Being a Vegetarian or Vegan Could Be Dangerous

There are a few medications I've had to take in the past that interacted poorly with animal proteins. I don't know exactly what the medical terminology for this is, but this medication bonded with certain types of proteins, particularly animal proteins, and what I was told was that the medication, if eaten with animal proteins, would not work.

In fact, one of the medications actually said eating salami, cured meets, and certain cheese could be hazardous to my health. That meant, for the time I was taking the medications, I had to go to a vegetarian diet. Fortunately for me, it wasn't a strict vegetarian diet and I could still have eggs and milk.

However, one thing my nutritionist informed me at the time was that being on a strict vegetarian diet, that is a near-vegan diet, can be very dangerous if you don't do it properly.

If you follow a strict vegetarian diet, you are likely not going to get enough protein or fat in your diet.

Not All Fat Is Bad

We absolutely must have fat in our diets. Vitamins and nutrients can't be absorbed without some soluble fat in our diet. Additionally, and this is particularly true for babies and children, fat is absolutely necessary for proper growth and brain development.

The important part is to cut out trans fats and keep the good fats. Sunflower oils, canola oil and if you are vegetarian but not vegan and you do eat fish, then fish oils. Fatty acids, your Omegas, are good fats for your brain, your body and your diet!

Protein is Essential - Vegetarian Diets are Protein Deficient

Most vegetarian diets are deficient in protein, because most protein comes from meat and animal products, like eggs and chicken and other meats.

There are ways to add protein to a vegetarian diet though without adding meats and without drinking those nasty vegetarian protein shakes or taking those nasty protein pills. Natural protein is always the best. Nuts and seeds can protein good plant-based protein. Legumes are also high in protein. Not sure what a legume is? Here you go:

* Garbanzo beans
* Kidney beans
* Lentils
* Lima beans
* Navy beans
* Soybeans
* Split peas

Some other sources of protein for vegetarian include:

* Artichokes
* Beets
* Broccoli
* Brussels sprouts
* Cabbage
* Cauliflower
* Cucumbers
* Eggplant
* Green peas
* Green pepper
* Kale
* Lettuce
* Mushrooms
* Mustard green
* Onions
* Potatoes
* Spinach
* Tomatoes
* Turnip greens
* Watercress
* Yams
* Zucchini

The protein levels in these vegetables are far less than in animal protein for the same sized servings, so it's important to add these higher protein veggies to your diet as much as possible.

Vegetarian Diets are Dangerous Because Of Low Calcium

Many of the dairy products that provide the best source of calcium are also made form animal products, so vegetarians need to be careful to choose calcium fortified foods when possible. Natural calcium is best, but calcium supplements are better than doing without. Also, consider calcium fortified juices.

Remember, don't avoid fats altogether; just eat good fats, and be sure to add enough protein to you vegetarian diet. Vegetarian diets can be very healthy diets, but they can be just as dangerous as they are healthy if you don't follow them properly.