How does vegetarian nutrition affect human health? The benefits and harm of vegetarianism

In the press and on television, stories dedicated to a reverent topic regularly appear: "So eat meat or not?"
Eat or not - let's try to figure out the article.

Statistics of the World Health Organization: every seventh resident of our planet is a vegetarian.

And there are more and more of them. The world is gradually divided into those who eat meat and those who do not eat meat. Vegetarians and meat -eaters have a huge number of arguments in favor of the power system they have chosen. And the truth, as always, is somewhere in the middle.

This article is an overview of the main “pros” and “against” vegetarianism and meat -eating. At the very beginning of the conversation, it is worth noting that each human body is individual and what is acceptable to one person can be death like another.

In addition, by default it is assumed that the diet of meat -eaters and vegetarians consists of organic foods. Arguments about the dangers of pesticides (in vegetables) and growth hormones (in meat) in the article are not considered.

Background. The origins of vegetarianism

A conscious rejection of food of animal origin has a thousand -year history and was originally associated with religious posts. It is generally accepted that the abandonment of meat is the first step on the path to spiritual enlightenment. For these reasons, the monks exclude the food of animal origin from the diet, and many religions practice religious posts.

Interesting fact. The average number of lean days in the Orthodox calendar is 180-200 out of 365 days a year. Impressive?

But fasting is a rejection of meat, milk and sour milk products, eggs. The menu of a fasting menu of Vegan (veganism is the toughest form of vegetarianism). Nevertheless, both meat -eating days and meat -eating week were accepted in Orthodoxy.

But the development of vegetarianism was impetus not Orthodoxy. It is believed that in the Buddhist monasteries of India and China, religious posts have the longest practice. The spread of oriental religions caused such an unprecedented popularity of the vegetarian power system.

The beginning of vegetarianism laid the fundamental principle of Buddhism - Achimsa - a way of life that reduces world evil. You can formulate Achims as follows: "Do not cause harm to living."

This involves the refusal to eat not only the red meat of animals, but also the white meat of the poultry, as well as fish and seafood. Vegans voluntarily refuse to use all animal products, including honey and eggs.

However, there is one “but”. Achimsa involves the refusal to eat living creatures specially killed for food, and not meat in general. That is, there is no categorical ban on eating animal products in Buddhism. Only some religious trends of Buddhism (for example, Zen-Buddhist monasticism) are completely vegan.

Modern vegetarianism in most cases is a tribute to a fashion trend, far from religious beliefs. And a person who claims that he is a vegetarian does not always understand what he is talking about.

In addition to vegetarianism, there are several more power supply systems based on a conscious rejection of certain products

What is the benefit of vegetarianism for the body? Arguments of vegetarians and contrargans of meat -eaters

Despite the universal popularity of all forms of vegetarianism, official medicine recognizes the transition to food exclusively plant origin only as an element of fasting nutrition and does not recommend refusing to eat meat completely. The main argument - “distortions” in the diet can lead to a deterioration in the state of health

According to dietitian doctors, “correct”, i.e. Balanced, plate of an adult should look like this

Protein

The meat and food of animal origin occupy not the last place in a person’s diet and serve as a source of healthy protein (protein).

This statement causes a storm of emotions among vegetarians “with experience”. Their argument is extremely simple: a person can get the necessary proteins from plant foods

Reference Information. The daily protein consumption rate is about 1 g of protein per 1 kg of human weight and depends on the age, height, body weight index and the level of physical activity of a person.

The more physical activity the body receives, the more protein it needs.

But if for the consumption of the daily norm of proteins to an adult, it is enough to eat 300-400 g of meat, then plant products will have to be consumed in kilograms.

Important: in order for the animal protein to go through all the stages necessary for its processing and withdrawal from the body, it needs water. The ratio of protein and water should be 1:42. Meat eaters need to drink clean water!

Important: vegetable protein is “preserved” in the seed. That is why it is preferable to eat sprouted grains in which the protein is in a more digestible form.

In addition, the structure of vegetable protein differs from proteins of animal origin, which affects the indicator of their biological value for the human body.

The assimilation of proteins consumed is:

100% - chicken egg (without yolk)
95% - chicken egg (with yolk)
90% - Coathered milk
83% - fresh milk
79% - chicken
76% - beef
76% - fish
75% - cottage cheese
74% - soy
65% - beans, peas
63% - buckwheat
57% - peanuts
52% - wheat

Interesting fact. Among people who prefer vegetarianism, there are many those who have low or zero acidity of the stomach. It is really difficult to digest meat food to their organisms.

Toxins

The argument of vegetarians: the consumption of meat and food of animal origin increases the amount of toxins in the body.

Toxins

• accelerate the aging process of the body
• negatively affect the functioning of the digestive tract and other vital systems
• the brain and nervous system, etc. are poorly affected.

In addition to food products, toxins are sources

• air
• water
• helminths, pathogenic bacteria and viruses
• adverse environment

The main toxin, which is synthesized by the human body due to the consumption of fish, liver and meat is uric acid. Exceeding the norm of uric acid in the body can provoke the deposition of uric acid salts in the joints and cause gout

But the source of uric acid can be plant products, for example, peas, lentils, arachis, sunflower seeds or buckwheat.

Thermal resistance

Vegetarians argue that the abandonment of meat surprisingly affects the body's ability to quickly adapt to low temperatures. However, this is not confirmed by any medical study. The body's ability to transfer low temperatures is most likely not dependent on whether the meat is present in the diet or not.

Endurance and heart

Numerous studies prove that the hearts of vegetarians are more enduring. At the same time, the lack of certain trace elements and vitamins of the "animal" origin

• gland
• omega-3 fatty acid
  vitamin B12
• zinc

worsens the general condition of the heart.

The body can receive iron and other microelements from plant foods, but the “meat” option is preferable, since it has a structure that is almost completely absorbed by the human body.

Vitamin B12, which is only in meat, the human body can synthesize independently, but only if there is a healthy intestinal microflora.

Aging

"We are getting older!" - say vegetarians. And in this remark there is a certain share of truth.

Plant food is rich in antioxidants. These substances neutralize the effect of free radicals, which can slow down the aging of the body at the cellular level.

The aging of the body is also associated with the gradual loss of collagen. Collagen, as suitable for a person in structure, can only be found in animal products. Fragmentation of collagen leads to the loss of elasticity of the skin, walls of blood vessels, etc.

Interesting fact. More “young” collagen is observed in those whose diet consists of low -calorie foods

Aggressiveness

There is an opinion that meat -eaters are more prone to violence, are often irritable and aggressive. Is it so?

The most unbalanced and very bloody character, known for his hysterical performances, is Adolf Hitler. He loved animals very much, especially his two German shepherds, and often quoted: "The more I recognize people, the more I love dogs." Some biographers claim that the great Fuhrer was a vegetarian. The reverent love for our smaller brothers did not prevent Hitler from becoming one of the most bloody leaders of world history.

Let's get back to the present. German scientists Thomas Bronisha and Jourgen Brunner from the Max-Planck-Intitut für psychiatrie /Institute of Psychiatry of the Society of Max Planck (Germany) argue that cholesterol, which is so rich in meat, improves mood. Plant products practically do not contain this substance. The lack of cholesterol leads to impulsive, often aggressive behavior, causes depression.

This is how the overall picture of “pros” and “against” vegetarianism looks. But the male and female body differs in their physiology. How does vegetarianism affect men and women?

The benefits of vegetarianism for the health of men

We are talking about vegetarianism, so we will give the protein of animal origin to meat -eaters. The main source of protein, so necessary for men, adherents of vegetarianism are called Soy.

Soya - a product that at the beginning of the twentieth century attributed simply a magical effect on the body of women, thanks to the high content of female phytoestrogens:

• genastin
• dazein
• glyciteine \u200b\u200b(accumulates in the seedlings)

The male body also produces estrogens. So they are necessary for the health of a man?

Answer: "Yes!" But with a small reservation. With age, the number of estrogens in the male body begins to prevail (even without the use of soy).

It leads to:

• reducing testosterone production
• change in weight in the direction of increase. Men begin to get along the female type (remember Indian men with rounded forms even at a young age)
• depression
  worsening stress resistance
• impaired sexual function

It would be unfair to dispose of all responsibility for hormones exclusively on Soy.

Phytoestrogen also contains

• such a beer beloved by men (hence the "beer tummies")
• pitter plants

The photo below shows products that have a beneficial effect on the reproductive function of the male body.

As you can see, there are also excess products of animal origin.

However, vegetarianism is useful for men. American researchers from Loma Linda University/University of Loma Linda (USA) believe that vegetarianism can protect men from prostate cancer, and in its most rigid form (without milk and eggs).

Scientists made this conclusion by conducting an examination of 26 thousand volunteers aged “30+” and analyzing the diet of their diet. The vegans had the chances of getting prostate cancer was 30% less than the rest of the volunteers.

The benefits of vegetarianism for women's health

The female body has a thinner “setting”. Maybe that's why women are more often inclined to the transition to the vegetarian menu. However, this transition is not always useful for a woman.

Her health directly depends on the health of the reproductive system in general and the ovaries in particular. In addition, the female body should:

• conceive
• take out
• give birth to a healthy child

• There are also animal products and they can be replaced with vegetables and fruits. But doctors around the world urgently ask for the period of conception and bearing the baby (up to his birth) to abandon strict vegetarianism
• The baby's body will take everything necessary from the mother’s body - this is how nature is arranged. But what will happen to the body of a woman bearing a child? After all, a heavier, taking away a lot of strength, is awaited ahead of her, work - childbirth
• Fresh vegetables and fruits cannot be the basis for nutrition of a nursing mother. Moreover, many products, even after heat treatment, cannot be used by a woman during lactation
• That is why the mother’s menu should be carefully thought out and well balanced. Gynecologists and pediatricians recommend that during this period, animal food products in the diet are included in the diet of women
• And this is not about meat. Its absence can be quite compensated by the presence in the diet
• fish
• high -quality dairy and dairy products

The main thing is to listen to your body and understand its signals.

Important: women in an interesting position or nursing mothers are exempted from compliance with religious posts, since the child’s health always and for all cultures and religions had a priority.

How is the health of hair and vegetarianism related?

• Protein is the main resource for building a new cell. In fact, a person consists of protein and water. Proteins are necessary for the normal functioning of all systems of the human body
• Proven fact: as soon as the body feels a deficiency of any substance, it blocks the saturation of some organs for the normal functioning of other, more important
• So, with a lack of protein, the heart and internal organs, the skeleton, etc. become priority for survival. The first in protein blockade are hair, nails, skin
• Many vegetarians who have not balanced their diet note not only a deterioration in the general condition of the hair, but also their loss. In some cases, the deficiency of protein and other trace elements in combination with stress leads to the occurrence of alopecia (baldness)

The basis for the health of the hair should be the following products

The benefits of vegetarianism for the skin

• The skin also needs protein, or rather, collagen. It is this structural protein that is responsible for the normal functioning of connective tissues and skin. Vegetarians are sure that collagen can be synthesized from plants. Alas, collagen is a product of animal origin and it is impossible to synthesize it from plants
• A substance that manufacturers call a plant collagen - a plant protein containing collagen -like fragments in its structure. The raw materials for the production of such a “collagen” are wheat proteins are served, and it is quite well absorbed by the skin, moisturizing it
• The production of "plant collagen" is very expensive and complex. Cosmetics based on "plant collagen" is not included in the price category of "economy class"

Among the products that the skin loves equally, there are both products of plant and animal origin.

And there are no more if the skin is prone to acne, dermatologists recommend refusing to consume fatty heavy foods. Vegetarianism, of course, launches the process of natural cleansing in the body, which favorably affects the condition of the skin.

Getting rid of acne on vegetarianism

If the pro -Buberant age is long behind, and acne on the face is still present, then the body requires cleansing from the inside.

The first in line for cleansing is the intestines. It is the vegetarian diet containing a large amount of dietary fiber, that is able to restore the natural microflora of our body.

But in the list of products that contribute to cleansing the body, dairy products are necessarily present, which are often the basis for the diet of those who cleanse their body

Another organ requiring attention and periodic cleansing is the liver. A good dermatologist will definitely check the condition of the patient’s liver before starting the fight against acne. Since acne is a consequence, and the cause should be sought deep inside a person.
The liver as an organ of the digestive system loves the vegetarian menu very much and even if you are a convinced meat -eater, you should not refuse vegetarian unloading days. Especially if your skin is far from an ideal state.

The influence of vegetarianism on the joints

Any unbalanced power system negatively affects the human body. The key word "unbalanced." If, when switching to vegetarianism, mistakes were made in the main diet, then health problems, including joints, will appear sooner or later.

Joints need collagen, especially “age” joints. In addition to protein, the joints need easily digestible calcium and iron. All this can provide animal products.

However, joints do not like excess weight. And here, indeed, vegetarianism can help.

Losing weight on vegetarianism. How does vegetarianism affect weight?

So, you can lose weight on the vegetarian menu, but you can gain excess weight! Why? Because a balanced diet involves a clear distribution of the number of carbohydrates consumed, proteins and fats. As soon as the balance is disturbed, problems arise.

But a balanced vegetarian diet is a very good option for monitoring body weight. That is why vegetarianism is considered the right choice for those who suffer from type II diabetes.

Vegetarianism and diabetes

Vegetarianism in this case

• allows you to control the blood sugar level
• promotes weight loss
• allows you to switch to a healthier power system
• reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases
• the level of cholesterol is reduced
• improves the work of the kidneys, so the body ceases to lose protein

Important:
The menu should be balanced!
The transition to the vegetarian diet should take place under the supervision of a doctor!
You need to change the power system slowly!

Brain and vegetarianism

Among vegetarians are a large number of talented people.

Pythagoras
Hippocrates
Aristotle
Leonardo da Vinci
Lev Tolstoy
Jean-Jacques Russo
Albert Einstein
Thomas Edison
Nikolai Drozdov

These names serve as evidence that vegetarianism, at least, does not interfere with brain function.

And if we take into account the opinion of all those who practice meditation and tries to penetrate the highest matters, then vegetarianism becomes one of the conditions for knowing the secrets of the Universe.

The main thing is that vegetarianism does not become violence against its own body and bring it maximum benefit.

Is it possible to recover at vegetarianism: tips and reviews

Scientists have not yet been able to answer the question why for some representatives of the human race the transition to vegetarianism occurs quite naturally and painlessly, while others cause stress and health problems.

Disputes about vegetarianism have been underway for more than forty years and there is no unequivocal answer about the benefits or dangers of this power system.

But, recalling the calendar of Orthodox posts, it should be noted that even convinced meat -eaters should from time to time become vegetarians.

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