Vegetarian Diet & Exercise Plan

Looking for a way to improve your health and change up your diet? Adopting a vegetarian diet, which means eating no meat and minimal animal products can provide immediate and long-term health benefits. Goveg.com notes, "Vegetarians are 50 percent less likely to develop heart disease, and they have 40 percent of the cancer rate of meat-eaters." Adding light to moderate exercise in conjunction with a vegetarian diet can help improve your health while providing increased stamina and energy.

Becoming a Vegetarian

You will need to determine how strict of a vegetarian diet you wish to follow. A evo-lacto vegetarian is someone who consumes eggs and milk but no meat. A vegan is someone who consumes no animal products.

While some may find the idea of being a vegetarian intimidating and restrictive, there are plenty of healthy and enjoyable food choices at any grocery store. When shopping for vegetarian foods, take a look at the nutritional label. For nearly all vegetarian foods, a vegetarian (or vegan) label will appear above or below the list of ingredients. Many fast-food chains and restaurants also offer a vegetarian section on their menus.

As with any dietary change, there is no rule as to how quickly it takes to become a vegetarian. Some people choose to change their diet immediately, while others gradually modify their current diet to vegetarian standards. Whether you choose to change to vegetarianism overnight or gradually, it is important to understand the nutritional benefits and requirements of all food types before making any changes to your diet.

Starting an Exercise Routine

When developing a new exercise routine, it is important to take gradual steps. If you start off your first day of exercising by trying to run three miles, it is likely that you won't complete your task, will become discouraged, or even injure yourself.

Examine the physical activity that interests you--anything from running, swimming, hiking, practicing yoga, or even scuba diving. If you can find something you are already interested in, you will be more likely to stay focused and complete your goals. If creating your own workout routine seems too daunting, join a gym or hire a personal trainer to help you find a form of exercise that works best for you.

The Mayo Clinic lists some of the health benefits of regular physical exercise as: preventing depression, preventing or managing high blood pressure, increasing healthy cholesterol,getting better sleep, increasing energy, and losing weight.

Cautions

Be sure to discuss any significant changes in your lifestyle, including diet and exercise, with your doctor before beginning a new routine. No matter what your current eating habits are, it is important to monitor the foods you eat regularly to ensure you are getting the proper amount of nutrition. Your doctor can help you to pinpoint areas where your diet and exercise habits need improvement to increase your overall health.