VEGETARIANISM/VEGANISM FOR HEALTH?

To support and regain health, a healthy and balanced diet is indispensable. To follow this formula in line with nature, some turn to vegetarianism or veganism. However, as it is with most lifestyle factors, these formulas also show one or another shortage you have to balance. Read on to learn more about.

THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND

Since mankind has entered our globe the Earth 4 ½ million years ago, support and regain of health depends on laws of nature.
 
Following this basic philosophy, healthy plant based diet with whole food is certainly indispensable. Including those nutrients we find primarily in fruits and vegetables. Additionally to lifestyle factors such as regular exercising, avoiding dehydration and getting enough sunshine for vitamin D. 
 
Organizing this prerequisite in terms of diet, over time 2 movements have taken charge in the life of many citizens: vegetarianism and veganism. Although both sound very similar, they are not quite as such. For following reasons.

Vegetarians

Vegetarians do eat many different fruits, vegetables, grains, seeds, nuts, pulses, etc.
 
Also, they do eat

• dairy products (like milk, cheese, yogurt)
• eggs
• honey

 
However, according to the U.S. Vegetarian Society vegetarians strictly avoid products and byproducts of animal slaughter such as, inter alia,

• meat (like beef, pork, game)
• stock or fat derived from animal slaughter
• animal protein (rennet, gelatin, etc.)
• fish and shellfish
• poultry (chicken, duck, turkey)

 
With respect to this diet profile, we may differ between following types of vegetarians:

• Lacto-vegetarians (because involving dairy products in their diet)
• Ovo-vegetarians (by avoiding dairy products but consuming eggs)
• Lacto-ovo-vegetarians (eating dairy products and eggs)
• Pescatarians (avoiding meat but consuming fish and other seafood)

 
On the other hand,

Vegans

are the more strict version of vegetarianism by avoiding meat products and also their byproducts. Not only in their diet but in their whole lifestyle even like, inter alia, wool, leather goods, beeswax, soaps (and other animal products containing animal fats), latex (as derived from milk proteins), cosmetics (produced from animal products), etc.

LIMITS FOR HEALTH – SCIENTIFICALLY VALIDATED

This implies that, based on research at the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners in Gisborne and the University of Otago in Wellington – both New Zealand – as well as the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and Emory University in Atlanta, GA, both versions (vegetarianism & veganism) may well have certain health benefits in cases of

• weight/obesity
• diabetes
• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• atherosclerosis
• stress
• inflammation
  
• etc.

However, vegetarians have a higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke than profane meat consumers, according to research at, inter alia, the University of Oxford in the UK.
 
Still, to live up to the benefits of vegetarianism, veganism may supplement with certain nutrients to balance the shortage of vegan diet, based on research as follows:

• Vitamin B-12

(Toltori University in Toltori, Japan)

• Omega-3 fatty acids

(University of Southampton in Southampton, UK)

• Iron

(Andrews University in Berrien Springs, MI, USA)

• Calcium     

(Erasmus University College in Brussels & Ghent University in Ghent – both in Belgium)

• Zinc

(University of Sydney in Sydney, Australia)

• Vitamin D

(National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA)

IN A NUTSHELL

To support and regain health, a healthy and balanced diet is indispensable. To follow this formula in line with nature, some turn to vegetarianism or veganism. However, as it is with most lifestyle factors, these formulas also show one or another shortage you have to balance. However, if you follow a certain formula like vegetarianism or veganism or not, it is very important to meet your health requirements, as indicated in this blog. 
 

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DISCLAIMER

All information stated in this blog are for your personal education, and not to replace the advice of your healthcare provider.All information stated in this blog are for your personal education, and not to replace the advice of your healthcare provider.