In recent years, vegetarianism has become more popular among young people and older people. Some people choose plant foods in order to lose weight and get the figure of their dreams. Others refuse meat for personal reasons. And while many vegetarians boast of excellent wellness and wonderful health, this diet is not for everyone.
On the one hand, fruits and vegetables have a beneficial effect on the intestines. They stimulate peristalsis and normalize the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, they contain phytoncides that destroy harmful bacteria. Such people rarely have cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, gallstones and kidney stones.
But on the other hand, the human body needs proteins in one way or another. During the Ice Age, when there was little plant food, our ancestors were saved only by hunting. Now our body cannot do without proteins, rare amino acids, and they can only be obtained from meat products. In addition, meat contains many trace minerals, including iron. Of course, it is also present in the fruits of plants, but our digestive system does not know how to assimilate it from plant foods. And finally, if you are used to eating a lot, then you shouldn't eat the same amount of fruits and vegetables. Indigestible fiber puts too much stress on the digestive tract.
In order not to spoil your health, it is better to stick to a mixed diet and in no case switch to a raw food diet. Vegetarians can get their missing proteins from mushrooms, legumes, nuts. And iron deficiency can be replenished with buckwheat, seafood, cottage cheese, eggs. Sometimes you can eat poultry. Together with fish, it will provide the body with polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Moderate vegetarianism is good for most adults. Such diets are good for overweight and metabolic patients. But you need to gradually switch to eating vegetables and fruits. Those who are engaged in heavy physical work (for example, athletes or construction workers) are prohibited from giving up meat. Also, a vegetarian diet is contraindicated in children, adolescent girls who have started their periods, pregnant women and nursing mothers, people suffering from anemia, hypotension, gastritis, diseases of the pancreas and thyroid gland.
