Vegetarian Diet Consequences

Vegetarian Diet Consequences: Overview

Some people still worry about the ease with which a vegetarian diet can provide all essential nutrients.  The fact is, as hundreds of millions of healthy vegetarians around the world demonstrate, it is very easy to have a well-balanced diet with vegetarian foods.

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Vegetarian foods provide plenty of protein; careful combining of foods is not necessary.  Any normal variety of plant foods provides more than enough protein for the body's needs.  Although there is somewhat less protein in a vegetarian diet than a meat-eater's diet, this is in fact an advantage.  Excess protein has been linked to kidney stones, osteoporosis, and possibly heart disease and some cancers.  A diet focused on beans, whole grains, and vegetables contains adequate amounts of protein without the "overdose" most meat-eaters get.

Calcium is easy to find in a vegetarian diet.  Many dark green leafy vegetables and beans are loaded with calcium, and some orange juices and cereals are calcium-fortified.  Iron is plentiful in whole grains, beans, and fruits.

Vitamin B12 is a genuine issue for strict vegetarians (vegans), although very easy to deal with.  Traditionally, getting this vitamin has not been difficult.  In cultures with plant-based diets, the microorganisms that produce B12 grow in the soil and cling to root vegetables, and traditional Asian miso and tempeh contain large amounts of the vitamin.  But with industrialized production and improved hygiene, this source of B12 has been eliminated.  Meat-eaters get B12 through microorganisms living in the animals they eat.

Although cases of B12 deficiency are very uncommon, it is important to make sure that one has a reliable source of the vitamin.  Good sources include all common multiple vitamins (including vegetarian vitamins), fortified cereals, and fortified soymilk.  It is especially important for pregnant women and breast-feeding mothers to get enough vitamin B12.

During pregnancy, nutritional needs increase.  The American Dietetic Association has found vegan diets adequate for fulfilling nutritional needs during pregnancy, but pregnant women and nursing mothers are advised to supplement their diets with vitamins B12 and D. Most doctors also recommend that pregnant women supplement their diet with iron and folic acid, although vegetarians normally consume more folic acid than meat-eaters.

Vegetarian women have a lower incidence of pre-eclampsia in pregnancy, and significantly more pure breast milk.  Analyses of vegetarians' breast milk show that the levels of environmental contaminants in their milk are much lower than in non-vegetarians.  Studies have also shown that in families with a history of food allergies, when women abstain from allergenic foods, including milk, meat, and fish, during pregnancy, they are less likely to pass allergies onto the infant.  Mothers who drink milk pass cow antibodies along to their nursing infants through their breast milk.  These antibodies can cause colic.

Vegetarian children also have high nutritional needs, but these, too, are easily met by a vegetarian diet.  A vegetarian menu is life-extending.  As young children, vegetarians may grow more gradually, reach puberty somewhat later, and live substantially longer than do meat-eaters.  Do be sure to include a reliable source of vitamin B12.

Risk factors for Vegetarian Diet Consequences:

Medical Procedures

Adjustable gastric banding or biliopancreatic diversion or gastric bypass surgery or sleeve gastrectomy

As with any diet following gastric surgery, vegetarians need to plan carefully to make sure they get all necessary nutrients in their small meals.  During the first 2-3 weeks, the diet must consist of easily-digestible liquid or puréed foods, high in protein and low in sugar, without any solid pieces.  Soft foods are gradually added in, and then eventually, after 3-4 months, regular foods.  Six small meals a day, all food being chewed thoroughly and not swallowed until entirely smooth.  Although vegetarians need not worry so much about consuming tough/rubbery meats or high-fat foods, they do (like everyone else) need to avoid fried foods, sugary foods, junk food, and sticky foods.  Vegetarians need to be especially careful to avoid crunchy foods such as raw fruits & vegetables, and nuts.

Symptoms - Food - Preferences

Vegetarian Diet Consequences suggests the following may be present:

Parasites

Counter-indicators
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Vegetarian Diet Consequences can lead to:

Male-Specific

Male Infertility (Low Sperm Count)

October 2014: A study at Loma Linda University Medical School in southern California has found that men who do not eat meat have significantly reduced sperm counts.  Comparing 443 omnivores with 26 vegetarians and five vegans, they found that vegetarians and vegans had significantly lower sperm counts compared with meat eaters – 50 million sperm per ml compared with 70 million per ml.  Average sperm motility (the percentage that are active) was lower too: only one-third of sperm were active for vegetarians and vegans compared with nearly 60% for omnivores.

Various theories have been proposed to explain this reduced fertility: possible vitamin deficiencies (such as vitamin B12); increased use of soy (contains phyto-estrogens); increased pesticide consumption through a diet high in fruits and vegetables.

Another study at the Massachusetts General Fertility Centre looked at the sperm quality of 155 men.  It confirmed that those with the highest intake of fruit and vegetables had 70% lower quality and 68% lower sperm motility.

Recommendations for Vegetarian Diet Consequences:

Amino Acid / Protein

Not recommended

Animal-derived

Not recommended

Diet

Not recommended

Laboratory Testing

Test for B12 Levels

For longer-term vegetarians who have not been careful about consuming enough B12 (in the form of supplements or fortified foods), it may be wise to have B12 levels assessed and to consider dietary supplementation.  About 25% of all ovo-lacto vegetarians have a functional B12 deficiency, meaning their homocysteine is too high.

Mineral

Iodine

Vegetarians who don't eat sea vegetables or use iodized salt should consider supplementing their diet with iodine.  Using excess salt is not good for the bones, but if you do use table salt, use iodized salt.

Zinc

Vegetarians may need as much as 50% more zinc than non-vegetarians because of the lower absorption of zinc from plant foods, so it is very important for vegetarians to include good sources of zinc in their diet.

Vitamins

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamine)

B12 supplementation is generally recommended for those on a vegetarian diet.

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