With the growing awareness over being vegan or vegetarian, what should a person do when meat is also an essential part of their diet? Flexitarianism is the increasingly popular answer. A flexitarian is traditionally someone who eats a primarily plant-based diet, reducing carbon footprint and improving general health while allowing meat and other animal products in moderation. A flexitarian concept is being more flexible than entirely vegetarian or vegan diets.According to a major study, a Flexitarian Diet that includes one portion of meat a day has a lower carbon footprint than a vegetarian diet that includes dairy. This conclusion by John Hopkins Hospital (JHU) research in Baltimore, America, could turn advice about diet and climate change on its head. It modelled the environmental impact of all significant diets across some 140 countries and concluded that those who switch to a vegetarian diet might be doing more harm than good. The research shows they would be better off cutting down on dairy products, increasing their fruit and vegetable intake and eating meat once a day for protein and energy. They call this a "two thirds vegan" diet.Vegetarianism and veganism are becoming more and more mainstream, with an increasing choice of meat-free options available in restaurants and supermarkets. However, most of the population still consume meat and dairy products.Flexitarians are somewhere in the middle: while they consume meat occasionally, their diet is mainly plant-based. Flexitarians are sometimes dubbed "semi-vegetarians", indicating a perception of this dietary choice as a "halfway house" on the way to giving up meat entirely. Many vegans and vegetarians face – vitamin B12 and iron deficiencies as a result of avoiding meat altogether. The Flexitarian concept is based on consuming meat occasionally, which would reduce vitamin B12 and iron deficiencies, promoting a healthier diet. The critical thing about flexitarianism is that it is not about excluding foods from your diet but exploring and adding some. Many people will add alternative protein sources to their diets other than meats, including beans, nuts, peas and seeds. Incorporating plant-based ingredients is easier than you think and worth it for your health to thrive.
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