Vegetarian Diets: A Beginner's Guide

Ah, finally – summer is almost here. For many of us, this is a really good thing. After all, who doesn't enjoy relaxing under the sun with a cocktail in hand? For others, summer's warm approach can instill a sincere sense of fear: questions such as, "am I going to look good in this bikini?" or "is my body summer ready?" might be lingering in your mind.

Vegetarianism is a popular form of dieting. People become vegetarians for a number of different reasons. Health, religious views and animal welfare can all be reasonable causes for becoming a vegetarian. Believe it or not, there is more than just one type of vegetarianism. Here's a general idea of various vegetarian diets for you to consider on your journey towards a meat-free (or nearly meat-free) existence.

Ovo-Lacto vegetarianism: Funny name, huh? Well, this is the perfect form of a vegetarian diet for avid lovers of breakfast. The reason for this is that you can still eat eggs and drink milk while on this vegetarian diet. The downside, however, is that you still can't eat meat. This is definitely a great vegetarian option for dieters who want to have a good source of calcium in order to promote healthy bones.

Lacto vegetarianism: This form of vegetarianism is perfect for dieters who don't wish to consume poultry, fish, or eggs. However, those delicious Greek yogurts are still up for grabs! You can still enjoy dairy foods while on this diet.

Partial vegetarianism: If you enjoy fish or poultry, then this is the vegetarian diet for you. If you wish to continue eating fish, you would be considered a pescatarian. If you want to avoid red meat but continue to eat chicken and fish, you'd be known as a pollo-vegetarian.

Vegan: This is when you are completely meat, fish, eggs, and dairy free. Vegan diets consist of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. However, vegan diets have their own sub-diets as well. You could focus on becoming a whole-food vegan, a raw-food vegan, or even follow the 80/10/10 diet. The 80/10/10 diet is when a vegan eliminates fat-rich plants such as nuts and avocados.

It turns out that there are many different forms of vegetarianism, and even veganism, for that matter. One question remains, however: will a vegetarian or vegan diet help you lose weight? As with all diets, moderation is essential. If you go on a vegetarian or vegan diet, you'll most likely lose weight as long as you don't eat twenty vegan pizzas in a row, for instance. Since most vegetarian and vegan diets reduce red meat consumption entirely, you'll be much closer to losing weight than before. If you're looking for a good diet, vegetarianism is a great start. Just remember to take your vitamins, because vegetarians and vegans need more B12, iron, calcium, and zinc compared to their carnivore counterparts.