Relatively recently, the inhabitants of our countryeveryone began to give up meat, preferring vegetables and fruits. And if at first it was perceived with humor, as another whim of youth and older people, then over time doctors and nutritionists began to sound the alarm. After all, it is this product (pork, beef) that contains substances and microelements necessary for the normal functioning of the human body. Whether vegetarianism is harmful is a controversial issue. In most cases, everything depends on the age, lifestyle, moral beliefs and preferences of a person. No matter how strange it may sound, Homo Sapiens (reasonable man) is an omnivorous creature. It is difficult for someone to overcome themselves and eat a chicken raised and killed on a farm, and someone cannot live without a portion of steak for breakfast. The area where a person lives also plays an important role. If, say, a resident of Africa eats a fatty pork leg for breakfast, then by lunch he will feel ill. His heart will not withstand such a load. At the North Pole, people who eat only imported fruits and vegetables will also not be able to exist normally and will be cold all the time. The same applies to physical activity: vegetarianism and sports are, in most cases, incompatible. Without organic amino acids, a heavyweight or an athlete who has abruptly given up meat will not be able to perform even the simplest exercises.

What is vegetarianism and what does it eat?

In the diet of a true vegetarian, absolutelyThere are no ingredients of animal origin (even milk, eggs). Fish, poultry, meat - all this is strictly taboo. Opinions differ only about one product - honey. Whether to eat it or not - directly depends on the chosen direction. In addition, lovers of all living things do not use clothes made from our smaller brothers, cosmetics that were tested on them. And even some drugs with gelatin and glycerin also remain prohibited. As for the reasons why a person decided to give up such food, there can be several. Starting with ethical, religious, environmental beliefs, ending with a banal lack of money. In some cases, vegetarianism is a forced measure when, due to health problems, the patient is forbidden to eat meat. The situation is worse if a person refuses such food, succumbing to the trend of fashion. Drew Barrymore, Madonna, Kate Winslet - their ideal figures and energy can only be envied. Some beauties who want to look like idols and world stars follow diets and prescriptions of famous people. However, do not forget that the health of these ladies is monitored by experienced specialists who react to any changes in the body of their clients.

Strict vegetarianism: to be or not to be - that is the question

Whether or not to give up meat is a purely personal matterpersonal. Vegetarianism has its pros and cons. Therefore, think carefully about your decision beforehand. And if you still decide to try such an experiment, consult a specialist first. And be sure to undergo a full examination of the body to exclude some risks and identify possible hidden diseases. It is best to switch to vegetables and fruits gradually so as not to cause a malfunction of the digestive system. Try to eat fresh, not frozen foods. As for children, their diet should still include meat (beef, pork or poultry), fish, and milk. Cons of strict vegetarianism Nature intended that a person cannot function normally without meat. A number of amino acids contained in a regular piece of chop or shish kebab cannot be obtained from plant-based products. By excluding this ingredient from the diet and switching to vegetables, grass and fruits, girls risk getting problems with joints and bones. By the way, meat eaters have a calmer character, they almost never have hysterics and breakdowns. Plus, vegetarians, thanks to the huge content of vitamin B and D in their dishes, rarely encounter diseases of the central nervous system. And this is not to mention phosphorus, zinc, iodine and iron. In principle, many useful elements can also be found in apples, carrots, tomatoes. But most of them are practically not absorbed by the human body. Thus, the harm of vegetarianism is undeniable. Vitamin deficiency is the least that awaits people who have given up animal food. Low hemoglobin in the blood, baldness, acne, digestive problems, metabolic disorders and other troubles do not appear immediately, of course. At first, on the contrary, you will feel a surge of strength and vigor. Apathy, irritation, etc. symptoms will arise after six months to a year. The advantages of strict vegetarianism

• Lack of cholesterol

So, the most important advantage of vegetarians isThey are not afraid of cholesterol, the excess of which is deadly to health. The thyroid gland, liver, and heart suffer from it. Representatives of the fair sex, who cannot live without steaks and fried hams, are familiar with atherosclerosis and obesity firsthand. Such food, which has a lot of fat and calories, but practically no useful elements, usually only makes things worse. However, as nutritionists say, if girls cut off the fat and baked dishes without adding oils, spices, and mayonnaise, the harm from the products would be much less.

• Absence of harmful additives

It is possible to seriously discuss the dangers of vegetarianismonly if you eat natural meat grown on a farm. Various chemicals and antibiotics, growth hormones, tranquilizers, waste and additives - such finds are not uncommon even in semi-finished products. Bait is added so that animals eat less, grow faster and behave more calmly. Heat treatment in this case is not a solution. No matter how long you fry chops, stew a ragout and no matter how many times you drain the water when cooking broth, chemicals still get into the body. Also, do not forget that at the moment of killing (slaughter), two rather harmful substances are produced in the animal's body - cortisol and adrenaline. As a result, the meat eater receives not only amino acids, but also hormones that affect the appearance of excess weight.

• High amount of fiber

Eating only vegetables, fruits and grains, vegetariansstock up on quite a large amount of plant fiber. Thanks to this, beauties practically do not suffer from obesity, because the food eaten is digested in a matter of minutes. Heavy meat dishes eaten at night sometimes begin to rot in the stomach. As a result, the meat eater sleeps poorly at night, and in the morning suffers from pain and heaviness in the intestines.

"Wrong" vegetarians: fish, eggs, milk

Non-strict vegetarians who eatdairy products, eggs and fish meat, thanks to a balanced diet compensate for the lack of many elements. Calcium can be obtained from cottage cheese, phosphorus - from hake fillet, crucian carp, flounder, etc. This exception to the rule is explained by the fact that such products can be obtained without harming animals. However, one rather interesting question remains regarding the ethics of partial vegetarianism. In this case, it is difficult to find an explanation why catching fish (sometimes very rare) is permissible, but slaughtering pigs is not. After all, scientists have long proven that sea and ocean inhabitants also feel pain.

Physical work, work and vegetarianism

It is very difficult to force your body to live without meat.to do hard work. However, the fact that vegetarianism and sports go well together has been proven to the world by such great athletes as Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, Venus Williams, Thomas Hellriegel and others. Of course, these people do not eat only oatmeal, they have a rather varied menu.

How to become a vegetarian

So, you've decided to give up meat by followingyour friend or favorite actor? You shouldn't suddenly exclude this healthy product from your diet. In order to switch to fruits and vegetables overnight, you need real endurance. Otherwise, after a week of such a diet, you may break down. It will be much easier to master and accept a new lifestyle if you follow the eight basic rules of a beginning vegetarian.

Make a conscious decision to becomeBecoming a vegetarian to please your loved one is as stupid as cutting your hair for fun. You must understand that from now on your life will change dramatically. You will have to give up your old habits – going to meat kebabs, eating meat salads, etc.

Cook according to special recipes In factYou can easily replace chicken cutlets with oatmeal ones without noticing much of a difference in taste. No need to reinvent the wheel. The simpler and more interesting the recipe, the tastier the dish. It is unlikely that you will be able to eat wheat sprouts or boiled broccoli at first.

Experiment Try at least once a weekcook something new. And don't worry if you don't like the dish. Everyone has their own tastes and preferences. You used to like meat, but after a year and a half or two, you won't even be able to look at it. During this time, you will find so many new and interesting things that you won't even regret your choice. By the way, if you, for example, like salads, try to replace meat with other ingredients. Soy, fish (if you are not a strict vegetarian), mushrooms - all this is not only tasty, but also healthy. You can also cook vegetable kebabs (peppers, eggplants, tomatoes).

Eliminate meat gradually. First, give uppork, then beef, poultry, lamb. Set aside two or three months for everything, no more. It is best to write out a menu for yourself for this period. The main thing in this case is to stick to the established schedule. It is great if you can introduce fish into your diet.

Give up junk food Sometimes vegetarianismmore dangerous than meat eating. Potatoes fried in a huge amount of sunflower oil will be much more harmful than boiled lard. Try to stick to a healthy diet from the very beginning, cook only healthy food. Get a steamer. Such dishes retain all the taste and useful elements, while not containing fat.

Buy vegetable semi-finished products Often womencannot afford to become a vegetarian, as they simply do not have enough time to cook. In this case, vegetable sets in bags will be a great help. The contents can be boiled, fried, baked in the microwave. At the same time, no more than fifteen minutes are spent on everything. The only disadvantage of semi-finished products is their high cost. But in this case, there is an excellent solution to the problem - a refrigerator. In the summer, when peas, carrots, onions, cherries, apricots and other vegetation cost pennies, freeze the products. You can also prepare preserves: compotes, salads, stews.

Go to vegetarian restaurants You shouldunderstand that giving up meat is not the end of the world. You can also visit restaurants, cafes, go to barbecues. It is great if there are vegetarian establishments in your city. But, in extreme cases, you can always ask the waiter what is contained in this or that dish.

Get regular medical check-upsGiving up meat is a serious stress for the human body. It is very difficult to predict how your body will behave in one case or another. Therefore, to exclude the risks of serious diseases, it is recommended to visit your doctor at least once every six months.

When it is dangerous to give up meat

If you are pregnant or planning to be pregnantsoon to have a child, wait a little. The biggest harm of vegetarianism is the lack of vitamins and minerals. Any specialist will say that glucose, fructose and other elements must be present in your diet. Unfortunately, bananas, tangerines, apples, grapes and other goodies are not cheap these days, even in summer many of them are not affordable for everyone. Therefore, if you cannot afford alternative options, you should not experiment with your health. We recommend reading:

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