Currently a lot of talking is going on about vegetarian foods and turning to a vegetarian. While being a vegetarian has its own benefits, it is not surely the only mantra to a good health.
Non-veg foods surely have their disadvantages but there are some important advantages too, that should be counted over the vegetarian foods.
If you are a non-vegetarian and planning to turn to a vegetarian first of all it is important for you to be fully aware about the pros as well as the cons of non-veg eating because an informed decision is always the right decision.
This article intends to provide you with information about both the advantages and disadvantages of non-veg foods.
Read on and make sure that you take an informed decision about your food habit, as what you eat has a high impact on your health and wellbeing.
Advantages/Benefits of non-veg foods
Non-veg foods are high in protein content which is an essential element for smooth functioning and healing of the body.
The animal proteins contain all the amino acids, ensuring complete nourishment, which is often lacking in case of most of the plant based proteins.
Lack of protein in body can lead to a number of major health complications including weakness, leathery, muscle loss, inability to concentrate and many more. Lack of protein in children can hamper growth and it is also related with the metabolism rate of the body.
Including non-veg foods in your diet ensures the supply of high quality protein, which is actually vital for health.
Source for Iron
Non-veg foods, like meat and poultry work as the primary source of iron in the body. Iron is highly important not only to keep blood deficiency at bay but also to ensure smooth functioning of the brain.
People who do not eat non-vegetarian diet, are at much higher risk of suffering from iron deficiency, which can be deadly for the health and well being of any one.
Calcium
Calcium is a very important mineral for human body as it works as the main constituents of the skeletal system as well as the teeth.
Non-veg foods contain a much higher amount of calcium than vegetarian foods, and hence people having non-veg foods regularly are least likely to suffer from calcium deficiency compared to the vegetarians.
Minerals
Apart from iron and calcium, non-veg foods are also rich in minerals like Zinc, Selenium and B vitamins, which are vital for smooth functioning of the different systems of the body.
By including non-vegetarian foods in your diet, you can simply ensure that you run a much lesser chance of suffering from the deficiency of these vital minerals and vitamins.
Discarding non-veg foods from your diet can easily give rise to vitamin and mineral deficiencies in your body which can lead to a range of health issues like fatigue, depression, sleep disorders as well as slow recovery from diseases.
Deficiency of vitamins and minerals can also result into weakening of the immunity system, which will naturally make you prone to infections and diseases.
And More..
Some other advantages of non-vegetarian foods include, there are plenty of options in non-veg foods. Non-vegs are more satisfying for the taste buds; they are even easier to cook.
Non-vegetarian foods can be actually helpful to make you feel more satiated for longer. They work as the one stop source of most of the nutrients that your body needs.
Having discussed the advantages of non-veg food in smooth functioning of the body and to keep the vitamin and mineral deficiencies at bay, now let us move to the disadvantages of non-veg foods.
Disadvantages of non-veg foods
Recent studies have linked non-veg food consumption to increased risk of cancer. Scientists have made it clear that consuming meat in your daily diet can work as one of the primary triggers of cancer.
Consumption of high amount of non-veg foods, particularly red meat, can also work as one of the primary reasons for an increased blood pressure and more risk of heart ailments.
The cholesterol present in red meat works as a major reason to clog the arteries which increases blood pressure and also adds to the risk of heart attack.
Digestive Problems
Eating non-veg foods often work as one of the primary reasons of many digestive problems.
Digesting the high amount of protein present in non-veg diet is a difficult task for the digestive system, and unless the system is at its peak it can be really difficult for the system to cope with it.
Non-veg eating are also linked with problems like constipation and acidity, which can result into other complications as well.
Scientists have pointed out the fact that non-veg food habit can lead to reduction in the lifespan.
In a study, scientists have found that vegetarians tend to live a longer life than the non-vegetarians.
Weight Gain
Eating animal based foods regularly has also been linked with weight gain and obesity. Meat is high in protein and often works as one of the major reasons for gaining quick weight.
Studies have shown that people who eat meat are more likely to put on weight within a span of five years compared to the people who do not consume meat.
It is very easy for the non-veg eaters to go overboard and to have more protein than it is actually needed by their body, which can produce many conditions and can increase the risk of many diseases to a great extent.
Usage of Antibiotics
The way of farming of the animals that are consumed as major non-veg items are often unhygienic.
The farms not only use low quality food to feed the livestock’s but often feed them foods that are high in antibiotic content, in order to keep the cattle’s disease free.
These antibiotics can pass on to the body of the meat eaters easily, resulting into antibiotic resistance in the body which can be highly harmful.
Is it good to have Non-Veg food or Veg Foods?
While there are both advantages and disadvantages of non-veg foods, the same goes true for the plant based foods.
The plant foods can be easy to digest, but they often lack all the essential amino acids, which can result into severe deficiencies in the body.
Moreover, plant based foods also lack many vitamins and minerals and hence when you are shifting to vegetarian diet, it is important that you plan your daily diet very carefully so that there is no deficiency and you actually consume a diet that is well balanced and can meet all the needs of your body.
Including more of pulses, beans, dairy products and lots of vegetables like broccoli, spinach, kale along with fresh fruits and dry fruits can help you to get all the nutrition that your body needs even from a vegetarian diet.
Another important point that you should keep in mind while planning to shift to a vegetarian diet from a non-veg one is that, shifting to a veg diet will be accepted by your digestive system in a great way.
But once you become a vegetarian, getting back to non-veg will be really difficult as over time your digestive system will lose the efficiency to deal with the high protein and nutrient filled non-veg foods.
So, consider both pros and cons along with how you can manage them in your daily life before taking the right decision about your diet.
FAQs
Non-veg food provides a range of essential nutrients such as proteins, iron, zinc, vitamins, and healthy fats that can help support a healthy diet.
The potential health risks associated with consuming non-veg food include an increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
Non-veg foods such as meat, poultry, fish, and eggs contain vitamins and minerals like B vitamins, iron, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Yes, non-veg food is generally more expensive than vegetarian food.
The highest nutritional content for non-veg food is found in lean proteins, such as fish, poultry, and lean cuts of red meat.
By doing some research on the ingredients and preparation methods used to make the food, and making sure to buy from reliable sources.
Yes, consuming non-veg food may increase the risk of certain diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, and certain types of cancer.
Always use separate cutting boards, knives, and other utensils for preparing non-veg food to avoid cross-contamination.
Yes, it is important to consider any allergies or sensitivities you may have when selecting and eating non-veg food.
Non-veg food consumption has been linked to the destruction of natural habitats, land degradation, water pollution, and air pollution from emissions from animal farming and processing.
