Vegetarian Diet

Visitor Question:

I have been a vegetarian for the past 4 months and I have PCOS so I need to follow a low GI diet.

Is a vegetarian diet ok to follow?

Lifetime Fat Loss Answers:

A vegetarian diet is a diet of complex carbohydrates so it's just a matter of choosing the right ones. Check out my list of low glycemic foods and also a list of low glycemic whole grains. Basically, most vegetables and fruits and many whole grains are low glycemic but get familiar with these two pages to know exactly which ones to eat.

The other very important thing to keep in mind is eating enough good fats. These are mostly unsaturated fats but there is an extremely healthy saturated fat that is not an animal fat you can add to your diet. Coconut oil is really good for you in many ways and will help you to increase your metabolism. Coconut oil happens to be a saturated fat so it will help you to keep a good balance of saturated and unsaturated fats because we do need some saturated fats. You can cook with coconut oil or add it to your smoothies or hot cereal.

Vegetarians need to pay close attention to getting enough protein AND good fats. Raw nuts and seeds are a great source of both. You won't have to worry about eating too much saturated fat without the animal protein!

One last word for you since you mentioned that you have PCOS. Since people with PCOS often have insulin resistance you may want to read up on my insulin resistance diet. You will be eliminating the animal protein but otherwise this is an excellent way for you to eat.