I know what you are thinking, vegetarian diet for weight loss? Huh? Isn’t it a common knowledge that vegetarians are an epitome of perfect health and are responsible for the highest fitness scores known to humankind?

Not exactly, vegetarians may be at a higher risk of weight gain and malnutrition because it is not easy to follow a balanced vegetarian diet.

Vegetarian diet for weight loss Following a vegetarian diet, says Gary Null, author of Gary Null’s Power Foods, detoxes the body naturally, adding health benefits to the weight loss. I do not know where he got this idea that a vegetarian diet detoxes your body, there is no scientific evidence to support this claim.

He says it can help clear up skin, improve hair and nails, elevate one’s mood (thanks to complex carbs that boost serotonin) and reduce bloating. Null even debunks the myth that meat-free diets are difficult to follow.

“There’s actually more variety on a vegetarian diet than on a meat-based one,” he says of a menu that includes so-called power foods, which allegedly leave the body feeling fuller for longer, thus reducing caloric intake.

More variety? How can a diet – which restricts meat, fish, poultry, and seafood – have more variety?

Vegetarian diet for weight loss and the “power” foods Health expert Gary Null says filling up on fiber-and antioxidant-rich foods helps fight disease, kick-start the metabolism and energize the body and aid weight loss.

Here’s what to eat: Nuts like almonds, fruits like oranges, bananas and blueberries, flavorful foods like onions, garlic and ginger, protein-packed soy products and beans, veggies including leafy greens, tomatoes, carrots, peppers and mushrooms, whole grains. [via Life & Style]