Vegetarian

Vegetarianism is on the rise in contemporary America, largely because of nutritional, ethical, and environmental concerns. Still, recent surveys put the number of true vegetarians at less than three percent of the U.S. Vegetarian food can be very simple; for example, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is vegetarian. Vegetables are a rich source of antioxidants and protect us from many diseases. Green vegetables contain essential vitamins & minerals and are thus very beneficial for health.

Probably one of the most perplexing thoughts a person has when they transition to vegetarianism is keeping their diet filled with a variety of fun, diverse, and nutrient-dense foods. It can sometimes feel like you’re cutting many options out since you’re no longer consuming meat, and it may seem you’re losing even more options if you’ve also decided to cut dairy and eggs from your diet as well. With a little creativity, planning, and forethought, you might be surprised how much variety you can achieve with your new vegetarian diet – perhaps even more than your meat-eating days!

Vegetarian recipes are tasty, and easy to make. You can turn any recipe into a purely vegetarian one by replacing the meats with any vegetarian alternative. Raw foods are considered healthy because they lose none of their nutrients through heat in the cooking process. More rigid raw eaters simply blend fruits and vegetables. Raw sliced almonds are also a nice alternative to pecans.Vegetarianism can be very confusing to those who are not familiar with it. But I have discovered that I feel better when I eat vegetarian meals. Raw foods are considered healthy because they lose none of their nutrients through heat in the cooking process. More rigid raw eaters simply blend fruits and vegetables. Raw sliced almonds are also a nice alternative to pecans. And contrary to popular belief, vegetarian recipes are full of the taste and enjoyment of many other foods you eat..

Vegetarian recipes provide the most efficient nutriment for the human system, because plants form the basis of the food chain, closest to the source of life itself, which is solar energy. Indian vegetarian dishes are loaded with antioxidants. Many spices protect against cancer, heart disease, arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease. Vegetable curries and usals. Salads, koshimbir and bhurta. Contrary to popular belief, preparing a quick easy vegetarian meal may be a convenient task after all.

Vegetarian recipes are included, as well as information on adapting some recipes to a vegetarian diet. Each recipe contains nutrition information per serving and even cost per serving, which many cooks find helpful. Raw foods are considered healthy because they lose none of their nutrients through heat in the cooking process. More rigid raw eaters simply blend fruits and vegetables. Raw sliced almonds are also a nice alternative to pecans. And contrary to popular belief, vegetarian recipes are full of the taste and enjoyment of many other foods you eat.

Vegetarianism isn’t just about food or health or what we put in our body we should remember that it is a lifestyle and a lifelong commitment that extends beyond the table. It extends to our own fashion to wardrobe to interior pieces and other things. The information, recipes and website links on this page are provided to help anyone begin or to increase their ability to be a vegetarian. Vegetarians have their own favorite dishes and desserts. Vegetarian diets call for fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and soybeans as a replacement for meat (which is much higher in saturated fats and much lower in fiber, antioxidants). This contributes to a healthy heart.

Indian food is different from the food of any other country. India has a great variety of foods compared to any other country. Indian cuisine varies from region to region, reflecting the varied demographics of the ethnically diverse subcontinent . Cuisine across India has also been influenced by various cultural groups that entered India throughout history, from regions as diverse as West Asia , Central Asia and Europe. Gujarati cuisine of India is predominantly vegetarian among other Indian cuisines. For pure vegetarians India is a heaven.

Indian vegetarian dishes are loaded with antioxidants. Many spices protect against cancer, heart disease, arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease. Indian vegetarian food proves all of this wrong. Indian culinary, or the art of cooking, has evolved with the times imbibing its share of various ingredients by different froeign invasions of rulers and travelers but without affecting its original identity. Therefore, whether it is North India, South India, East India, West India, the central part and the north-eastern part – each place has its own flavor of food and style of cooking.

Meatless meals are great for stretching the family food budget. In general, vegetarian cooking provides essential protein nutrients from plant sources plus dairy products, eggs and whole grains. Meat can be considered as being a vital part of the main daily meal. While meat lovers will not have a problem with this inclusion into their meal, others may.

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Soy and soy products have come under more and more close inspection in the news lately. If youâ??ve taken a look, and if youâ??re a vegetarian or are investigating the vegetarian eating style, youâ??ve likely seen that the news isnâ??t all good. Men, especially have cause for concern, due to the high plant-estrogen content of the soy bean and plant. Before reaching for another block of tofu, or taking a closer look at the vegetarian diet, youâ??ve got to read this!

First of all, why is this especially a MENS issue?
Everyone has a little bit of both types of hormones: Testosterone and Estrogen. They play important roles in the bodyâ??s many functions. Men have more testosterone than estrogenâ?¦and they donâ??t need any more than the body already produces. Declining testosterone production in older age men causes health problems, as the testosterone/estrogen balance is then upset. Testosterone levels in boys are also important for proper development and bone health. Adding in extra estrogen to the mix isnâ??t a good idea at any stage.

So whatâ??s the problem with soy?
It has high levels of â??plant estrogensâ?. Plant estrogens are hormones the plant uses for its daily function. Theyâ??re not the same as the ones found in  humans, and if consumed, are 1,000 times LESS effective as human hormones. They are sometimes called phytoestrogens or lignans.
But as a vegetarian, or anyone trying to adopt a healthy eating pattern, soy and soy products play a big role. Donâ??t want nasty bovine hormones? Drink soy milk. Donâ??t want to hurt animals by eating meat? Get protein from tofu blocks/ tofu dogs/tofurkey and countless other sources of Soy products.

It may be less effective than human estrogen, but all those little bits add up when youâ??re using soy and other phytoestogen rich plants as your protein source. These may be ok for women, especially anyone having menopause, but males donâ??t need any extra estrogen. You might see a lot of studies done in the news saying things like â??too much soy reduces sperm countâ? and â??over-eating of soy products leads to earlier memory-loss in men in Indonesiaâ? (Indonesia consumes a lot of soy as part of the traditional diet) While the FDA hasnâ??t ruled on anything yet, this â??Bad Buzzâ? is enough to scare some people away, and make others think twice.

Unfortunately, this fact (and the fact that not everyone is going to like tofu, no matter who they are) scares people away from even trying the vegetarian diet. This no longer has to be the case! A recent discovery makes it much easier (and more delicious) to get the protein you need, without ANY soy or soy-based product.

The answer is the Chia Seed.
This seed is unique among seeds for many reasons, all of which are beneficial to you! First off, by weight, the chia seed is 23% complete protein. Complete protein is difficult to come by in the plant world, and most people get their daily amount from animal meat. Vegetarians routinely mix together incomplete protein food sources in order to meet healthy diet needs. The Chia seedâ??s protein level makes it a valuable dietary addition for vegetarians.

This tiny seed has other wonderful benefits that can especially be taken advantage of by men. They donâ??t have plant estrogens to mess with the hormone balance that keeps you healthy. They donâ??t require you to learn how to cook with tofu (and make it taste goodâ??a real feat!) They donâ??t require lots of preparation time or know-how in the kitchen. You donâ??t have to change your eating habits. Basically, if you have a measuring spoon or scoop, you can use chiaâ??whether youâ??re a vegetarian or not!

Things you should know about this tiny miracle seed:

First:
Chia has no flavor of its own. Youâ??re not fighting to cover up a taste you donâ??t want. Instead, the seeds distribute the flavor of food or beverages you add them to. A food with totally customizable flavor is a food thatâ??s totally easy to use. Sweet or savory, in a recipe or just sprinkled on top, Chia seeds go to work distributing the flavor right away.

Second:
There are so many ways to use it. Tofu claims to be versatile, but can you use it to cut out half the fat of a delicious brownie and have it taste exactly the same? No way! But Chia Seeds can.
Fact:
Chia Gel can replace up to half of the butter or oil in any recipe without altering the flavor or the cooking method.

Another thing you canâ??t do with tofu, is to sprinkle it over any food you already like to eat, to get your daily recommended amount. Any food that is moist enough to prevent the seeds from bouncing off the surface can be used. This includes pizza, yogurt, ice cream, soup, sandwiches, cereal and any drink. The flavorless seeds wonâ??t interrupt your eating enjoyment.

Third:
Chia Seeds are loaded with bonus benefits. Want to feel full at meal time without eating as much food? The fiber and gelling action of the seed keeps you feeling full longer, and replaces calories youâ??d normally eat with water. Want better regularity? Chia is packed with soluble and insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber acts as a â??sweeperâ?? in the intestine, keeping food moving along. Soluble fiber irrigates the bowels making digestion easier so the intestines donâ??t have to work as hard to move food. Enough fiber in your diet also helps reduce the risk of colon cancer.

Fourth:
Every seed is packed with nutrition: a full range of B vitamins, more calcium by weight than milk, healthy omega-3 oils, anti-oxidants, and important trace-minerals such as boron.

Thereâ??s no need to â??fear the tofuâ? if youâ??re looking to make the healthy choice of a vegetarian diet. If you are already a vegetarian, all the anti-soy hype in the news wonâ??t bother you, when you have Chia Seeds in the house. Whatever conclusion the scientific studies come to, with regards to plant-estrogens, youâ??ll know youâ??re safe with chia seeds. Donâ??t wait another day to try this nutrition revolution!

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