10 health benefits of a vegetarian diet

With January comes lots of New Year's Resolutions and one that's become more and more popular in recent years is cutting meat.
Whether it's because you're doing full on Veganuary, have decided to make the effort to do meat-free Mondays or just fancy being full-on veggy, one things for sure - there are plenty of benefits.  
For those making the switch from meat-eating to meat-free in 2018, here are some helpful insights on the health rewards of following this lifestyle from nutritionist and health specialist, Ms Geeta Sidhu-Robb.

1. Our Mood

Research has revealed that vegetarians may be happier than their meat-eating counterparts. In fact it was discovered that vegetarians had lower scores on depression tests and mood profiles when compared to fish and meat-eaters. Three is an element of freshness to most vegetarian dishes, especially when it comes to organic produce – so this is bound to purify our minds and keep our thoughts positive. 

2. Fighting Disease

When done right, vegetarian diets are naturally low in saturated fats, and cholesterol. They have been shown to reduce heart disease risk and what’s more, data shows conclusively that vegetarians suffer less disease caused by a modern Western diet (e.g., coronary heart disease, hypertension, obesity type 2 diabetes, diet-related cancers, diverticulitis, constipation, and gall stones, among several others). Why? This can be attributed to a higher intake of fibre, phytonutrients, antioxidants, flavonoids, and carotenoids.

3. Lean Figure

A bonus to sticking to a vegetarian diet is the positive effect it has on our figure. Vegetarians typically weigh less as a result of a diet comprised of fewer calories in the form of grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables. Vegetarians are also generally more aware of healthy food and so eat better. 

4. Less Toxicity

Further emphasising what I was saying about the vegetarian diet, especially organically, being purer, it is of course far less in toxicity. Food-born illnesses, bacteria, parasites, and chemical toxins are more common in commercial meat, poultry, and seafood when compared with plant foods, (particularly organic fruits and vegetables). Vegetarians also eat less processed food as a rule.

5. Sight & Skin

As well as keeping the figure desirable, vegetarians tend to have better vision and less macular degeneration and all that extra collagen leads to better skin – what more could you want?

6. Stay fuller, longer

 It’s also much more filling as it has so much more fibre and is nutrient dense. So you eat less and stay full for longer.

7. Better Athletic Performance

While most active individuals focus on protein intake, they should Instead follow a high-carbohydrate, good-fat, and vitamin and mineral-rich vegetarian diet for optimum sports performance. Conflicting studies exist, but the number of world-class vegetarian sportsmen continues to rise, Lewis Hamilton for example has recently spoken of his mission to go vegan.  

8. Longevity

Vegetarians have been found to enjoy longer and healthier lives when compared to meat-eaters.
How to ensure you get all of the nutrients you need:
Vegetarian diets are packed full of essential nutrients, but in the absence of meat, it is vitally important that we make sure we are still consuming a the correct amounts of proteins in other forms.

• Protein is made up of small parts called amino acids, which aid your metabolism and help to keep you muscles, skin and organs healthy.
• Eggs are a great source of proteins for vegetarians, and are often used as a breakfast option for athletes – especially boxers. Vegan options include nuts, peanut butter, seeds, grains and legumes.
• Iron is another key nutrient and plays a crucial role in the production of red blood cells. These can help to carry oxygen throughout your body. Good sources of iron include beans, broccoli, raisins, wheat and tofu.
• Omega-3 fatty acids improve your heart health and brain function. Flaxseed meal and oil are two good vegetarian sources of omega-3. You can also look to plant sources.
• Zinc is vital to our immune system. A lot of cheeses contain zinc, but you can also find it in beans, nuts and soy products which contain fewer calories.