Don't go to extremes with a vegetarian wellness diet.

Introduction: A while ago, my neighbor in her 30s passed away from stomach cancer, and everyone who knew her sighed in lament. "She never touched any meat at all and was very health-conscious. How could she get cancer?" A nutritionist stated that the key to health maintenance is balance. Excessively pursuing a vegetarian diet, eating only vegetables and fruits, leads to incomplete nutrition and inevitably causes illness, so how can it be considered health maintenance?

The lack of one nutrient can lead to one disease

who eat vegetarian food are not only strong and healthy but can also live longer, which has strengthened many people's belief in vegetarianism for health. However, the way people practice vegetarianism varies. Those with a more relaxed diet, in addition to vegetables, fruits, and staples, also eat legumes, and even foods without blood like eggs and milk. Those with stricter diets not only avoid meat but also exclude green onions, ginger, garlic, and other such foods from their diet.

A broad definition of vegetarianism is acceptable. Because legumes, eggs, and milk can provide sufficient high-quality protein and other vitamins and minerals the body needs. Even without eating meat, a balanced diet can be achieved. However, a narrow vegetarian diet can lead to nutritional deficiencies, causing metabolic disorders in the body and a series of diseases. Research suggests that a lack of one nutrient can lead to one disease, such as scurvy from a lack of vitamin C, dermatitis from a lack of essential fatty acids, and goiter from a lack of iodine. Furthermore, such vegetarians often don't consume enough staples, which can lead to insufficient energy, and over the long term, may even result in anorexia.

Eating more whole grains: a two-sided view

Vegetarian diets contain a considerable amount of whole grains. Fiber has the effect of reducing fat intake, which is one of the reasons why modern people, who often overeat, frequently choose to eat vegetarian. However, to live on a vegetarian diet and specifically choose high-fiber whole grains is considered very inappropriate by experts.

First, let's talk about the benefits of eating whole grains: one, it increases fecal volume in the large intestine, promotes intestinal peristalsis, and speeds up bowel movements, thereby reducing the incidence of colorectal cancer; two, it can decompose short-chain fatty acids in the large intestine, which has the effect of nourishing the intestinal tract; three, it can slow down the speed of food intake, similar to the principle of a filter. However, while harmful things are filtered out, beneficial things are also filtered out.

Eating a lot of whole grains also leads to significant loss of nutrients such as calcium, iron, and zinc. Moreover, excessive fiber constantly rubbing against the gastrointestinal mucosa can cause wear and tear on the digestive tract, leading to gastritis, stomach ulcers, and other issues. For a gastrointestinal wall that is already damaged, long-term friction and stimulation could potentially lead to cancer. Therefore, the pros and cons of eating more whole grains must be viewed from two sides, and it cannot be seen as an absolute good.

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