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Flexitarian diet: what is it and what are the risks and benefits

One of the healthiest and easiest diets in the world is the flexitarian diet, an eating regime that literally combines the words 'flexible' and 'vegetarian'. The entire diet is based on the personal reduction of foods of animal origin, especially meat, and its replacement with fruit and vegetables.

The particularity of this diet, as opposed to vegetarianism and veganism, is that it does not involve the total elimination of meat, but simply its progressive reduction to a weekly total that the person can decide as he or she wishes.

Please note, however, that the presentation of this diet in this article is not intended as medical or health advice. Before embarking on any sudden change in one's diet and lifestyle, the recommendation is always to consult a professional.

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Flexitarian diet: what is it and what are the risks and benefits
One of the healthiest and easiest diets in the world is the flexitarian diet, an eating regime that literally combines the words 'flexible' and 'vegetarian'. The diet is based on personally reducing foods of animal origin, especially meat, and replacing it with fruit and vegetables. Explaining it in detail is dietician Kate Patton.
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Vegetarian diet (with some meat)
The flexitarian diet is considered, by the U.S. News Best Diet Ranking, as the second best diet ever just behind the Mediterranean diet. Essentially, it is a flexible alternative to being a strict vegetarian. It is not that you stop favouring fruit, vegetables, whole grains, pulses and nuts, but you occasionally continue to consume meat.
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Why people choose this diet
Dietitian Kate Patton talks about why the flexitarian diet is increasingly being chosen by people who want to lose weight: 'I think people are attracted to this diet because you can be a little more flexible. Most diets imply a beginning and an end and the weight can come back on, but the flexitarian diet emphasises eating a predominantly plant-based diet, which is always recommended for long-term weight loss".
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The benefits of the flexitarian diet
According to the dietician, there are many benefits of the flexitarian diet. For instance, it reduces the risk of heart disease, promotes weight loss, reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes management, can help prevent cancer, and is also good for the environment as it decreases meat consumption and reduces the carbon footprint.
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The risks of the flexitarian diet
The risks are the same as for those who switch from a normal diet to an exclusively vegetarian and vegan one. As the body is not used to this kind of diet, a deficiency of nutrients such as vitamin B12, zinc and calcium may occur in some individuals.
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What kinds of meat can be eaten
Having said that the amount of meat to be consumed is optional (of course, if you eat 90 per cent meat and 10 per cent fruit and vegetables then it is not necessary), the choice should fall mainly on organic, pasture-raised or grass-fed beef, chicken or turkey. Furthermore, it is always better to choose leaner cuts to minimise excess animal fat.
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The stages of the flexitarian diet
This diet can be divided into three phases, depending on the degree of habit of the body. Initially, it is recommended to eliminate meat two days a week (eating about 28 ounces - 8 ounces - of meat on the remaining five days is sufficient).  In the second phase, one will follow the vegetarian regime for 3-4 days a week, and in the remaining time no more than 18 ounces - 500 grams - of meat should be eaten. In the third phase, one should go on a vegetarian diet for five days out of seven, and in the remaining two days eat no more than 9 ounces - 250 grams - of meat.
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