Nutritional Advice For Vegetarian Diets
Are you following a vegetarian diet but are concerned on whether or not you are getting enough nutrients for optimal health? Or perhaps you have recently learned about a vegetarianism and are curious to find out how you can adopt it as a lifestyle?
Let's start at the beginning. A vegetarian is someone who for ethical, health or other reasons does not consume meat, fish or poultry. They also may or may not choose to consume eggs and dairy products.
The benefits of a vegetarian diet include achieving a healthy weight, low cholesterol, blood pressure & blood glucose levels, as well as improving overall health. This is largely thanks to an increase in fibre and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), and a decrease in saturated fat consumption.
Research consistently shows that a vegetarian diet can be an extremely healthy lifestyle choice if followed in a nutritionally balanced way. Unfortunately, many people have not done their research on what their body needs, and cut out foods from animal origin and haven't replaced those nutrients with other plant-based food sources. This can be dangerous in the long-term and can result in malnutrition and nutritional deficiencies.
Some common nutrients which can be lacking in a vegetarian diet include:
- Calcium
- Protein
- Omega 3 (EPA and DHA)
- Iron
- Vitamin B12
By consulting with one of our expert registered Dietitians, you will equip yourself with the knowledge of a nutritionally balanced vegetarian diet and reach your health goals.
Consultations can cover (but is not limited to):
- Vegetarian pregnancy
- Sports nutrition as a vegetarian athlete
- Disease prevention with a vegetarian diet
- Weight gain with a vegetarian diet
