How Are A Vegetarian s Diet And Health Connected?
When it comes to a vegetarian s health, diet affects a great deal, just like with any other person. However, it s true that a vegetarian s diet affects health a tiny bit more because vegetarians typically deal with more health risks related to their diet. There are many ways that a vegetarian s diet and health is very closely connected.
Negative Ways A Vegetarian s Health And Diet Are Related
There are a few ways that a vegetarian s diet and health are connected negatively. As most people are no doubt aware, vegetarians who don t supplement their diets always suffer from vitamin deficiencies. First, protein deficiency is a common way that a vegetarian s diet affects their health. Lack of protein occurs because protein comes from cheese or eggs and some vegetarians don t eat either of these things, which leads to lack of protein in the body. This also occurs because most foods that vegetarians do eat have incomplete amino acids which again lead to a lack of protein. This increases a vegetarian s health risk for certain things.
Another way that a vegetarian s diet affects their health is B12 deficiency. B12 is found in most animal products which explains why vegetarians lack it. Iron deficiency is also something affected by a vegetarian s diet and health iron is something that is extremely valuable to the human body. Lack of it can cause fatigue, a compromised immune system and even a lower body temperature. Calcium and vitamin-d deficiencies are also very common.
Positive Ways A Vegetarian s Health And Diet Are Connected
Luckily, a vegetarian s diet affects their health in many positive ways as well. First, because fruits and vegetables are not processed and cooked to the extent that typical meats are, they actually lower a vegetarian s risk of developing something like cancer. Red meats and processed products actually make it more likely that someone will develop cancer so naturally eating less of it lowers someone s risk of developing it at all.
Another positive way that a vegetarian s diet affects their health is that they have a much lower risk of heart disease. Some studies have placed the reduction rate at as high as 32%, a huge number. This is because again, red meats are known to increase one s risk of developing heart disease so not eating any means you do not have the risk. There are even ways that a vegetarian s diet affects their health that nobody realizes their risks of stroke and diabetes, for instance, is significantly lowered as well.
