What you need to know:
- If you do not eat meat, you should monitor your diet and ensure adequate intake of certain nutrients, vitamins and minerals This can be achieved through having a balanced, varied diet and taking supplements, if needed.
While it was pretty frightening to know that butchers around town are using toxic chemicals to preserve the meat in their stalls, it was quite interesting to hear the resolutions a number of people made in light of this discovery.
Some people resolved to buy their beef directly from the abattoirs. This might be a good idea seeing that the meat is contaminated in the butcheries. The more resolute ones, though, have vowed to exclude meat from their diet.
It is a good idea to take on a vegan diet, especially as we grow older or as advised by medical personnel. In fact, by reducing our consumption of red meat, we lower our risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and even cancer.
However, our bodies still need the nutrients they can get from animal products, such as meat, poultry, and fish.
Vitamin B12
This vitamin maintains the normal functioning of the brain, development of red blood cells, and blood flow throughout the body. Catherine Nanozi, a nutritionist, says, “Vitamin B12 is important in blood formation and it can be found in animal products, such as, meat, fish, eggs, and milk. If someone decided to cut meat out of their diet, they should eat a lot of fish to get the vitamin.”
Some of the symptoms of a deficiency in Vitamin B12 include a rapid heartbeat, memory loss, disorientation, and fatigue. “Someone who lacks the vitamin will always feel weak and have a burning sensation in their body,” Nannozi say.
Iron
The body absorbs three times more iron from animal sources than from plant sources. Iron is important in transporting oxygen throughout the blood.
“Iron is also important in blood formation and can be found in red meat, fish, and poultry. Reduced iron levels in the body can lead to one feeling fatigues all the time.”
An iron deficiency may lead to fatigue, dizziness, and headache. You may find yourself craving for weird things such as clay and soil.
Omega 3
An essential fatty acid, omega 3 is important for the normal development and functioning of the brain. A deficiency in this fatty acid can increase your risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and liver damage. “The richest source of omega 3 is fish,” Nannozi says, adding, “This acid is especially important to pregnant women because a deficiency can adversely affect the development of the child’s brain.”
Vitamin D
The sun vitamin is essential to the body and deficiencies can be linked to health conditions, osteoporosis (weak bones), multiple sclerosis, depression, heart disease, and reduced muscle strength in the elderly.
Vitamin D can be got from sunshine but when exposure to sunlight is limited, it must be got from the foods we eat, especially fatty fish and egg yolks.
If you go vegan
Of course, if you choose a vegan diet you will still remain in perfect health. “People on vegetarian diets need to eat foods rich in the nutrients that they would have gotten out of meat,” Nannozi advises, continuing, “Some people can decide to get remove meat from their diet but continue eating dairy products and fish. A diet with these two is ensures that you do not miss out on the all-important Vitamin B12.”
Important foods that can give you the nutrients you would miss out if you stopped eating meat include, beans, dark green leafy vegetables, fortified soy milk, and whole grains.
