based. Emphasis is placed on nutrient-dense whole foods. This means a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. The emphasis is on eating real food instead of highly processed and packaged foods. Dr. Paci, nutrition consultant for the MyThali program at Arogya World, explains that it is based on these principles:
1. Eat mostly fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds, herbs, and condiments.
2. Occasionally eat meat and animal products Especially lean meats and fish.
3. Focus on plant-based proteins such as soybeans, legumes, and quinoa instead of animal-based proteins.
4. Eat More Natural Foods and Less Processed Foods
5. Limit the use of refined sugar and sweets.
Read more: Kiss refined sugar goodbye with these 3 healthy alternatives.
Potential Health Benefits of Flexible Eating
1. Helps nourish the body and increase immunity.
Vegetarian diets provide more nutrients than non-vegetarian diets. It also prioritizes natural produce and reduces the consumption of packaged foods high in salt, sugar and fat. “Vegetables, fruits and nuts are rich in vitamins and antioxidants. This reduces inflammation and reduces free radical damage,” says Dr. Paci.
2. Reduces the risk of chronic disease
The flexitarian diet is rich in nutrients, fiber and antioxidants. This can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Studies have shown that a plant-based diet can lower blood pressure. lowering cholesterol levels and increase insulin sensitivity Research has shown that vegetarians and fish eaters have a lower incidence of heart disease than meat eaters. Dr Pasi believes this is most likely because a plant-based diet is rich in fiber, minerals, vitamins and antioxidants.
3. Weight control
Fruits and vegetables are low in calories but high in fiber, which helps keep you full and satisfied. Several studies have shown that people who eat plant-based diets may lose more weight than meat-eaters. This is partly because flexitarians tend to restrict high calories and highly processed foods. In addition, plant foods tend to be more filling than animal products. This can help reduce overall calorie intake.
4. Reduce environmental impact
A plant-based diet may have less impact on the environment than a meat-heavy diet. “Plant-based foods require fewer resources to produce, such as water and land, and emit less greenhouse gases than animal-based foods,” Paxi said. more for humans instead of food for livestock. Growing fruits and vegetables requires fewer resources than raising animals to eat.
