"A major benefit of flexitarianism has been an increase in the number of fruits and vegetables I consume, and therefore an overall healthier diet," said Emily Pious (33), who became a flexitarian in 2009 and now blogs about her experience.
If you embrace a flexitarian diet, you're more likely to pack your frittata with broccoli than bacon. And that's a good thing since vegetables are whole foods that are rich in nutrients and fiber. "Plant-based foods contain many disease-fighting nutrients and antioxidants that your body needs," explained Sara Siskind, a certified nutritional health counselor.
In a paper published in January 2017, researchers evaluated 25 studies to determine how a semivegetarian diet can impact bodyweight, diet quality, and overall health. The review concluded that a semivegetarian diet may result in bodyweight benefits, improved markers of metabolic health and blood pressure, and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. It also found that the diet may help treat inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease.
