| There are several reasons why people choose | | | | probably cure your diabetes. But it will surely offer |
| vegetarian diets: an indisposition to eat meat, an | | | | several benefits over a non-vegetarian diet. Among |
| aversion to killing animals, or a simple choice of a | | | | them: making your body more responsive to insulin |
| different lifestyle. | | | | (probably the most important advantage), reducing |
| There are a number of dissimilar vegetarian diets. | | | | your risk of some diabetes-associated complications |
| None of them need to be a really strict diet. The | | | | (quite important as well) and helping you better |
| point here is the avoidance of all read meat (lamb, | | | | control your weight. All this, of course, depends on |
| beef, pork, etc.) | | | | the particular food choices you make when following |
| The most common types of vegetarian diets allow | | | | the type of vegetarian diet you selected. There is |
| vegetables and: | | | | not a unique vegetarian eating plan. |
| + Vegan - Eats no food sourced from animals | | | | The vegan diet is the strictest of all vegetarian diets. |
| + Lacto-ovo - Same as the above but includes milk | | | | Vegans eat neither animal meats nor foods that |
| and eggs. | | | | come from animals, such as eggs and dairy products. |
| + Lacto - Allows milk but will not eat eggs. | | | | Other types of vegetarian diets may allow dairy |
| + Ovo - Eats eggs only - but no other animal foods. | | | | products and eggs. A strict vegan diet is generally |
| + Pesco - Eats fish but no other animal foods | | | | low in saturated fat and cholesterol-free. |
| (pescetarian) | | | | Vegetarian diets that include fruits, vegetables, whole |
| + Pollo - Allows chicken | | | | grains and legumes in generous amounts are high in |
| + Fruitarian (sub-set of vegan - includes only fruiting | | | | fiber and phytochemicals. Generally speaking, |
| portion of plant). | | | | vegetarian diets are lower in calories than are |
| These diets, being based on consumption of | | | | non-vegetarian diets. |
| vegetables, fruits, nuts and whole grains, are high in | | | | Bottom line: good vegetarian diets benefit people |
| fiber. Other advantages are that they are low in | | | | with diabetes. |
| calories, refined sugars and saturated fat. With | | | | Vegetarian diets generally lead to significant weight |
| careful planning and the right knowledge, any type of | | | | loss, which in turn can improve type 2 diabetes in |
| the common vegetarian diets can provide adequate | | | | people who are obese. This is true of similar weight |
| nutrition for the diabetic. | | | | loss from non-vegetarian diabetes diets as well. |
| Remember that some nutrients must be emphasized: | | | | A vegetarian diet makes your body more responsive |
| protein, calcium, zinc, iron, and the B complex vitamin. | | | | to insulin, some studies say, and that is very |
| + Lacto/ovo diets provide protein by means of egg | | | | important if you have diabetes. According to a 2006 |
| white and milk. | | | | study published in a scientific journal, 43 percent of |
| + On the other hand, on a vegan diet protein needs | | | | people who ate a low-fat vegan diet reported a |
| are met by legumes (peas, nuts, beans, lentils, etc). | | | | reduction on their need for diabetes medications. |
| By combining legumes with various dishes, the | | | | The risk of diabetes-associated complications, such as |
| recommended daily allowance (RDA) of protein can | | | | kidney disease and cardiovascular disease, is also |
| be attained. | | | | reduced with vegetarian diets. But again, all this |
| To keep in mind: because of its high estrogen levels, | | | | depends on the specific kind of foods you choose. |
| a factor in the physical maturing process, soy milk | | | | Notwithstanding, before you switch to a vegetarian |
| could be undesirable for the vegan child, even though | | | | diet, it is always best to talk to a dietitian or doctor, |
| it is an excellent source of protein. | | | | if you have diabetes. They can help you create an |
| Could switching to a vegetarian diet cure my | | | | eating plan that provides all the nutrients for your |
| diabetes? | | | | body and the right amount of calories to maintain the |
| No way, man. Switching to a vegetarian diet will not | | | | healthy weight. |