On World Vegetarian Day, a cross-section of experts list the six benefits of keeping your plate full with those fruits and veggies

Vegetarian food, a lot like medicine, has been burdened with tags like `boring' and `unpalatable'. However, medical studies have consistently proved that vegetarian food comes with enormous health benefits. So on World Vegetarian Day, which is celebrated today, an Ayurvedic doctor, a dietician and a yoga trainer list the pros of going veg.

MINIMISES WASTE

Experts believe that meat (especially red) takes approximately 72 hours to digest. On the other hand, a healthy vegetarian meal takes only two hours. Therefore, the body can conserve the energy and divert or use it to heal and strengthen the body from within. Although much of this depends on an individual's digestive makeup, a vegetarian diet, in comparison, is easily absorbable as it gets metabolised properly, says senior Ayurvedic consultant, Dr Niranjan Patel.

PREVENTS CHRONIC DISEASES

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables also provides vitamins and minerals which play a great role in the prevention of chronic diseases.

Registered dietician Sukhada Bhatte-Paralkar specialises in diabetes care. She shares, Whole grain cereals, pulses, millets, fruits and vegetables are a good source of fibre. They help improve gut health which, in turn, prevents and aids in treating hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Besides, the fibre in a vegetarian diet adds bulk to the stool. A healthy gut always leaves a person feeling fresh and energetic.

HELPS LOWER BODY WEIGHT

According to the website Medical News Today, people who follow a healthy vegetarian diet have a lower body weight. In fact, one study conducted by Cancer Research UK, which looked at 22,000 meat and fish eaters, vegetarians and vegans, found that those who continue eating meat gain more weight over a five-year period, compared to those who switch to vegetarianism.

KEEPS PRESSURE IN CHECK

Studies have also shown that those who follow vegetarian diets typically have a lower blood pressure. Medical experts reckon it is probably because cutting out meat and added fats reduces the blood's viscosity (or thickness) which, in turn, brings down blood pressure. Plant products are generally lower in fat and sodium. They have no cholesterol at all. Certain fruits and veggies are rich in potassium, which help lower blood pressure, adds Bhatte-Palekar.


Source: Times of India

BDST: 1654HRS, NOV- 15, 2015
Edited by:  Sharmina Islam, Lifestyle Editor