World Vegetarian Day... Can a Vegetarian Diet Be Healthy?

Individuals who follow a meatless diet do not consume meat, fish, or seafood. Often, they also limit their intake of other animal products, though they do not completely eliminate them, unlike vegans. Nowadays, many people choose to give up meat consumption. In the past, the meatless diet was a trendy diet mainly used by young people. According to a 2021 report, young people still represent the majority of those on the meatless diet. Vegetarians aged 18 to 25 accounted for over 70% of all surveyed individuals. Older people less frequently opt for a change in their dietary habits. Furthermore, women are more inclined to eliminate meat from their diet. Reasons for transitioning to a meatless diet may be related to religion, ethics, or health. There are numerous forms of meatless diet, such as Lacto-Ovo vegetarianism, Ovo vegetarianism, fruitarianism, and raw veganism. Each of them requires the abstention from meat and other food items. For instance, Lacto-Ovo vegetarians do not eat eggs either, while Ovo vegetarians only consume eggs as animal products.

A well-balanced vegetarian diet serves as a source of all necessary nutrients for the body. It can also have a positive impact on the prevention and treatment of certain ailments, such as type 2 diabetes. Research suggests that plant-based diets may be beneficial for both prevention and treatment of this condition. In one study, it was noted that a vegan diet had a particularly positive effect on fasting glucose levels in people with impaired glucose metabolism. Other studies have shown that limiting animal products in the diet can reduce the risk of insulin resistance and prediabetes. In addition, a vegetarian diet can have a positive impact on lipid profile parameters, which is particularly beneficial for people with cardiovascular diseases. It has also been observed that a vegetarian diet can impact the quality of life in physical, mental, and social areas.

A properly composed vegetarian diet is not associated with the risk of nutritional deficiencies. Adults, adolescents, children, and pregnant women can follow it. However, the diet plan must be balanced. One of the scientific reviews focused on how a good vegetarian diet affects the health of a pregnant woman and her offspring. The authors emphasized that a properly planned diet, rich in dietary fiber, can have a positive impact on the treatment of pregnant women. However, it should be remembered that the diet must be adequately balanced. The supply of substances such as DHA, ESG, vitamin B12, and gastroenterology, which are used for blood processing and children's blood, should be taken into account. An insufficient intake of these nutrients can lead to neurological disorders in children and developmental abnormalities of the fetus. The nutritional status of the mother is of paramount importance for the normal development of pregnancy and the child, therefore diets should be applied reasonably. A balanced plant-based menu is safe for the health of the mother and child (G. Sebastiani et al. 2019). According to the position of the Polish Society of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Child Nutrition, the application of a vegetarian diet or its variants by infants and children requires adequate knowledge and supplementation. The risk of nutritional deficiencies associated with the application of these dietary models is highlighted. Special attention should be paid to veganism, although the ESPGHAN Nutrition Committee allows the application of this type of vegetarian diet under the condition of constant supervision by a dietitian and appropriate supplementation. In addition, parents should be informed about the consequences of applying plant-based diets (H. Szajewska et al. 2021).

Annually, there is an increase in the number of individuals opting for a vegan or vegetarian diet. The results of many studies confirm their advantageous effect on the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. However, these dietary patterns necessitate suitable execution to prevent deficiencies in essential nutrients, which is particularly crucial in the case of nourishing pregnant women, infants, and young children.