Vegetarianism.This phenomenon causes the most controversy and discussion. And it is not surprising - after all, vegetarianism has clearly expressed pros and cons. Supporters of vegetarianism unanimously claim that such a way of eating has a very positive effect on human health. Opponents claim the opposite - they say that supporters of vegetarianism are worsening their health with their own hands. Have you also thought about the fact that it is time to give up food of animal origin? Carefully weigh all the pros and cons. After all, in this way you are radically changing your lifestyle. And the most important question that needs to be answered is - why do you need it?
Causes of Vegetarianism
There are several main reasons whywhich a person can give preference to a vegetarian diet - both giving up only meat products and all plant foods. So, the main ones are:
- Pacifist beliefs
There lived a man, he lived, he didn’t think about anything in particularthought about it. He perceived pork or veal exclusively as a semi-finished product on store shelves. And he didn’t care at all how this semi-finished product ended up there. But then he suddenly realized that he was not the only living creature on our planet, and not only he had the right to life. This could happen under the influence of a variety of factors – from a TV show he watched to witnessing the death of an animal. And the result was a persistent rejection and disgust for meat products.
- Doctor's recommendations
The next most popular reason isvegetarianism is a person's health condition. There are quite a few diseases in which the consumption of any meat products is strictly contraindicated. And doctors are forced to recommend that patients give up meat. Of course, in most cases, after recovery, a person returns to his usual diet. However, not always - some people like a vegetarian lifestyle.
- Curiosity
Another reason is banal curiosity.A person has heard something about vegetarianism somewhere and becomes curious – what is it? As a result, he starts eating oatmeal for breakfast instead of scrambled eggs, and porridge for dinner instead of a cutlet. Some people get tired of it quickly, while others like it. However, following fashion is far from the best motivator. This decision must be approached very thoughtfully.
Varieties of vegetarianism
Some people mistakenly believe thatVegetarianism is a special diet. However, this is not true at all. Rather, vegetarianism can be called a lifelong diet. Do not forget that a radical change in your usual diet will inevitably lead to a radical restructuring of the entire body. That is why you should never resort to vegetarianism for a month or two just to get rid of a few extra pounds. After all, your body will have to completely rebuild itself again - and this is very serious stress. There are several different types of vegetarianism, radically different from each other. Let's try to understand them together:
- Lacto-ovo-vegetarianism
In this case, a person should not eat seafood, poultry, fish or meat under any circumstances. However, all dairy products, eggs and honey can be eaten in unlimited quantities.
- Vegetarianism
This type of vegetarianism allows the consumption of honey and eggs, but prohibits the consumption of poultry, fish and meat.
- Veganism
The strictest form of vegetarianism isit is unacceptable to consume any products of animal origin, even milk, eggs and honey. Moreover, supporters of this type of vegetarianism do not use items made of bones, fat, leather, fur and other things. Of course, these are far from all the varieties of vegetarianism. But, strictly speaking, all of them are just a variety of these three described above.
Cons of vegetarianism
Now let's try to figure out whatVegetarianism has its downsides. It is not for nothing that it has so many opponents! Perhaps vegetarianism really does conceal some danger? Of course, after listening to the supporters of vegetarianism, it may seem that giving up meat is a real panacea and the key to eternal life. But in this situation, the coin has a flip side. For example, doctors unanimously object to veganism. They explain their position by the fact that even the most complete and high-quality plant food cannot replenish the human body's needs for vitamins, minerals, micro - and macroelements. And the most important thing that the absence of animal food is fraught with is a lack of amino acids. And this is dangerous for human health. In addition, plant foods contain a very small amount of protein. And this protein is not the same as animal protein - it practically does not contain some vitamins and, most importantly, saturated fatty acids. That is why supporters of vegetarianism should very carefully approach the choice of their menu - otherwise, the risk of developing vitamin deficiency is very high. And there can be no talk of any benefit to the body. Remember that soy, cereals and legumes contain the most protein and iron. You need to eat at least 100 grams of these products per day. To replenish the body's need for calcium, you need to consume milk, nuts and green leafy vegetables, and to get the required amount of iodine - seaweed. If you do not eat milk and eggs, there is a risk of vitamin B12 deficiency. In order to avoid this, you need to take multivitamin complexes, they will eliminate certain disadvantages of vegetarianism. Your doctor will tell you which ones. In order for the body to receive a sufficient amount of fatty acids, you should include rapeseed and linseed oil in your diet. If you follow these simple rules, the disadvantages of vegetarianism will be minimized. Of course, it is not so easy to create the right diet on your own. Therefore, it makes sense to contact a specialist who deals with the problem of vegetarianism. Or, as a last resort, to a nutritionist. Doing this on your own is quite dangerous.
The Pros of Vegetarianism
With the downsides of vegetarianism, everything is more or lessclear. But vegetarianism would hardly exist if it did not have positive aspects. Moreover, the benefits of giving up meat products were noticed in ancient times. They believed that every kilogram of meat eaten shortens a person's life by one week. Are these conclusions really so unfounded? What are the advantages of vegetarianism? This is exactly what we will figure out now.
- Strengthening immunity
Firstly, plant foods haveseveral very useful properties. Firstly, fruits and vegetables contain a very large amount of vitamin C and beta-carotene. And it is these substances that significantly affect the functioning of the immune system. That is why people whose diet consists mainly of plant foods are much less susceptible to various diseases than others. They manage to stay healthy even during widespread flu epidemics.
- Normalization of digestion
People who eat vegetarian food,practically do not encounter any problems with the digestive tract. This happens due to the high content of plant fibers. Constipation disappears, the intestinal microflora is normalized. After all, the functioning of the entire body as a whole largely depends on the normal functioning of the digestive system. In addition, we must not lose sight of the fact that plant foods contain phytoncides, which block the rotting processes occurring in the intestines.
- Cardiovascular diseases
Some of the most common diseases,which is the main cause of death is cardiovascular diseases. Vegetarians are practically not susceptible to these diseases. Doctors explain this fact by the fact that plant foods do not contain cholesterol, which is most often the cause of the development of this group of diseases. These are generally accepted facts that all doctors without exception agree with. However, these advantages are just what lies on the surface. Vegetarians themselves claim that vegetarianism has many more advantages. Of course, this can be argued for a long time, but you still need to know about them. Surely everyone knows the expression - "you are what you eat." Supporters of vegetarianism unanimously claim that a person who constantly eats animal food inevitably becomes aggressive, irritable and restless over time. It is even believed that the level of intelligence inevitably decreases over the years. However, this information is still not confirmed by anything. And at the cellular level, a person who eats meat accumulates various errors. This happens because animal genetic material constantly enters the body. In addition, even doctors note the fact that as soon as a person stops eating meat products, his complexion improves, and the unpleasant smell from his mouth disappears. Even the body begins to smell differently. After all, the human digestive tract is not designed like that of predators. As you can see, the disadvantages and advantages of vegetarianism are quite significant. Therefore, before making a decision, think it over carefully. You should not make hasty decisions. It is very dangerous to follow the lead of friends or blindly follow fashion. In the end, only what brings pleasure to a person will bring health benefits. Be healthy!
