How does vegetarianism affect the body? Let’s look at the pros and cons

Discussions about vegetarianism have been going on for years. This topic is becoming more and more popular, the number of people who adhere to this way of eating is inexorably growing. On the International Day of Veganism, the strictest form of vegetarianism, let’s talk about how adherence to this type of diet affects the body.

Nutriciologist

The topic of vegetarianism is one of the most discussed, trendy and controversial among people involved in nutrition. I do not advocate either a complete rejection of meat products or their excessive consumption. Everything needs an individual and informed approach.

How does a vegetarian diet affect the body?

Not without reason there are disputes on the topic of vegetarianism, because many studies say that it has a dual effect on the body.

The negative impact of the vegetarian diet is attributed primarily to the lack of elements that are contained in products of animal origin. What to replace meat in the diet, we dealt with here. But, unfortunately, it is not always possible to fill it with other products.

Lydia: Major deficiencies can occur in vegetarians due to insufficient amounts of essential amino acids, vitamin B12, vitamin D, creatine, cholesterol, Omega-3, carnosine, retinol in plant foods.

This is not a verdict if your choice is conscious and you get these substances from supplements. But the lack of some elements still can not be filled with the help of supplements.

• Vitamin A, which the body needs for twilight vision and the formation of new cells, can only come from animal products.
• Creatine is found only in meat, and vegans have a decrease in it, which negatively affects brain function.
• Carnosine is only found in meat products. It protects against destructive processes in the body.
• Docosahexaenoic fatty acid (DHA), which slows down the aging mechanism, is found only in food of animal origin. Its main source is fatty fish.

Many studies show that vegetarians are deficient in vitamin B12, which is critical for thought processes. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause diseases of the brain and nervous system.

Lydia: I am convinced that before you switch to a vegetarian diet, you should have your digestive system, cardiovascular system, and other vital organs examined. It is also necessary to identify and compensate for deficiencies of macro- and microelements under the guidance of a specialist with a balanced diet and nutraceuticals, to form a healthy diet based on genetic characteristics and lifestyle.

The main mistakes when switching to a vegetarian type of diet:

• abrupt and, as a rule, unconscious transition (as a tribute to fashion);
• irresponsible attitude to the diet;
• excessive consumption of carbohydrates;
• excessive consumption of foods with high amounts of phytic acid, which slows down the breakdown of proteins and carbohydrates.

Lydia: After switching to a plant-based diet, you should regularly undergo preventive examinations, take tests and monitor changes in the body.