Exercising to lose weight is a difficult task, but sticking to a diet is more difficult than sweating it out in the gym. Following a diet will definitely come with restrictions and if these restrictions are very stringent, there are more chances of you have a cheat week instead of a cheat day. So, if such is the case, you’ll need a diet plan that allows you to be flexible with your food choices and permits you to consume some of your favorite food in moderation. If you are keen on losing weight, you are usually recommended to follow a plant-based diet. However, if you consume meat and find it difficult to follow a vegetarian diet, the flexitarian diet is the ideal diet for you.

So, if you wish to know more about what exactly the flexitarian diet is and the various benefits it has, keep on reading.

What is the flexitarian diet?
This diet was created by dietician Dawn Jackson Blatner to help people make the most of vegetarian eating and continue consuming animal productions in moderation. This is why this diet is called the flexitarian diet, the perfect amalgamation of the vegetarian and animal meat diet. The best part about the flexitarian diet is that it doesn’t have stringent rules or a recommended number of calories and macronutrients that you need to stick to. In fact, it is more of a lifestyle choice than a diet plan. This diet is based on certain principles like:

• The major part of your diet should consist of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes.
• You should limit the consumption of sugar and sweets.
• You can shift your protein source from animal-based foods to plant-based ones.
• It is essential that you are flexible with your diet and incorporate meat and animal products from time to time.
• You should eat the least processed foods and stick to the most natural form of foods possible.

The major health benefits of the flexitarian diet
There are several health benefits of following this semi-vegetarian diet. They are as follows:

• Lowers the risk of insulin resistance and diabetes: Like every other vegetarian diet, even the flexitarian diet is known to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. If you consume a healthy diet, especially one that is predominantly a plant-based one, it may help in preventing and managing this condition. This plant-based diet is quite effective in aiding weight loss and is quite high in fiber and low in healthy fats.
• Weight loss: Adhering to the flexitarian diet is good for your waistline. As the diet is plant-based and limits high-calorie and processed foods, it ensures that you stick to an acceptable number of calories and won’t gain weight.
• Increases life expectancy: Research has revealed that following a balanced plant- and animal-based diet increases one’s life expectancy. In fact, studies indicate that flexitarians may live 3.6 years longer than their non-vegetarian counterparts.
• Reduces your carbon footprint: Following a plant-based diet is good for your health and the environment as well. Eating less meat and replacing it with whole-plant foods like peas, lentils, beans, fruits, and vegetables can help reduce your carbon footprint. This will definitely benefit you in the long run.