Being a Vegetarian: Pros And Cons

One wise man said: “We are what we eat.” That is the biggest truth in the world, actually. The food that we consume has a strong effect on our body.

To eat or not to eat…

Some experts state that the color of food we eat is logically related to the parts and organs of human body with the same color.  Moreover, if you consulted some nutritionists, you might have heard that you should ‘eat a rainbow’. The more colored your meal is – the better. Others say that the shape of product should be considered too. For example, a walnut has a positive effect on human’s brain by helping it to work more efficiently, process new information more quickly, and maintain it in order on the ‘shelves’ of your memory. 

Our body needs to consume different products with different dietary supplements to maintain the healthy state in the long run, and produce energy to complete a variety of tasks on a daily basis. It needs to release some chemicals and turn them into certain efficient substances like protein, fats and carbohydrates. Fats and carbohydrates are responsible for your vitality and energy, whereas protein is a builder for your cells and tissues. Moreover, protein can reduce a number of toxins in your body and help your digestive system work better 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If there are any professional nutritionists among my readers, please, be merciful and don’t unsubscribe straight away because of my over-primitive description of how the whole protein-fat-carbohydrate thing works. Instead, I appreciate any clarification from the expert’s point of view. 

Are vegetables enough?

Being a vegetarian implies replacement of some protein- and fat-rich products with alternative plant sources in order to effectively maintain the healthy level of dietary components in your body. If you refuse to eat meat you have to replace it with alternative foods instead – it’s obvious. In this case you can opt for beans, soy and lentils to enrich your body with protein and vitamins. If you are still on your way to becoming a vegetarian, you should know and be ready that this ‘transition’ process will be no plain sailing. 

To make your life easier, I’ve compiled a short list of plant alternatives, which are a great source of fat and protein.

Fat

• nuts and seeds (walnuts, almond, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, etc.)
• avocado
• olive
• coconut

Protein

• lentils
• chickpeas
• buckwheat
• oats

Obviously, scientists’ opinions are divided in this regard. Some name many health benefits of being a vegetarian. They say that such a food-consumption style may result in the reduced risk of chronic illnesses, including heart diseases, cancer, etc. But, of course, to achieve this, it’s not enough to become a vegetarian, you should also maintain a healthy lifestyle – quit smoking and drinking alcohol, go in for sports. 

There’s also the opposite opinion of experts about vegetarianism. It could seem that once you avoid eating meat you could refresh your body and clean or unclog your vessels. But nothing is as simple as you might think. Vegetarians may suffer from mood problems and depression. You may also experience muscle weakness, lack of energy or even deceleration of brain activity.  

What’s more, keeping a vegetarian diet too diverse may hit you in the pocket. Some meat-replacing nutrient-rich products may come at a pretty penny, and may not be available at each and every nearby grocery. 

To conclude, always think twice before experimenting with your organism. Don’t rush into vegetarianism straight away – instead, do it gradually. Remember also that vegetarianism can come with some negative effects, so consult a professional nutritionist first.