There are a lot of vegetarians amongst us, some by circumstance
and some by choice. Those that are vegetarians by choice can be
divided into two general groups, those that do not eat meat,
poultry or fish, but do consume dairy products as – in theory –
the animals are not harmed or killed by the gathering of those
products. Vegans, however, use no animal products whatsoever.
There are many health benefits to a planned vegetarian diet, as
opposed to the unplanned vegetarian diets that result from
poverty and a lack of food availability. However, there are also
some special precautions that need to be taken to safeguard
nutrition, as adequate amounts of some of the most important
nutrients can be more difficult to obtain. This is especially
true for those following the more restrictive vegan diet.
The body is a complex and delicate system, and the foundation of
all of its functioning is chemical and electrical actions,
interactions and reactions. The operation of this system rests
firmly upon the balance of these chemicals. The majority of the
chemicals in these essential physical processes come from the
food that we eat, from the nutrients that come from its
consumption. Thus, nutrition has a deep influence of the health
of the body and the quality of its functioning.
Because the brain, like the body, functions on chemical
reactions and electrical impulses, the processes of cognition,
emotion, and so on, are also affected by nutrition. In fact,
deficiencies in certain vitamins and minerals can result in
mental illness and retardation, as well as cognitive dysfunction
and difficulties and emotional instability.
The Vitamin B complex offers a perfect example of how
vegetarians must pay special attention to their diets to ensure
peak performance of body and mind. The Vitamin B complex is
involved with every major system in the body and has a role in
almost every important bodily process. It is essential to mental
health and functioning, and essential to life itself. However,
there are certain Vitamin B complex vitamins that need special
attention by vegetarians, as vegetarians do not consume the
richest sources of these vitamins.
The richest sources of Vitamin B2 are milk and organ meats. It
is available in enriched breads and cereals, but care must be
taken to consume the right amount daily. Niacin and Vitamin B6
are other B complex vitamins in which the richest sources are
meats and, again, are available in smaller concentrations in
enriched breads and cereals. Vitamin B12 is only found in animal
products. It is important to note that vitamin B12, in addition
to being important to the production of red blood cells, is
essential for the normal growth of children.
Nutritional supplements can serve to enhance the health benefits
of the vegetarian lifestyle. Indeed, they can serve to prevent
the serious health consequences that vitamin deficiency can
cause. Nutrition is especially essential for children, as their
minds and bodies are growing and developing. If you are
vegetarian or vegan, you may want to consider the complete, safe
and reliable nutrition that dietary supplements can provide.
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