To eat or not to eat? That is the question . . .for certain vegetarians . . . as Thanksgiving day is finally here. Most vegetarians are used to others questioning their diets, let alone their motives behind living this “chosen” lifestyle. Depending on the type of vegetarian you know – fish only, no meat, ovo lacto, etc. – their attention to diet and well-being may mean you’re missing something – literally.
So when you encounter your vegetarian friend this Thanksgiving, Dr. Fast thinks you should learn something from them. Take note of these 3 tips we can all learn from living like a vegetarian:
WE ALL NEED MORE VEGETABLES IN OUR LIVES: Fruits and veggies are naturally low in calories and are scientifically proven to reduce the risk of certain diseases, including heart disease, high blood pressure, and some cancers. They also high a high water and fiber content which adds to satiation – the full feeling you get after a meal.
PAY ATTENTION TO LABELS:
One thing you might notice about vegans is that they tend to read labels and question EVERYTHING that they put in their mouths. The reason behind that is because many foods have animal ingredients disguised by huge words like “Isopropyl Lanolate” and “Carminic Acid.” Regardless of whether you care about eating sheep gland oil or female cochineal insects, you should know what’s going in your body. Reading labels beforehand can help control your sodium, sugar and caloric intake as well as prevent allergic reactions to certain foods. Just because it looks like it may be “healthy” or “natural” doesn’t mean it is.
COOK MORE: When presented with limited menus, one has a few choices: 1) don’t eat 2) eat only the meatless (and often unhealthy) options 3) be prepared. Vegetarians tend to shop for fresh items more often and prepare in advance. This lifestyle can help an individual keep close tabs on the ingredients – flavor, fats and allergens – that can sneak into processed foods.
And finally, with a mop of hair recognized worldwide, Albert Einstein adopted vegetarianism toward the end of his life, indicating that he gave up fats, meat, and fish. It was his belief that man was not born to be a carnivore and he said forcefully that “nothing will benefit human health and increase chances of survival for life on earth as much as the evolution of a vegetarian diet.”