Why Vegetarians Are Less Likely To Be Overweight
It’s not just that vegetarians don’t eat meat-they’re generally prone
to possessing a successful secret weapon (or two) that prevents them
from packing on pounds. Thomas Moore, MD explains in The DASH Diet for Weight Loss.
A well-balanced vegetarian diet is rich in vegetables, fruit, whole
grains, and legumes and low in fat. The main meals are comprised largely
of bean or soy dishes, vegetables, and whole grains.
It’s true that meat-and red meat in particular-contains much more
high-calorie saturated fat than a lot of other foods. However, it’s not just because
they don’t eat meat that vegetarians are less likely to be overweight
or obese. People who have chosen a vegetarian diet tend to pay attention
to other areas of their health. They often exercise more and don’t
smoke. Just as important, if they have been practicing a vegetarian diet
for some time, they will have developed skills and knowledge about how
to eat a vegetarian diet that is both meat-free and lower in calories than the regular American diet.