Components of a Healthy Vegetarian Diet

A vegetarian diet describes any diet that is typically composed of plant foods, avoids animal and any other animal product. This diet in its most restrictive form prohibits the consumption of all animal foods, including eggs and dairy products. But some people prefer less restrictive vegetarian diets. These forms include the lacto-ovo vegan diet (allows consumption of eggs and daily products) and the lacto-vegetarian (dairy products). People who claim to be vegetarians in most cases do not fit into any of these groups. A majority of them eat fish on occasion, while some others include pork and/or poultry in their diet. The practice of eating foods that do not fit into any of the categories means some people may choose a diet that is not healthy. A vegetarian diet can be deemed healthy if it includes daily eating of an assortment of foods from all plant species, for instance seeds, legumes, fruits, nuts, plant oils, spices, grains, and herbs. A proper way to get the most out of vegetarian diets is to opt for whole and minimally processed foods. Highly proceeded foods, cookies, chips, and sweets should be avoided completely. Vegetarian diets featuring these foods will not boost health. A vegen diet can benefit many groups of people. Overweight individuals, diabetes, women with premenstrual syndrome, and people with high blood pressure and heart diseases can benefit from it incredibly. On the other hand, it can harm some people such as lactating women, infants, adolescents, and children since they have enhanced caloric and nutrient needs. Any of these individuals who choose to follow a vegetarian diet must take adequate care to include the right proportion of foods from all plant groups. [Photo: wikipedia.com]