A flexitarian diet, also sometimes referred to as semi-vegetarian diet, contains occasional eating of meat which otherwise consists typically of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grain. Vegetarians do not consume meat or meat-based products. While a flexitarian may consume meat once in a while. Although there is no specific routine about the consumption of meat, some may eat meat once a week while some may agree upon eating meat twice a month, most of the flexitarian diet refrain the consumption of red meat.
Flexitarian diet focuses on plant-based meals without eliminating meat entirely.Even though the idea of a flexitarian diet was around for a long time, the idea started getting more recognition after dietician, and author Dawn Jackson Blatner wrote her book “The Flexitarian Diet”, to help understand people enjoy the benefits of plant-based food while still having a fair share of meat in their meal plan.
How is Flexitarian different from Pescetarian?
A pescetarian diet includes fish, the consumption with no limitations in amount. A person practicing a pescetarian diet eats fish as much as they want and however many times they want in a week. A flexitarian, although, includes consumption of fish, meat but with limitations. This diet encourages less meat and more plants based foods.
Effects of flexitarian diet on lifestyle
If it’s too hard for a non-vegetarian to give up on meat all of a sudden, they can opt for flexitarian, which provides a near perfect balance of proteins from plants based food like beans, lentils, peas, and nuts etc. and proteins and vitamins from occasional consumption of meat.
Some of the many reasons why many people are resorting to a flexitarian diet:
Health benefits
Practicing the flexitarian diet includes several health benefits due to the increase in the consumption protein from plants instead of animals. Eating more fresh vegetables, fruits, and less processed food helps to lead a healthy lifestyle.
Lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance
Eating a healthy, plant-based diet is most likely to lower the risk of suffering from type 2 diabetes because plant-based foods contain high fiber, less cholesterol, and low unhealthy fats.
Well-nourished, environment-friendly, helps you to save money
Reducing meat consumption helps decrease greenhouse gas emission by atleast 7{b5ce6c21b8d35e18b06b15afce00261d37d23248a31df900c1450197c0c944a7}. Cultivating plants based food requires less land; less expensive than it is needed to feed livestock, which in turns saves you money.
The concept of Flexitarian Diet is easy to follow which is a great way to maintain a healthy lifestyle, without worrying too much about health risks and still enjoying both plant-based meal and meats, in a limited quantity.
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