Vegetarian Diet Health Risks

Authors of a 2014 study found a lower risk of cardiovascular disease in people who followed a vegetarian diet in india.

Vegetarian diet health risks. Compared with other vegetarian diets vegan diets tend to contain less saturated fat and cholesterol and more dietary fiber. Some vegans choose the diet for health reasons but others prefer it for ethical reasons such as avoiding animal cruelty and consuming more sustainable foods. Eight vegan diet dangers 1. A vegan diet is healthy overall but avoiding animal protein can shortchange you on a few nutrients like protein calcium omega 3 fatty acids zinc and vitamin b12 you need.

The benefits of eating plant based diets including vegan and vegetarian diets far exceed small risks in deficiency webmd health news reviewed by brunilda nazario md on november 04. Reasons for following a vegetarian diet are varied but include health benefits such as reducing your risk of heart disease diabetes and some cancers. A vegan diet is a vegetarian eating style but it s completely devoid of animal products including eggs honey and dairy products. Studies in western countries had already produced similar results.

Any diet that involves entirely eliminating multiple food groups can be difficult to follow and it doesn t work for everyone noted jones. Since a vegan diet excludes all forms of animal protein including meat fish eggs and dairy people following a vegan diet often turn to legumes as a plant based protein source. Vegetarian or vegan diets can certainly be healthy but there are some things you need to know to make the switch without losing essential nutrients. Many clients that i work with often believe that veganism or any one diet in particular is the only way to be healthy and that s simply not true.

Eating fresh fruits vegetables legumes and fiber is linked to a lower risk of heart disease 32 42 43 44 45 all of these are generally eaten in large amounts in well planned vegan diets. The vegan diet isn t sustainable or practical for everyone. A vegetarian diet is associated with many health benefits because of its higher content of fiber folic acid vitamins c and e potassium magnesium and many phytochemicals and a fat content that is more unsaturated.