Our body requires energy for all its functions. From breathing to eating; from the heart beating to repairing worn-out tissues, In fact any physical activities we undertake, involves energy. All that energy comes from food that we eat.
Today vegetarianism, as a form of dieting and healthy lifestyle is becoming more and more popular the world over. Vegetables and fruits, abundant in useful fibres, vitamins and minerals are undoubtedly as a essential part of a healthy diet; but its often seen that initial euphoria over weight loss slowly turns into disappointment, hypertension and depression followed by a disrupted body metabolism and weakening of the immune system.
So before taking up a latest ‘fashionable’ weight reduction programme and passing on that ‘meaty’ goodness, it will be wise to consider both nutritional benefits and risks of the vegetarian diet.
Strictly Vegetarian:
The followers of strictly vegetarianism abstain from all animal products in their diet, substituting them with either fresh or cooked plant based food. Indeed, a strict vegetarian diet is rich in dietary fibre and enhances the removal of harmful substances from intestines, thus substantially reducing risk of atherosclerosis and cancer.
On the other hand, strict vegetarian remain deprived of a good dose of essential ‘constructive’ material- proteins, the main share of which is acquired from animal origin products, which can lead to serious health consequences as blood pressure problems, infertility, impotence etc.
Semi vegetarianism:
Semi vegetarian diets primarily consist of vegetarian food, though occasional exceptions are made for some non vegetarian food, including fish and other sea food, milk products(lactose- vegetarianism), eggs(ovo- vegetarianism) and honey. Thanks to sea food, this diet offers a good source of easily digestible proteins, vitamin A , D, E and nutritionally importantly omega-3 fatty acids, which not only benefits the heart of healthy people but also significantly reduce the risk of sudden death caused by cardiac arrest. in comparison with strict vegetarianism, this diet has more optimal nutritional values. Exclusion of milk and eggs from one’s meal ratio can cost the deficiency of vitamins B12 and D, calcium and iron, but supplementing a diet with fish and sea food helps eliminates possible risks to health.
Raw food diet
Raw food diet enthusiasts of this diet completely exclude animal origin food form their diet which includes raw vegetables, nuts and nut paste, grains and legume sprouts, seeds, plant oils, sea vegetables, herbs and fresh juices. The meal is mostly raw with the exception of bread, cooked from whole garin flour without adding yeast.
Those following this diet must ensure that their intake if vitamin B12 is adequate, since it is by bacteria and does not occur reliably in plant foods. Its deficiency can result in anemia and neurodegenerative diseases. Besides, this type of food is not recommended to people suffering from allergies, especially those sensitive to certain proteins.
Any diet can offer benefits if followed properly. Make sure your diet includes a variety of foods to meet all nutritional requirements. As long as one consumes enough calories and supplements missing vitamins, going veg may give provide the results you already have been looking for.
Author: Sarah K writes articles on food and drink for The KM Network’s websites. She has diverse interests and also writes articles on fashion and articles on home and family. This article is the property of The KM Network and prior approval is required for republishing this article.
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