Slowly, Slowly Many elderly people joke about how everything in their lives slows down as they age. If you are caring for an elderly person and are interested in the health benefits that could come for them from changing to a vegetarian diet, the rule is to change slowly. Anyone’s system could be shocked by quick and drastic changes to the nutritional intake. An older body will need gradual shifts instead of rapid adaptation. You should also consult the person as far as their preferences. Make sure they are interested in the possibilities offered by a vegetarian diet. Lastly, and most importantly, consult the concerned physician before changing an elderly person’s diet.

Many vegetarians think that just by not eating meat, they can maintain proper health. However, it is important to realize that there is plenty of fat that can enter your diet through processed or fried foods. Also, nuts are very high in both protein and fat, so one is encouraged to watch their intakes in order to ensure that they take in only a small amount of fat.

Finally, there is a separate group of vegetarians that refer to themselves as lacto-ovo vegetarians. These individuals allow themselves to eat all of the things that the ovo and lacto-vegetarians avoid, allowing for the consumption of both dairy products and eggs. This type of vegetarian is the most commonly found type within the United States, as individuals merely refrain from eating types of meat in order to keep their diet the way that they want to.

Whatever you decide, rest assured that you are making a good decision when it comes to cutting meat out of your diet. Regardless of your individual beliefs over issues of lacto-vegetarianism or ovo-vegetarianism, by cutting meat out of your diet you are helping to promote the proper treatment of animals and will likely find numerous benefits for your health in your new diet. Stay committed, and it will be well worth it!

Before starting any endeavor though, it pays to have some facts. Although I am not a vegetarian, here are some things that I learned through my research.

There are several types of vegetarians. First there is the vegetarian who adheres to a strict plant-based diet of vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and grain. A vegan, whom I consider the hard-core vegetarian, is a vegetarian who doesn’t eat meat or seafood or use products tested on or derived from animals, such as honey, eggs or any type of dairy products.

A lacto-vegetarianism diet, however, allows for dairy products but does not include eggs, while the ovo-vegetarianism diet is just the opposite. Their diet allows for eggs, but not milk. If you decide to keep eggs and milk in your diet, than you would be considered a lacto-ovo vegetarian.

You can also become a semi-vegetarian. This type of diet allows for fish and some poultry. However, many vegetarians do not consider this a type of vegetarianism.

Planning
If you plan on becoming the type of vegetarian who gives up all forms of meat and do not plan your diet well, you run the risk of having some nutritional deficiencies. Although plant-based diets are more natural, they do not supply all of your nutritional needs. To avoid deficiencies, the following are a list of nutritional sources that you need to pay close attention to.

Protein
Protein intake is typically lower for vegetarians. This is not a problem for lacto and ovo vegetarians, but for strict vegetarians or vegans, the essential amino acids may be lacking in their diet. Food sources such as soy, hempseed, and buckwheat provide a complete serving of the eight essential amino acids. However, by combining foods such as brown rice and beans, the amino acids your body needs can also be obtained.

Iron
Iron in your diet typically comes from meat sources. Vegetarian diets usually have enough, but the bioavailability is lower, which means it absorption may not be as great. That being said, there are a wide variety of plant-based foods that are rich in iron including: oatmeal, raisins, soybean, black beans, cashews, chickpeas and whole-wheat bread.

Vitamin B12
When it comes to having enough Vitamin B12, lacto-ovo vegetarians can obtain theirs from dairy products and eggs. For the strictly plant based vegetarians, dietary supplements will be necessary unless you choose to consume fortified foods. This may not be a big concern for many though. An article in Vegetarian Nutrition reports that the body can preserve stores of the vitamin for up to 30 years without needing for its supplies to be replenished.

Fatty acids
Fatty acids play a critical role in brain function and other body functions. An excellent source of omega 3 fatty acids are fish. Instead of fish, many vegetarians prefer to supplement with sources such as flaxseed, pumpkin seed and/or canola oil. These supply the alpha-linolenic acid, but lack the necessary eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. However, some companies have been marketing seaweed extracts that contain these acids. Whole seedweed is not suggested because of their high iodine levels.

Calcium
Calcium deficiency, though not common, can occur if you do not consume enough green leafy vegetables.

Vitamin D
The lack of Vitamin D is mentioned because the general population as a whole does not get enough of it. Your Vitamin D needs can be met easily with soy milk or regular milk, and it also can be met with sensible exposure to the sun.

So after reading this and you still think vegetarianism is right for you, then I suggest you make the conversion gradually. Weening yourself off of meat may not me easy. But if you take incremental steps towards your goal, your conversion to a plant-base diet will become more easily achieved.

And one last point. Do not think that by just becoming a vegetarian that you’ll automatically start losing weight. I know of several people who are vegetarians and they are all overweight. Take this as a reminder that this diet does not give you a license to eat all you want. This is because with any weight loss diet you choose, the bottom line has to do with the amount of calories you consume. Period.

The three eating patterns are: An exclusive vegetarian refrains from eating all kinds of meats and animal products; the lacto vegetarian consumes only plant foods and milk; and the lacto-ovo vegetarian includes dairy products and eggs.

Benefits of a vegetarian diet are as follows:

1. Vegetables are zero in any animal fat, much lower on total fats, saturated fats and cholesterol. Studies discovered that the veggie diet reduces the danger of obesity, cardio vascular diseases, heightened blood pressure, diabetes mellitus and some types of cancer.
2. Vegetables are healthier if it includes the essential substances needed by the body. Plants do not have much protein but whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds and soybeans can approximate the body’s need for this nutrients. Dried beans, spinach, enriched plant products, brewer ’s yeast and dried fruits can substitute iron from red meat. Animal meat has Vitamin B12 but fortified bread, cereals, soybeans and brewer ’s yeast also supply it. Vitamin D emanates from the sun. Calcium are contained in rich green vegetables as spinach, kale, broccoli, legumes and soybeans; and Zinc which is needed for growth and development is also found in grains, nuts and legumes.
3. Food nutrients, which are sourced from animal products are also sourced out from the plants.

A vegan can still eat meat by being a flexitarian who is a semi-vegetarian by occasionally consuming meat. There are three diet plans: the beginner – which has 2 meatless days and consumes 26 ounces of meat a week; the advanced – which has 3 meatless days and a total of 18 ounces of meat weekly and the expert which limits to 5 meatless days and partakes only 9 ounce of meat a week.

You can enjoy the benefits of a vegetarian diet and eat meat once in a while.