For people concerned about heart disease, becoming a vegetarian is a good idea because individuals who consume less animal protein and more plant-based protein tend also to consume less fat and cholesterol, and more fiber in the form of fruits and vegetables. Many strict vegetarians, or vegans, also maintain an overall healthy life-style, maintain weight close to desirable levels, participate in regular physical activity, and abstain from smoking, alcohol and drugs, which may account for these findings. There are different types of vegetarian diets, such as lacto-vegetarian which includes dairy products but no other flesh food, such as meat, chicken or fish.
Vegans avoid all animal products, including eggs and dairy products.
Sound nutritional planning is needed to prevent the nutritional deficiencies that can occur if strict vegetarian diets are poorly planned. However, becoming a vegetarian is not difficult and there are plenty of great tasting foods to choose from, whether you are eating out or preparing foods at home. HeartInfo will continue to address vegetarian diets and offer practical information you can use. The best way to begin moving towards a vegetarian diet is to have one meat-free meal everyday. Chances are your breakfast is already meat-free, so start with lunch or dinner.