Relevant information about the five most popular restrictive diets: Gluten-free, Lactose-intolerant, Pescetarianism, Vegan and Vegetarian.
Pescetarianism is the practice of following a diet that includes seafood, such as fish, but not meat from other animals. A pescetarian diet is similar to a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet and usually includes dairy, eggs, beans, grains, nuts, fruit, and vegetables. The term “pescetarian” originated in the early 1990s and is defined as a person “whose diet includes fish but no other meat”.
A pescetarianism diet is similar to a vegetarian diet with the exception being that pescetarians eat fish. There are many different reasons behind why people choose to change their diet. One main reason is health. Red meat is detrimental to health because of carnitine, choline, and high amounts of saturated fats. Fish, however, are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids and offer a wide variety of health benefits. A pescetarian diet emphasizes grains, vegetables, and fruits to go along with fish, and as such is very similar with a traditional Mediterranean diet. Many people use a pescetarian diet as a stepping stone to become a full vegetarian or even vegan.
Before you decide to change your diet, you need to realize what is involved. Being a pescetarian means eliminating chicken and red meat from your life. While some people can cut these foods out immediately, it may take others longer. Go at your own pace. Start by cutting down the amount of chicken and red meat you eat gradually over the course of a week, and then a month. Eventually, you’ll get to the point where you can cut it out completely. During this time, you should be researching what recipes are suitable for you to follow. Luckily, a pescetarian diet is pretty simple, as you can eat anything except for chicken and red meat. It shouldn’t be too hard to find meals or recipes that fit your new diet. Chicken is a great source of protein, however, and you will need to find a way to replace that. Ideally, you should talk to your doctor or a nutritionist before you start to come up with a meal plan, so to speak, that lays out different meals and also foods that will help make up for some of the nutrients you may be missing after changing your diet. If you have a partner or live with someone who you eat meals with, you may want to check with them, or at least inform them of your new diet. It is unfair to make them change with you, so be prepared to start making your own meals or buying your own food. The most important thing is to go at your own pace and to not freak out if you occasionally eat a piece of chicken or red meat. Over time, you will be less prone to your urges and should be able to go with a strict pescetarian diet. This may take up to a year to accomplish, however, so you need to be patient. If you are struggling, talk to someone close to you, or go online. There are dozens of websites or social media groups that post delicious recipes and offer support to people who are switching their diet.
