Are You A Vegetarian?

Where to Get Essential Nutrients Traditionally Gained from Eating Meat

Vegetarianism is a growing trend in our increasingly health-conscious world. Within the United States, current numbers suggest that up to 4% of the population practices a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. The reasons why people turn to vegetarianism or veganism can vary from caring about the environment to simply wanting to get healthier and avoid meat products, but no matter why a person chooses the lifestyle, it is certainly on the rise. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, you must ensure you get all the nutrients for total body health and that means eating certain foods that contain essential nutrients traditionally gained from meat. Here are some vegetarian friendly options.

Lentils

Protein is essential for the human body and traditionally, meat is where protein comes from. However, lentils are an excellent way to get the protein your body needs without meat. Each cup of lentils contains, on average 17.9 grams of protein which is 36% of the recommended daily value for the average healthy adult. Lentils are easy to add to your diet. They can be added to a variety of dishes and can even substitute for meat completely in certain recipes. Lentils also absorb flavors, so adding different tastes can make this protein source even more versatile.

Flaxseed Oil

Traditionally, salmon, tuna, and other fatty fish maintain high levels of Omega 3 fatty acids. However, with a vegetarian lifestyle, fish is out of the question. Flaxseed oil can bridge the gap between what you need from Omega 3s and your chosen, meat free lifestyle. Flaxseed oil contains many different health benefits ideal for both a vegetarian and vegan lifestyle. Apart from having high levels of Omega 3s, it also has 6 grams of protein, 8 grams of fiber, and Vitamin B1, just to name a few.

Nori

B12 is an essential nutrient gleaned from meat and it is essential for our body. There are a few sources of B12, besides meat, but among the most popular is Nori. This product is essentially an edible form of algae that is used in sushi and many other Asian dishes. Nori can be added to many soups and used like spinach or as a snack all on its own. It is recommended that a vegetarian or vegan eat 4 grams of nori daily to meet their need for vitamin B12.

Gentle Processing™

When adopting a vegetarian lifestyle for health purposes, it is important to be vigilant in knowing how products you put into your body have been processed. Heat processing measures can diminish the potency of a nutritional element leading the person to simply eat more which is not healthy. However, Gentle Processing™ is a different way to process the foods you love and need for your vegetarian lifestyle. Instead of heat, a specialized energy source is used to ensure the safety of any commercial product. The process allows each product to maintain maximum nutritional quality, so when your foods are processed with Gentle Processing™ you get more nutrients from each meal. How are your foods processed?