Here’s Why Flexitarianism Should Be Your Go-To Diet

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If flexitarianism is not a word you are familiar with, then pay attention. The past decades have been teeming with an infinite number of diets and new nutrition regimes whereas the last couple of years can easily be considered the peak of the dieting era. But, as it usually goes, a slow demise comes after every peak, so it’s not much of a surprise that more people are leaving strict dieting tactics and replacing them with long-term solutions. It is a well-known fact that if you wish to see a true change in your body and health, your eating habits must change in a way that suits your necessities and body condition. Flexitarianism has been around for some time, and it is half-way between going completely cold turkey and everyday caving to your cravings.

If you have no desire to turn to vegetarianism or veganism completely, there are a lot of different options to choose from, all you have to do is decide what seems like the most plausible regime for you to follow. If you like your meat, not to mention other guilty pleasures like sweets and pasta, but still want to maintain healthy cholesterol levels and optimal body weight, this eating regime could be the golden mean you didn’t know you needed.

The trick with flexitarianism is that you don’t need to get rid of meat completely. Instead, you avoid it one day of the week and put only fruits and vegetables on your plate. Some people take a more serious approach to this, so they actually take a two or three-day break from meat goodies, and both the results and the impressions are more than positive.

Of course, you should be aware that eating nothing but vegan dishes for a couple of days won’t leverage the poor choices of food that you make for the rest of your week. Like with everything else, there must be a balance. The main point of flexitarianism is that you don’t feel guilty when you eat something that doesn’t grow in the ground. There are studies that show that feeling guilty about your food choices all the time (as well as obsessive calorie counting) often ends in giving up your new food regime altogether. You may not think that giving up all animal products for a day or two will make a difference, but being a flexitarian does have its advantages, and they are both permanent and noticeable.

The most important perk is the change you’ll notice in the way you feel. The fact is that reducing meat intake, even for just a couple of days a week, will significantly boost your metabolism and immune system. What’s more, it will reduce the possibilities of cancer, heart disease, and obesity. Many of us love a good steak or a decadent piece of chocolate cake, and that is perfectly acceptable, as long as you don’t consume them every day. Flexitarianism is a great way to stay aware of what you are eating, meaning this practice will help you understand quicker what it is that you truly need in your nutrition. If you think about it, being a flexitarian is also a good spiritual practice because it enables you to keep your awareness and focus on all the good things you are doing for yourself.

Another perk of going flexitarian is the money you can save. It might not be a fortune, but meat is more expensive than fresh veggies, lentils, and tofu, so your wallet will definitely feel the difference, as well as your body. More money and less weight, well, we all want that.

Another important aspect of this eating plan is the impact it has on the planet. Opting for a vegan dish every once in a while does make a difference, even if you believe that such a minor change is insignificant in terms of its effect on global change. It certainly isn’t insignificant for a number of reasons; firstly, the meat industry is one of the biggest water consumers, and secondly, meat factories make up to fifty percent of global carbon emissions, which is a huge problem.

By shifting your diet and maybe your consciousness just slightly, you can help yourself immensely and maybe even inspire a change is someone else. Flexitarianism isn’t a strong movement like veganism and vegetarianism, but it does propagate a moderately healthy lifestyle that could be more than enough for achieving your goals when it comes to health and eating awareness.

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