In short, yes. A pescetarian diet can be very healthy and great for losing weight, but only if you do it right. In my opinion, any good diet should contain a range of food sources in order to meet the various needs of your body. Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and fibre are all incredibly important to a balanced diet, helping you maintain your natural weight. Below are a few tips on losing weight with a pescetarian diet.
Eat quality food
A pescetarian diet is still unhealthy if you are eating a lot of junk food. Making homemade meals is often the first step towards losing weight. Personally, I feel very comfortable knowing exactly what I am eating and that it is fresh quality food. Doing so, I find it very easy to adjust my diet to suit my desired outcomes.
The importance of protein
Sometimes people think that a high-protein diet is just for gaining muscle mass, however, protein is also great at helping you lose weight. Protein promotes muscle repair and growth, but can also be a great fat burner when paired with regular exercise. High-protein foods take longer and more energy to digest, along with making you feel fuller for longer. This fits perfectly with the pescetarian diet as fish is a fantastic high-protein food source. See our FAQ on How Do I Get Enough Protein In My Diet Without Meat?
Cut down on saturated fats
Fats can be split into two groups; saturated and unsaturated. Saturated fats are found in meat, poultry and dairy products such as cream and butter. Saturated fats raise cholesterol levels and increase your risk of heart disease [source]. Unsaturated fats split into two further groups; monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. Monounsaturated fats are found in olive oil, almonds, cashews, peanuts, peanut butter, sesame seeds, and avocados. Monounsaturated fats reduce cholesterol and the buildup of plaque in your arteries, in addition to this, some studies have also directly linked them to fat loss [source]. Polyunsaturated fats also reduce cholesterol and contain essential Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids. This type of fat is commonly found in a variety of fish, but is also present in flaxseed, walnuts and tofu. A good pescetarian diet will naturally cut down on saturated fats, replacing them with unsaturated fats.
These are just a few of the reasons on how a pescetarian diet can help you lose weight.
