One of the most common arguments against maintaining a vegetarian diet is the assumption that you must consume meat to keep a healthy level of protein and other nutrients more easily attainable through animal products. Many people who become a vegan or vegetarian without proper diet research can suffer from protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) or iron deficiency, along with too little zinc, calcium and vitamin B. This can lead to a feeling of weakness, lack of energy, as well as head and muscle aches.
However, with a little research and planning, a vegetarian can keep to amorefull and healthful diet than those who eat meat,withoutbeing deficient in any basic nutritional needs and in many instances, can actually have a more robust immune system due to a higher level of antioxidants.
It’s really as simple as eating a wide variety of foods on a daily basis. There are almost limitless possibilities to experiment with and find the right combinations to form a personal diet plan that you will enjoy and that will give you all of the vitamins that your body requires. You can be as satisfied and fulfilled by your vegetarian diet as any meat-based plan (or more so) while feeling even more energetic and healthy, because you are less likely to consume saturated fats and cholesterol, as well as the hormones that are given to most animals today.
We need to remember simple facts such as:
- Vitamin C helps our bodies absorb Iron
- Vitamin D helps our bodies absorb Calcium (We can get Vitamin D from sunshine!)
- Having all 8 amino acids in your diet is essential for complete Protein (It’s not necessary to have all of them in each meal)
- B12 is the only vitamin a varied plant-based diet cannot provide, but you can find many foods that are B12 fortified (Even in long-term vegans, deficiency is rare)
As inanydiet, balance is the key to eating healthy as a vegetarian or vegan. It may seem complicated to plan your meals with vitamin and mineral contents in mind, all while making sure it willtastegood and you willenjoyit. But don’t let yourself be intimidated, it doesn’t have to be difficult. There are many resources available to help experiment with all of the possibilities a plant-based diet has to offer.
You can start with recipes and plans already prepared by others who have done the research for you, such as one of the many eBooks on offer at the various web sites. I have included a couple of links to vegetarian recipes to help as you learn how to balance your own meals and create the right plan to suit your personal needs and tastes!
