What Is a Pescatarian? What Is a Pescatarian? By Jolinda Hackett Updated January 03, 2017. Pescatarian (sometimes spelled pescetarian with an e) is a word sometimes used to describe those who abstain from eating all meat and animal flesh with the exception of fish. In other words, a pescatarian maintains a vegetarian diet with the addition of fish and other sea foods such as shrimp, clams, crabs and lobster. In other words, a pescetarian (noun) is a person who eats fish, but doesn't eat steak, chicken, pork or any other kind of meat - only fish and seafood, and a pescetarian (adjective) diet is a diet that includes fish but not steak, chicken, pork or any other kind of meat. See also: Is fish vegetarian? Why Do People Go Pescatarian or Eat a Pescatarian Diet? Although the word is not commonly used and a pescatarian is not technically a vegetarian , more and more people are adopting this kind of diet, usually for health reasons or as a stepping stone to a fully vegetarian diet.

What are the reasons for adopting a pescetarian way of eating? continue reading below our video How to Prevent Your Cutting Board from Sliding Proponents cite roughly the same motivators as full vegetarians and even vegans: personal health weight-loss and longevity, a reduced environmental footprint, and animal cruelty concerns. Pescetarians often believe that moderate consumption of fish or fish oils, which are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, is necessary for optimum health, although vegetarian alternatives, such as flax seed oil, are available. See also: What is a vegan? So, Is a Pescatarian a Vegetarian?? No. A pescatarian is not a vegetarian . There is much confusion over what a vegetarian is and isn't , but no definition of the term ever includes fish or sea food. To be 100% clear, a vegetarian diet excludes all animals; and fish are animals. Therefore, a diet that includes fish, or a person who consumes fish cannot be properly called a vegetarian. A pescatarian is NOT a vegetarian, and a vegetarian diet does not include fish . Is a Pescatarian the Same as a Semi-vegetarian or a Flexitarian? Not really, but sort of.

A "semi-vegetarian" or a "flexitarian" is someone who eats a mostly vegetarian diet, occasionally supplemented by meat, though there's no real agreed upon definition of how often one can eat meat and still call themselves a semi-vegetarian or a flexitarian: Once a day? Once a week? Once a month? Pescetarians are not restricted to "occasional" fish and may eat fish as little or as frequently as they prefer. For more on whether or not a pescetarian is a vegetarian and whether or not vegetarians eat fish (and what the whole debate has to do with four-sided triangles and an omnipotent being), see also: Urban Dictionary: pescatarian pescatarian Pescatarians are similar to vegetarians. The difference between pescatarians and vegetarians is that pescatarians eat fish and shellfish in addition to an otherwise vegetarian diet. Major vegetarian organizations, including The Vegetarian Society, does not recognize pescatarians as true vegetarians. Pescatarians believe that they can improve their health. Being pescatarian doesn't automatically make you healthier, in the same way that being a vegetarian doesn't equal instant health.

There are a wide variety of snack and junk foods that do not contain animal products, such as potato chips, snack cakes, cookies and even ice creams. Pescatarians still have to be careful of their saturated fat intake even though they do not eat land animals or birds. According to Pescatarian Life, pescatarians may or may not eat dairy, like other types of vegetarians. This is a personal choice that each pescatarian makes based on his own values and opinions about the dairy system. It's not safe to assume that pescatarians eat dairy when preparing meals. It's always best to ask. person 1: Do you eat meat? Person 2: Not land animals or birds, but sea food. Person 1: So you're a vegetarian who eats fish. Person 2: NO! I am a pescatarian! Person 1: Why don't you eat land animals or birds? Person 2: I don't eat land animals or birds because of the hormones and steroids they are injected with, and because 90% of mass produced land and bird meat in the US are gmo and contain human dna.

pescatarian Pescatarians eat fish and shellfish but not other types of meat. They mistakenly believe that somehow fish are not mistreated like other animals killed for human consumption, and that they are also not given the hormones that land animals and poultry are given. They are almost always uppity about the difference between vegetarianism and pescatarianism, despite pescatarianism just being a stupid excuse to eat lobster as a vegetarian. Living a pescatarian lifestyle does not make you any healthier than a normal diet, nor does vegetarianism, unless you are truly eating healthy foods and not junk like chips, and yet pescatarians are frequently very proud of their "healthy" diet and like to tell you all about why theyre so much better than you. "I'm a pescatarian, its NOT the same as a vegetarian. I'm kind of a big deal." What is a Pescatarian? | VeggieBucks What is a Pescatarian? Written by Allison Do you like this article? Share: Tweet Many people ask what is a pescatarian versus a vegetarian.

One could simplify the answer and say that pescatarians are vegetarians that also eat fish, but that is a really simple answer. The term is not used frequently and many people follow this lifestyle (or diet) and do not even realize that they would be termed a pescatarian. The pescatarian is like the vegetarian in that they avoid eating meat like the meats from animals, however, the pescatarian eats fish and shellfish dishes such as tuna, salmon, shrimp, oysters, and sushi to name a few. In short: Pescatarian = Vegetables + Fruit + Legumes + Grains + Dairy+ Seeds + Nuts + Fish + Shellfish Or free of: all mammal meats In the pescatarian food pyramid, the foundation is a base of fruits and vegetables with a steady supply of beans, legumes, whole grains, and pastas: Pescatarians enjoy quite a variety of meal options including sushi! Many people start out their journey to eliminating animal products from their diet by becoming a pescatarian without even knowing it.

Here’s a list of terms used for people to describe their eating habits: Pescatarian: People who abstain from eating all meat and animal flesh with the exception of fish. More and more people are adopting this kind of diet, usually for health reasons or as a stepping stone to a fully vegetarian diet. Semi-Vegetarian or Flexitarian: Those who eat a mostly vegetarian diet, but occasionally eat meat. Vegetarian: Those who do not eat beef, pork, poultry, fish, shellfish or animal flesh of any kind, but do eat eggs and dairy products. There can even be three types of vegetarians for the technically inclined. Vegetarians that include both eggs and dairy products are also known as lacto-ovo vegetarians (“lacto” comes from the Latin for milk, and “ovo” for egg). Vegetarians that include dairy products in their diet but not eggs are lacto-vegetarians. And vegetarians that include eggs in their diet but not dairy products are ovo-vegetarains. See What is a Vegetarian? Vegan: People who do not eat meat of any kind nor eggs, dairy products, or foods containing these or other animal-derived ingredients such as gelatin are vegan.

See What is a Vegan? Raw Vegan/Raw Food Diet: A raw vegan diet consists of uncooked vegan foods that have not been heated above 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius). “Raw foodists” believe that foods cooked above this temperature have lost a significant amount of their nutritional value and are harmful to the body. See What is a Raw Food Diet? Macrobiotic: The macrobiotic diet, revered by some for its healthy and healing qualities, includes uncooked vegan foods, and allows for the occasional consumption of fish. Sugar and refined oils are avoided. Perhaps the most unique qualifier of the macrobiotic diet is its emphasis on the consumption of Asian vegetables, such as daikon, and sea vegetables, such as seaweed. Where are you on your journey? Please comment below! You also might be interested in: Types of Vegetarians - Definitions Types of Vegetarians Updated January 13, 2017. “I’m a level 5 vegan—I don’t eat anything that casts a shadow.” –The Simpsons People often point to some food item and ask me, “Can you eat this?” My answer is always “Sure, I can eat whatever I want.” I choose not to eat certain things.

When deciding what type or kind of vegetarian you want to be, think about what you want to include or avoid. You don’t need to fit into one of these categories, but understanding them will help you think about your short-term and long-term goals. 1. Flexitarian/Semi-vegetarian You don’t have to be vegetarian to love vegetarian food! “Flexitarian” is a term recently coined to describe those who eat a mostly vegetarian diet, but occasionally eat meat. Find out more about a flexitarian or semi-vegetarian diet here. More » continue reading below our video How to Juice Citrus 2. Pescatarian (also spelled pescetarian) The word “pescatarian” is occasionally used to describe those who abstain from eating all meat and animal flesh with the exception of fish. Although the word is not commonly used, more and more people are adopting this kind of diet, usually for health reasons or as a stepping stone to a fully vegetarian diet. Click here to learn more about pescatarianism . 3. Vegetarian (Lacto-ovo- vegetarian) When most people think of vegetarians , they think of lacto-ovo-vegetarians.

People who do not eat beef, pork, poultry, fish, shellfish or animal flesh of any kind, but do eat eggs and dairy products are lacto-ovo vegetarians (“lacto” comes from the Latin for milk, and “ovo” for egg). Lacto-vegetarian is used to describe a type of vegetarian who does not eat eggs but does eat dairy products. Ovo-vegetarian refers to people who do not eat meat or dairy products but do eat eggs. Lacto-ovo vegetarian , that is, a vegetarian who eats both eggs and dairy products, is the most common kind of vegetarian. Learn more about lacto-ovo vegetarianism here. See also: 4. Vegan Vegans do not eat meat of any kind and also do not eat eggs, dairy products, or processed foods containing these or other animal-derived ingredients such as gelatin (as opposed who vegetarians, who usually eat dairy products and eggs). Many vegans also refrain from eating foods that are made using animal products that may not contain animal products in the finished process, such as sugar and some wines. There is some debate as to whether certain foods, such as honey, fit into a vegan diet.

Find out more about a vegan diet here. 5. Raw vegan/Raw food diet A raw vegan diet consists of unprocessed vegan foods that have not been heated above 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius). “Raw foodists” believe that foods cooked above this temperature have lost a significant amount of their nutritional value and are harmful to the body. Learn more about a raw vegan diet here. 6. Macrobiotic The macrobiotic diet, revered by some for its healthy and healing qualities, includes unprocessed vegan foods, such as whole grains , fruits, and vegetables, and allows the occasional consumption of fish. Sugar and refined oils are avoided. Perhaps the most unique qualifier of the macrobiotic diet is its emphasis on the consumption of Asian vegetables, such as daikon, and sea vegetables, such as seaweed. Learn more about a macrobiotic diet here.

More » Xsandra/Getty Images Types of Foods That a Pescatarian Can Eat | LIVESTRONG.COM Types of Foods That a Pescatarian Can Eat by LILLIAN DOWNEY Last Updated: Aug 25, 2015 Lillian Downey A Jill-of-all-trades, Lillian Downey is a certified Responsible Sexuality Educator, certified clinical phlebotomist and a certified non-profit administrator. She's also written extensively on gardening and cooking. She also authors blogs on nail art blog and women's self esteem. A pescatarian diet includes salmon. Photo Credit Lesyy/iStock/Getty Image Overview By definition, a pescatarian (or pescetarian) is a person who eats seafood but not other types of meat. Pescatarians are similar to vegetarians, but the difference is that pescatarians eat fish and shellfish in addition to an otherwise vegetarian diet. However, there is no consensus on whether a pescatarian diet includes eggs and dairy since many vegetarians consume those types of land animal products. Major vegetarian organizations, including The Vegetarian Society, do not recognize pescatarians as true vegetarians.

Pescatarians believe that they can improve their health, the plight of land animals and the condition of our planet by refusing to consume meats other than seafood. Seafood in a Pescatarian Diet Pescatarians can eat mollusks like mussels. Photo Credit Lisovskaya/iStock/Getty Images Pescatarians do not eat land animals or birds, including chicken, beef, pork and other types of poultry. They do, however, eat seafood, including fish such as salmon, tuna, trout, whitefish, sardines and even fish roe, also known as fish eggs or caviar. This type of diet also allows for shellfish like lobster, shrimp (or prawns), crawfish and crab as well as mollusks like scallops, clams, mussels, squid, octopus and oysters. These foods can be prepared in any manner, as long as they are not prepared with ingredients that contain meat that doesn't fall into these categories. Plant Foods in a Pescatarian Diet Beans and nuts are important protein sources for pescatarians. Photo Credit lirtlon/iStock/Getty Images Fruits and vegetables are the main attraction for pescatarians, much like vegetarians and vegans.

Pescatarians can eat any kind of fruit, vegetable, grain, bean, nut or seed. They can also eat plant-based proteins like soy and tempeh. Some pescatarians rely on beans, nuts and dairy for the majority of their protein, eating fish and seafood only on occasion. Others eat at least one seafood meal per day. Snack Foods for a Pescatarian Diet Pescatarians still must be careful of saturated fat intake. Photo Credit 5PH/iStock/Getty Images Being pescatarian doesn't automatically make you healthier, in the same way that being a vegetarian doesn't equal instant health. There are a wide variety of snack and junk foods that do not contain animal products, such as potato chips, cakes, cookies and even ice creams. Pescatarians still have to be careful of their saturated fat intake even though they do not eat land animals or birds. Eggs and Dairy in a Pescatarian Diet Not all pescatarians eat eggs and dairy but some do. Photo Credit Maximkostenko/iStock/Getty Images According to Pescatarian Life, pescatarians may or may not eat dairy, like other types of vegetarians.

This is a personal choice that each pescatarian makes based on his own values and opinions about the dairy system. It's not safe to assume that pescatarians eat dairy when preparing meals. It's always best to ask. The Disadvantages of a Pescatarianism Some people are advised to limit their intake of tuna to 12 ounces per week. Photo Credit HandmadePictures/iStock/Getty Images Fish is a good source of protein and healthy fats, but eating too much may be bad for your health, increasing your exposure to pollutants and mercury. Depending on the waters that are being fished, some of those pollutants can include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxin and perflourooctane sulfonate (PFO), so you may want to check the EPA site when eating locally caught fish. Certain types of commonly eaten fish and shellfish including shrimp, albacore tuna, sea bass and swordfish contain low levels of mercury that can build up in your body over time. Excessive exposure to these pollutants on a pescatarian diet increases your risk of cancer, diabetes and thyroid disease.

The FDA and EPA caution women who may become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children to not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish. For fish with lower levels, such as canned light tuna, shrimp, salmon, pollock, and catfish, those same types of people should limit their intake to 12 ounces per week while locally caught fish in areas where there are no advisories should limit the intake to 6 ounces per week. The Advantages of Pescatarianism Oily fish like like salmon are a great source of omega-3s. Photo Credit Elena_Danileiko/iStock/Getty Images While you can eat an unhealthy diet as a pescatarian, most pescatarians and vegetarians consume less total fat, less cholesterol and less saturated fat than people who eat meat regularly. If you're transitioning to pescatarianism, a meal plan may help you figure out what to eat as you remove meat and poultry from your diet and make healthier food choices. According to the UK's National Health Service, most people should include seafood in their diet because fish and shellfish are rich in nutrients, and oily fish like like salmon are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Healthy Meals for Pescatarians Health vegetarian salad with chickpeas. Photo Credit Olha_Afanasieva/iStock/Getty Images On a pescatarian diet, you may need to be conscientious about iron consumption, making an effort to include dark leafy greens, beans, soy products, and dried fruits in your diet. If you consume very minimal amounts of fish or animal products, be certain to choose vitamin B-12 fortified foods, like breakfast cereal or soy milk, to make up for a potential deficit, or ask your health care provider to recommend a supplement. Many common breakfast foods fit into a pescatarian diet without difficulty. If you are including eggs and dairy in your pescatarian diet, opt for eggs, omelets or yogurt for breakfast. If you aren't, then cereal or oatmeal with non-dairy milk or toast with nut butter are nutritious options. Lunch choices might include sushi, a sandwich, a salad with chickpeas and sunflower seeds or a salmon burger. If you are limiting your intake of fish to once a day, there are plenty of healthy meatless dinners that include whole grains, beans and vegetables. Related Searches Lose Weight.

Feel Great Change your life with MyPlate by LIVESTRONG.COM GOAL Gain 2 pounds per week Gain 1.5 pounds per week Gain 1 pound per week Gain 0.5 pound per week Maintain my current weight Lose 0.5 pound per week Lose 1 pound per week Lose 1.5 pounds per week Lose 2 pounds per week GENDER 5 Reasons to Become a Pescetarian | The Huffington Post 5 Reasons to Become a Pescetarian 09/29/2011 12:55 pm ET | Updated Nov 29, 2011 Chloe Spencer Millenial Entrepreneur, Speaker and Writer Becoming a pescetarian was one of the most important and life-changing decisions that I've ever made -- and I made it at age 14. I have not eaten meat since then except for fish, and I don't plan to for the rest of my life. You may be wondering, "What is a pescetarian?" Pescetarianism, or pesco-vegetarianism, means being vegetarian while still including seafood in your diet. One still cuts out red meat, pork, poultry, etc.

from his or her diet like a vegetarian, but does not cut out fish and other seafood. One of the biggest meat-lovers I ever met, my loving boyfriend Mick Merivel, has even adopted the pescetarian diet. He has been a pescetarian now for the past three months and has been pleasantly surprised at how easy it is -- even though he had been eating meat regularly for the past 30 years. He says, "The switch to a pescetarianism diet was not hard for me at all, because the ability to continue to eat fish and seafood eliminated my desire for meat." Many people ask me "How did you do that? I could never give up meat!" What a lot of people don't realize is that over time your body's unnatural craving for mammal and poultry meat disappears, and a healthy body will get sick from beef, pork or chicken if eaten again after a period of a pescetarian diet. This is because land-animal flesh is filled with toxins, uric acid and fecal bacteria. And frankly, I believe that the human body should always reject these meats, but we are feeding it to our toddlers and convincing them -- as we have been convinced -- that it is natural and normal.

But consider this, do natural carnivores have to cook their meat in order to not get sick and season it so it can taste good to them? Would a human baby kill and eat raw a live chicken out of instinct as for example a baby lion would? No. Here's another thing to think about -- can we eat raw fish and seafood if it's healthy and clean and not get sick? Yes. Do we always have to season fish and seafood for it to taste good? No. Are there the same health risks from eating healthy, fresh fish as there are from eating land animals? No. The only reason the human race started to eat land animals was back when cavemen had to survive in the wild, and berries and vegetables were scarce and killing mammals was their only way to survive. I would say we have definitely advanced since then -- everyone could survive on a vegan diet if they chose. That's all it is. It is making a decision to not only improve your health and extend your life, but contribute to saving our planet and natural resources -- and our animals -- who deserve to live a free and happy life as much as we do. So I put together a list of the top five reasons why I believe you should go pescetarian.

All I ask of you today is to try the 30 Day Challenge. All you do is take a pledge to cut out meat, excluding fish and seafood, from your diet for the next 30 days. With the increase of fresh fish and vegetables in your diet, I believe that you'll feel healthier , experience less headaches and sickness as well as increased energy levels. In the long-term, you may also improve your weight , the health of your brain and heart , hair and even your skin . According to The New York Times, meat consumption in the United States has doubled in the last 50 years. And since then, haven't other problems increased? Cancer, heart disease, stroke, obesity: these have all increased drastically over the past 50 years. Any connection? These trends may go hand in hand. 1) Pescetarianism may drastically improve your health. A pescetarian diet may not only reduce your risk for heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases, but stroke, osteoporosis, obesity, diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure and some types of cancer .

According to the Yale College Vegetarian Society , experts say that up to 80 percent of cancer cases are preventable through healthy diets that contain low amounts of fats and oils, and high amounts of fiber -- the model pescetarian diet. Meat is often covered in pesticides and chemicals that are harmful, and after extended consumption, can be very dangerous, to humans. Every bite of a beef/pork hotdog contains seven cancer-causing pesticides. And here's a shocking fact, brought to light by David Steinman's " Living Healthy in a Toxic World ": The primary source of nuclear radiation contamination in humans is from beef and dairy products. Additionally, all of the iron you need comes from fish, many fruits and vegetables and whole grains. And all the protein you need comes from consuming a healthy percentage of legumes, whole grains, tofu, and many plant sources. Vegetarian diets supply more than adequate amounts of protein. So now we know that we can get enough protein without eating any meat at all, where does including fish in our diets come in?

Fish is very low in saturated fat and contains very large quantities of polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, which have been connected to possible treatments for an array of conditions including heart disease, depression and ADD. Omega-3s have also been shown to have potential risk-reducing effects when it comes to cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes . Another huge benefit of including fish in a vegetarian diet is the healthy amount of iron in fish and seafood. Pescetarians have a lower risk of developing iron deficiency anemia -- a common condition among vegans and vegetarians. Eating fish also combats D-3 deficiency, which is a common condition among many Americans. 2) Becoming a pescetarian benefits our planet. The Vegetarian Resource Group reports that one pound of beef requires 2,500 gallons of water, whereas one pound of soy requires only 250 gallons of water and a pound of wheat requires only 25 gallons. If you want to help save our water, cutting meat from your diet one way that you get active. Additionally, the deforestation caused by the need to create space to house livestock is tremendous.

A Smithsonian Institution study shows that the demand for more grazing land means that every day, a land area equivalent to seven football fields is destroyed in the Amazon basin. According to Earth Talk, "The Environmental Beef With Meat," for every hamburger that came from an animal raised on rainforest land, approximately 55 square feet of forest was destroyed. And it's not just the rainforest being destroyed. In the United States, more than 260 million acres of forest have been clear-cut for animal agriculture as of 2005. The livestock in the Unites States also creates an unimaginable amount of waste and toxic emission -- as do the fertilizers used. Livestock raised for slaughter produce 130 times the excrement of the entire human population. But most shocking of all is that the grains and corn that are wastefully fed to the mass amounts of livestock in the United States, could be instead be fed to the 60 million human beings who die of starvation every year all over the world. 3) I believe you aren't against animal cruelty unless you are some type of vegetarian. Most people know somewhat of what is going on in slaughterhouses and cow, pig, chicken and turkey farms.

They know that animals are bred for murder in these places so they can be killed and eaten for the pleasure of humans. But what some people may not know are the disgusting conditions and inhumane treatment of these innocent animals behind their closed doors. Animals are subjected to some pretty terrible living conditions, full of feces and flies, packed into crates so crowded that they can hardly move. Their natural habits are taken from them. Chickens for example are kept in big warehouses in tiny wire cages as big as file cabinets -- packed with about 10 or more chickens. The chickens peck at each other, so their beaks are removed to prevent them from doing this. This is called de-beaking. This is done to each chicken with no painkillers. Their breasts are so heavy from injected growth hormones that they sometimes can't even stand, and their legs are often already broken. Many cages house chickens that have already died from disease. The treatment of hogs and cows are just as terrible, often still alive and struggling as they are hung upside down and taken down a belt to have their throats slit or beheaded by an automatic machine.

Many times the animal is not dead immediately, because their throat had only been nicked as they get hacked into pieces or boiled alive. "If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian." - Paul McCartney 4) We aren't natural carnivores. Natural carnivores have claws, pointed front teeth to tear raw flesh and no pores on the skin so they perspire through the tongue. Plant and fish eaters perspire through pores on the skin since they are searching for food during hot hours -- not hunting at sunrise, sunset or under cover of darkness as carnivores do. Carnivores also have a shorter intestinal tract than plant and fish eaters do so rapidly decaying carcasses in the stomach can pass out of the body quickly. Herbivores and omnivores have an intestinal tract that is several times their body length since a mostly plant-based diet doesn't include food that decays as quickly. The human intestinal tract is about 25 feet long . Doesn't that tell you something? Fish on the other hand are digested much, much quicker than red meat.

The omega-3 fatty acids that are in fish and seafood are necessary in the diet of a human being -- fish is the only true source of the omega-3 acids DHA and EPA. There is no supplement that needs to be taken when the flesh of land animals is cut out of the diet; it only improves your health to not eat this kind of meat. I do acknowledge that it has been shown that fish farms can be inhumane -- even though fish are much less sentient and self-aware than land animals. However I still recommend you avoid fish that come from fish farms, and try to consume only wild fish that has been caught fresh. This way you get omega-3 acids in their purest and healthiest form, and also reduce your risk of consuming sick fish that may be packed with chemicals from fish farms. It's also similar to choosing to eat only free-range eggs -- like the hens who lay the eggs that get to run around free of a cage, these fish come from the sea or rivers in their natural habitats. 5) Many successful individuals choose vegetarian or pescetarian diets. These people eat fish but no other type of meat, for fish is needed in the diet, and they understand this.

Many people however who are pescetarian still refer to their diet as vegetarianism. This is very common and is not wrong to say -- pescetarian, also called pesco-vegetarian, is just a branch of vegetarianism. There are many types of vegetarians, and every one of them is making an effort to improve their health, contribute less to animal cruelty and help save our planet. Some types of vegetarians will accuse other types as being hypocrites, and attack their diet choices. For example, many vegans and vegetarians attack pescetarians, while they know that they themselves need to take fish oil capsules every day containing omega-3 acids to stay healthy, which they know only comes from fish. They ask, "How can you justify eating fish?" I ask, "How can you believe that it is not natural to eat something we as humans need to be healthy?" I believe that whatever type of lifestyle one leads to benefit the planet, save the animals, or better one's health, they deserve only praise. Little steps are ok -- some take a leap in the beginning, others take steps gradually towards their goal. I believe that as long as we are aware and acting on our intentions, that's what matters.

Nutritionist Jean Mayer suggests that if we reduced our country's meat consumption by just 10 percent, we could feed another 60 million hungry individuals. Now think about all the other good we could do for the planet by just that one act alone. Follow Chloe Spencer on Twitter: More: List of Foods That a Pescatarian Can Eat | Healthy Eating | SF Gate List of Foods That a Pescatarian Can Eat List of Foods That a Pescatarian Can Eat Fish are on the menu if you're a pescatarian. Pescatarians are semi-vegetarians that focus on a plant-based diet with the inclusion of fish. Each individual chooses pescatarianism for a variety of reasons, which include an ethical or nutritional belief that avoiding all meat except fish provides an optimal diet. Regardless of the reason you choose to follow a pescatarian diet, there are benefits. Mercury Fish contain mercury, a by-product of industrial waste that can cause neurological problems. Avoid shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish, which are high in mercury. Pregnant women and children should eat no more than 12 ounces of fish low in mercury per week.

Canned light tuna, salmon, freshwater trout, tilapia, ocean perch, cod, catfish, halibut and snapper have relatively low concentrations of mercury. Shellfish Shellfish have lower mercury risks but are a common allergen; if you adopt a pescatarian lifestyle, watch for signs of shellfish allergy, which affects around 2 percent of Americans. Shellfish allergy often develops in adulthood, according to a Mt. Sinai Hospital study published in the July 2004 issue of "The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology." In contrast, fish allergy is less common, affecting just 0.4 percent of Americans. Other Foods Pescatarians have no plant food restrictions. If you're a pescatarian, you can eat any type of fruit, vegetable, grain or legume. Some pescatarians, like some vegetarians, consume eggs and dairy products while others do not. Vegetarians who eat dairy follow an lacto-ovo vegetarian diet, so if you eat dairy, you can call yourself a lacto-ovo-pescatarian.

Health Benefits A pescatarian diet includes plenty of protein; a cooked 3-ounce serving of fish or shellfish generally supplies between 16 and 27 grams of protein, depending on the fish. Many fish, including salmon, herring, some freshwater trout and tuna, provide healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart problems. Eating fish adds very little saturated fat, which increases your risk of heart disease, to your diet. Fish and shellfish supply varying amounts of cholesterol, with orange roughy containing just 20 milligrams per 3-ounce serving and shrimp containing 170 milligrams. A diet high in fish also helps meet your need for B-complex vitamins and fat-soluble vitamin D. Pescatarian Diet: The Basics Your message has been sent. OK We're sorry, an error occurred. We are unable to collect your feedback at this time. However, your feedback is important to us. Please try again later. Close With so many different types of diets out there, it can be challenging to find one that’s a good fit for you.

Maybe you want to start eating more vegetables and get back to the basics when it comes to nutrition, but you don’t know where to start. Maybe you want a diet that provides you with well-balanced nutrients and still allows you to enjoy an active social life. Enter the pescatarian diet! The pescatarian (or pesco-vegetarian) diet is a form of vegetarianism that includes fish, but no other forms of meat or animal flesh. Why Choose the Pescatarian Diet? The pescatarian diet is a great choice if you are interested in reducing your intake of animal products. As noted by the David Suzuki Foundation , our consumption of meat may actually contribute to climate change. Livestock production can increase greenhouse gas emissions, so choosing to reduce meat consumption can be an environmentally friendly choice. It’s not just environmental health that is affected by meat consumption, either. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends limiting red meat, and choosing lean meats over fattier cuts, to fight cardiovascular disease. The AHA also encourages us to eat oily fish a few times each week for health purposes, thanks to their high levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Seafood can be a very nutritious choice.

If your goal is to reduce your intake of meat, the pescatarian diet can provide plenty of nutrients (including protein), which might be more challenging to get from other forms of vegetarianism. Choosing a pescatarian diet over other forms of vegetarianism also allows you to enjoy a broader variety of meals in restaurants and at home. This could help you integrate this way of eating into your current lifestyle without making any drastic changes or feeling deprived. Foods to enjoy on the pescatarian diet include: seafood (including all kinds of fish, shellfish, seaweeds, etc.) vegetables and fruit grains and legumes (including breads, cereals, etc.) Some pescatarians also include eggs and dairy in their diet. Foods to avoid include: all meat besides fish (including chicken, beef, pork, lamb, etc.) eggs and dairy (optional – some pescatarians choose to limit their intake of these foods) What Can You Do to Start Eating a Pescatarian Diet? The easiest way to start incorporating the pescatarian diet into your usual meal plan is to begin swapping out your regular meat dishes for seafood dishes.

For example, you might choose to have pan-seared fish and roasted potatoes for dinner instead of chicken. Or you could swap out your usual beef tacos for fish tacos. Looking for a good taco recipe? Try these broccoli slaw fish tacos You can even make seafood stir-fry, enjoy scallops and shrimp instead of casserole, and mussels and salad instead of meatloaf. There are all kinds of swaps you can make to keep mealtime interesting and make the pescatarian diet work for your family’s tastes. Of course, you won’t want to necessarily eat fish every single day, especially if you are new to eating lots of seafood. Instead, incorporate some vegetarian and vegan dishes in between the pescatarian ones. For lunches and dinners you could try: quiche yogurt with berries and nuts oatmeal with almond or soy milk fruit and vegetable smoothies, with or without tofu toast with nut butter and/or avocado The options are limitless! The Pescatarian Diet as a Healthy Lifestyle One of the traps many people fall into when they are starting a vegetarian or pescatarian diet is eating mostly foods that are technically vegetarian, but which are not exactly “healthy.” Don’t head down this road!

For example, just because candy or chips are made without animal products doesn’t mean you should start eating them every single day. Instead, focus on creating healthier habits to reap the full benefits of this diet. When you embrace the pescatarian diet, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a huge variety of healthy and delicious foods. You will probably start to feel better, and you might notice your productivity and energy levels improving so that you’re more able to truly enjoy the things you love. And after all, isn’t that what healthy eating is really all about? Sagan Morrow is a freelance writer and editor, as well as a professional lifestyle blogger at SaganMorrow.com . She has a background as a certified holistic nutritionist. 1 Do Vegetarians Eat Eggs, Bread and Dairy Products? | Healthy Eating | SF Gate Do Vegetarians Eat Eggs, Bread and Dairy Products? Do Vegetarians Eat Eggs, Bread and Dairy Products? Different types of vegetarians include some or all of these foods in their diets. The word "vegetarian" alone isn't specific enough to describe a person's dietary restrictions. Today there are many types of vegetarian diets, ranging from prohibition of every type of animal product, to consuming animal meat only a few days a week.

Just as each individual has his or her own reasons for being a vegetarian, these personal guidelines also dictate what they do and do not eat. Lacto, Ovo and Lacto-Ovo Vegetarians Vegetarians commonly avoid animal flesh, which includes beef, pork, lamb, venison, buffalo, poultry and seafood. Lacto-ovo vegetarians include dairy and egg products in their diet. Some decide they do not want to eat eggs, but are okay with dairy products; they are called lacto-vegetarians. Others are fine with eating eggs but exclude milk and dairy products from their diet; they are known as ovo-vegetarians. Breads are not excluded from these diet regimens unless they contain animal ingredients. Pescatarians In this category the diet includes fish -- shellfish and mollusks as well as fin fish -- in addition to plants, eggs and dairy products. Some choose this way of eating because avoiding other animal flesh can keep the diet lower in fat and cholesterol. Others feel sea animals suffer less than cows or chickens, and choose to avoid meat and poultry for humanitarian reasons. This diet is sometimes used to transition from eating meat to becoming a more strict vegetarian, eventually eliminating seafood as well.

Flexitarians This term was coined early in this century to describe a diet limiting, rather than prohibiting, meat. Animal flesh is eaten two to five days per week, and the other days are meat-free. The aim is to eat more of a plant-based diet without having to commit to never having meat again. Flexitarians can choose to progress towards more meatless days, or simply remain flexible, which is the aim of this loose category of vegetarianism. Vegans The most extreme on the vegetarian scale, the vegan diet contains no animal products. There is no flesh of any animal, no eggs and no milk. Vegans carefully read ingredient labels to be certain no animal byproducts are included, such as casein or whey from milk, or material from animal hides used to make gelatin. Even honey is avoided, as it is manufactured by a living organism. All plant-based foods -- fruits, vegetables, grains, beans and nuts -- are included in the diet.

Pescatarian - definition of pescatarian by The Free Dictionary Pescatarian - definition of pescatarian by The Free Dictionary pes·ce·tar·i·an also pes·ca·tar·i·an (pĕs′kə-târ′ē-ən) n. A person whose diet is primarily vegetarian but also includes fish. Also called pesco-vegetarian. [Perhaps Italian pesce, fish (from Latin piscis) or a kindred Romance word such as Spanish pescado, fish + (vege)tarian .] pescatarian a person who eats fish but does not eat other types of meat adj of or relating to a pescatarian: a pescatarian diet. [C20: from Italian pesce fish, modelled on vegetarian)] Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us , add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content . Link to this page: Write what you mean clearly and correctly. References in periodicals archive ?

If you said ad campaign, you may be one of the people laughing at the 30-second TV commercials now running in Boston, home of the East Coast's Legal Sea Foods restaurant chain, and posted at the chain's Pescatarian religion spoof website. Fishy religion-spoof: do you 'sea' fun or blasphemy? TV, print and radio ads urge consumers that "It's time to convert, it's time to become Pescatarian" after humorously showing how the Pescatarian way of life trumps many of the famed traditions and miracles proudly worshiped by Catholics, Jews, Presbyterians and others. What's Ella got on her fish list? For seven barely tolerable years I was a pescatarian (eating fish but not other meat). Top of the Pops was a sickening experience and felt like selling out; From being a part-time litter picker to hitting the charts, singer Miles Hunt of The Wonder Stuff reveals what life was like in the rock band.

Graham Young reports TEHRAN (FNA)- A new study shows how a shift away from this trajectory and toward healthier traditional Mediterranean, pescatarian or vegetarian diets could not only boost human lifespan and quality of life, but also slash greenhouse gas emissions and save habitat for endangered species.

Question: What type of flesh does a pescatarian eat?
Answer: Fish