What is Bad About Being a Vegetarian?

Vegetarianism is a lifestyle choice that has both its pros and cons. Like every diet it is not for everyone and some people will find it to be too restrictive for their health concerns and lifestyle. If you are considering becoming a vegetarian to lose weight or to improve your health, then you need to learn what is bad about being a vegetarian.

You Can Be a Fat Vegetarian

One misconception about being a vegetarian is that it will automatically make you thin. This is not the case. In fact, it is very easy to gain weight on a vegetarian diet as many vegetarian foods are starchy, contain fat and contain concentrated calories. For example, nuts are a tasty source of vegetarian protein, however, they are high in calories and fat. They also have a tendency to be salted which can impact water retention in your tissues. Many vegetarian foods also tend to be full of starches, which when eaten in excess can lead to weight gain and blood sugar problems.

Malnutrition Is a Concern

Another health problem that can occur when you are a vegetarian is malnutrition. This occurs when you limit your vegetarian diet to too few types of foods. Iron and protein, in particular, can be missing from unbalanced vegetarian diets. Too few calories can also caused a problem for your health. This is caused by not eating enough vegetarian foods to sustain your body with the calories that it needs to function.

Limitations

One of the biggest drawbacks to being a vegetarian is that you have limitations on what you can eat. This can make traveling, eating at a friend's or family member's home and eating out difficult to do. You can overcome these problems by selecting restaurants that have vegetarian menus or by bringing your own food with you when you go to someone's house for dinner. However, this can make dining out a more work than it is generally worth.

Anemia Issues

If you are anemic being a vegetarian can cause problems. Since meat is a big supplier of iron for most people, vegetarians are at a disadvantage. The problem is complicated when you are anemic and need large amounts of iron to stay healthy. This problem can be overcome by taking iron supplements and by eating vegetarian sources of iron.

Pregnancy Concerns

It is very difficult to manage the health of your pregnancy when you are a vegetarian, although not impossible. You really need to focus on managing the protein, calcium and iron in your diet when you are pregnant. Usually you will need to work with your doctor and a nutritionist if you want to maintain a vegetarian lifestyle while you are pregnant. In many cases everything will work out fine if you make small modifications to the vegetarian foods that you select and if you take a prenatal vitamin that has extra iron.