What are the potential health problems from consuming a vegetarian and vegan diet?
Many people believe that it’s not possible to consume all of your necessary nutrients without meat in your diet. Vegetarian diets can be nutritionally balanced, but it will take some planning to do this. Numerous studies have shown that poor meal planning is the cause of nutritional deficiencies in vegetarian diets, not the absence of animal foods. Well-balanced vegetarian diets have been approved for all stages of life, including pregnant and lactating women, children, adolescents, the elderly population, and competitive athletes. The nutrients for which you are at risk of not getting enough will depend on the foods that you have omitted from your diet. The following are the most common nutrients that may be lacking in a vegetarian diet. Omega-3 fatty acids The American Heart Association recommends “consuming fish (particularly fatty fish) at least two times a week.” The fat in fish provides the essential omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
