{"id":188561,"date":"2022-02-08T10:54:27","date_gmt":"2022-02-08T10:54:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=188561"},"modified":"2022-02-08T10:54:55","modified_gmt":"2022-02-08T10:54:55","slug":"the-flexitarian-cyclist-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2022\/02\/08\/the-flexitarian-cyclist-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"The Flexitarian Cyclist \u2013 Benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"

Even flexible diets can be really beneficial. The flexitarian diet is the perfect example. It\u2019s a bit like the vegetarian diet but it gives you the option to enjoy meat and fish sometimes, too. This is also why it offers a lot of the health benefits that vegetarian diets do. Let\u2019s take a look at what you can expect after going flexitarian.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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It\u2019s good for your health<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The flexitarian diet is relatively new but, thankfully, there is robust research on semi-vegetarian diets that closely resemble the flexitarian diet. For example, a 2009 study<\/a> with over 60,000 participants suggests that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes is 1,5% lower in semi-vegetarians compared to non-vegetarians. A 2015 study<\/a> that included 78,000 people found that semi-vegetarians were 8% less likely to get colorectal cancer, compared to non-vegetarians.<\/p>\n

The research that does include the flexitarian diet directly is showing promise as well. A 2017 study<\/a> suggests benefits for body weight, improved markers of metabolic health, blood pressure, and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to keep in mind that just reducing meat is not enough. Research shows<\/a> that plant-based diets that include a lot of refined foods such as sweetened beverages, refined grains, fries or sweets don\u2019t show the same health benefits.<\/p>\n

Be careful about nutrient deficiencies<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There is a potential downside to limiting or cutting out meat and animal products from your diet. Meat is a rich source of many essential nutrients that are harder to get from plants alone. Studies show<\/a> that people on low-meat diets should be aware of the following nutrient deficiencies.<\/p>\n