One of the most common tips for some to lose weight is to take a vegetarian day or go vegetarian all together. It’s not necessarily easy, but for most, it does generally cut calories, which would logically lead to positive weight loss results, gradual or more substantial depending on the person. There are some people who have gained weight on vegetarian diets or had serious nutritional issues, depending on the person of course and what they eat. The idea is to focus on more fruits and vegetables, but obviously not everybody does.
The Stats
Statistically speaking, people who gain weight on a vegetarian diet are fairly rare. Most get the basic idea behind it. The average vegetarian has a lower body mass than the average meat eater with lower rates of high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and coronary artery disease, all of which are even lower in vegans or people who choose to eliminate other sources of animal fats and products. How far you go depends entirely on you, and there are some who also choose to keep eating fish, which can be extremely healthy if done correctly.
Possible Problems
When going vegetarian, you do have to watch your sources of protein and certain amino acids as well as good fatty acids. Yes, foods like avocados can provide a healthy source of good fats while peanuts and tofu among other vegetarian foods can provide plenty of protein. If you forget to eat it though, you are going to have more problems than not.
Lately, a lot of companies have been creating fake meats with plenty of protein from tofu and other vegetarian sources. However, it is still your responsibility to remember to use these to your advantage.
The Good News
The good news is that you are more likely to get more essential vitamins and minerals. You are more likely to get healthy antioxidants that can slow the aging process while eliminating harmful free radicals that might hurt the body. Vegetarians are by nature more likely to weigh less and while it may sound like a small thing to some or a big thing to others, vegetarians are more likely to be more regular in bowel movements. Overall, even if it’s just for health, being vegetarian even for 1 day a week can be beneficial for quite a few people.