Advantages and Disadvantages of Being Vegetarian
Deciding to become a vegetarian is a good decision because of the numerous health benefits. A vegetarian diet can help reduce cholesterol as well as blood pressure. In addition, it can also help prevent the development of heart disease.
Other health benefits when going vegetarian includes the decrease in the risk of development colon cancer, prevention of constipation, and weight loss.
Vegetables and fruits are the vital elements of a vegetarian diet, and these provide your body with the essential vitamins and minerals that can help boost your immunity, produce glowing skin, and promote overall health.
Although there are a lot of health benefits, it is important that you know the advantages and disadvantages of a vegetarian diet to help you make an informed decision.
What are the Different Food for Vegetarians?
When going vegetarian, you generally have to avoid fish, chicken, and meat in your diet while focusing on plant-based food. A vegetarian's diet is high in fiber and low in saturated fat.
There are three basic kinds of vegetarians:
- Vegans – They are also known as total vegetarians because they avoid all kinds of animal meat as well as animal products such as eggs, butter, and even milk.
- Lacto-ovo-vegetarians – They avoid meat, but they consume eggs, milk, and other milk products.
- Lacto-vegetarians- They consume milk and milk products but avoid all types of meat.
What you need to remember is that a vegetarian diet is high in fiber and low in fat. But even if it is a healthy way of eating, it is very important that you carefully plan your diet. For instance, include fortified food in your diet so that you won't experience any kind of nutrient deficiency.
Disadvantages When Following a Strict Vegetarian Diet
1. Inadequate protein intake
Being vegetarian would mean eating lesser meats, so you have very limited protein intake. This is one of the biggest problems because protein plays an essential role in our body. It is the building block, so we need it for the reconstruction of our muscles.
Vegetarians can still get their protein from other vegetables and for some, from milk and eggs. The problem with this protein source is that it has a different composition from the proteins found in meat.
With low levels of protein, your skin would look dull and unhealthy, and your wounds would take a long time to heal.
2. Insufficient oils
Proteins are not the only thing we get from meat because it also contains essential oils. For instance, fatty fish is high in Omega-3, a component needed for your brain to function properly.
Other types of oil found in meat are also essential for healthy hair, nails, and joints.
3. Lifestyle changes
A sudden change to a vegetarian diet is very challenging especially when most people around you are meat eaters. You need to make a lot of adjustments, and you also have to carefully plan your every meal because vegetarian meals are not always available in all restaurants.
Now that you know the different advantages and disadvantages of a vegetarian diet, you can now weigh things and determine if you are capable of making the necessary changes.
To be healthy, you don’t necessarily have to be a vegetarian. You just need to eat a well-balanced diet composed of meats, vegetables, and fruits. It is also recommended to take supplements like Organic and Kosher Certified PURE Freeze Dried Açai Berry Powder Capsules for a boost in antioxidants.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to treat, diagnose, or cure any diseases