Gone are the days when vegans would find themselves regularly explaining what veganism was to people sitting at the same dining table. Vegans are no longer a rare species. In fact, veganism has become so popular that fast-food chains like McDonald’s are now offering vegan options on their menus, and giant food companies are venturing into the vegan territory.1
“I want to eat healthy food. But it’s just so hard to say a final goodbye to those crispy bacon strips and juicy rib-eye steaks. Can’t we find a middle ground?” you might ask.
Sure we can. Ever heard of Flexitarian Diet?
What is a flexitarian diet?
No, it’s not a whole food plant-based diet. A flexitarian diet refers to a diet that normally is meatless but includes occasional meat or fish.2
You may follow three types of diet plans:2
Beginner — 735 grams of meat per week and two meatless days.
Advanced— 510 grams of meat per week and three to four meatless days.
Expert — 255 grams of meat per week and five meatless days.
The beauty of this diet is, you don’t have to quit meat cold turkey. In a way, you are creating a balanced diet as you go.
Apart from healthier bowel movements and lower cholesterol, flexitarian diets are associated with lower heart disease and type II diabetes risks.2
Cigna HealthFirst Elite 360 Medical Plan offers comprehensive and personalized medical coverage across the stage prevention, diagnosis, treatment and recovery, with a range of hospital and surgical benefits, optional insurance benefits with an annual limit of up to HK$50 million, personalized health assessment, three critical illnesses(cancer, stroke and heart attack) all-rounded care and international medical concierge service. A 360-degree total health protection that spans across all the key stages of your health journey. Find out more here.
Sources:
© Cigna Healthcare 2023
Information provided in this article is intended for health and fitness purposes only and is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease (see Terms & Conditions for details). Any health-related information found in this article is available only for your interest and should not be treated as medical advice. Users should seek any medical advice from a physician, especially before self-diagnosing any ailment or embarking on any new lifestyle or exercise regime. Any information contained in this article may not be suitable, accurate, complete or reliable. Cigna Healthcare accepts no responsibility for the content or accuracy of information contained on external websites or resources, or for the security and safety of using them. "Cigna Healthcare" and the "Tree of Life" logo are registered trademarks of Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. in the United States and elsewhere, licensed for use. All products and services are provided by or through operating subsidiaries, and not by The Cigna Group.
