The reasons to start a vegetarian diet, whether thinking of a healthier alternative for the body as an ethical position against animal abuse, is a challenge in terms of organizing an adequate food plan to avoid the risks of a bad diet.
It is known that there are critical nutrients in a vegetarian diet. First of all, I would like to mention proteins, since vegetable proteins are less digestible and generally have a lower biological value, which is why a diet requires a combination of vegetable protein sources.
Another important nutrient is iron, since its availability and absorption is hindered in the vegetarian diet. Vitamin B12 of vegetable origin is not active in humans, therefore, we should supplement adequately.
Calcium is a very special nutrient, because it has many functions in the body, one of the main ones being to form part of bone tissue. Special planning will be required to maintain an adequate supply during bone development.
In the different stages of life our organism requires some nutrients in a particular way. These will have to be considered to accompany these different biological moments. Adolescence and pregnancy are two situations particularly in need of nutritional evaluation and advice.
The initial study of a vegetarian patient will require a complete physical examination, a body composition study and sufficient laboratory analysis to understand the situation in as much detail as possible and to plan his or her diet and necessary supplementation.
