No Meat For Weight Loss

Vegetarians and people who eat less meat tend to take in fewer calories, according to Mayo Clinic nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky. So lowering the amount of meat you eat could help you lose weight in the long term. In fact, a study of 400,000 people cited by the BBC suggests that eating meat is linked to putting on weight. The key is to reduce meat intake and replace it with healthy alternatives. Match that with a generally healthy lifestyle, and you could lose weight by not eating meat.

Going vegan does NOT require any special combinations of rice and beans. That's an old wive's tale. Just follow these simple recommendations from the American Dietetic Association:

* Choose a variety of plant-based foods, including whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, seeds.
* Minimize intake of foods that are highly sweetened, high in sodium, and high in fat, especially saturated fat and trans-fatty acids.
* Use a regular source of vitamin B-12 and, if sunlight exposure is limited, of vitamin D.

It's really no more complicated than eating a healthy, balanced diet that includes animal products.