Health Tip: Eat a Balanced Vegetarian Diet

(HealthDay News) -- A vegetarian diet may reduce your risks of diabetes and heart disease, the American Heart Association (AHA) says. But vegetarians also have to eat foods with a healthy balance of nutrients.

The AHA offers these guidelines:

• Eat enough protein. You can try adding soy to your diet, which is protein rich.
• Eat plenty of nuts, whole grains, vegetables, and legumes.
• Get plenty of iron by eating lots of spinach, beans, dried fruits, and iron-fortified foods.
• Try eating foods fortified with vitamin B-12, or consider taking a B-12 supplement.
• Avoid foods high in sugar or fat.

-- Diana Kohnle

Last Updated: Oct. 27, 2006

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