I personally couldn’t function as a vegetarian. I love meat. And quite often I also feel that my body downright demands it. I respect the people who do, for whatever reason, but I respect it even more when those people realize something is missing from their diet and try to do something about it. It’s not easy to stop eating meat. Your body needs certain substances from it, so if you don’t get them, it will affect your fitness, but also your mood and brain health.

I have several friends who live a vegetarian life. And apart from the fact that it gives me trouble to think of a meal for them when I invite them to lunch, I’m not bothered by their choices. That’s why anyone who talks into other people’s lives bothers me. However, my friends also know full well that the absence of meat in their diet means certain risks. And that’s why they focus their diet on foods that will replace meat.

Physical changes in the body of vegetarians

If a person doesn’t eat meat, he lacks protein, sometimes even fat. This changes a lot of things about their physique. Some things for the worse, others for the better:

  • The heart and blood vessels often improve. People who don’t eat meat often have lower cholesterol and better blood pressure. Overall, they have a lower risk of heart disease.
  • Digestion undergoes a big change. Vegetarians take in more fiber and thus have better digestion. However, they may be more likely to experience bloating.
  • Energy may decrease in the short term after stopping eating meat. But if a person eats the right foods, you can have plenty of energy even without meat.
  • Muscle can be built quite well without meat. But you have to think about the lack of protein, which you will supplement in other ways.

If vegetarians include enough vegetable fats in their diet and also focus on dairy products and legumes, which are high in protein, it shouldn’t be a problem for them to stay fit in the long term. However, you need to keep in mind that you can only skip meat if you actually replace it with other wholesome foods.

Whenever I go to my friends who are vegetarians for lunch, I count on at least one meal to include legumes. And I have no problem with that, lentils, peas and beans are all delicious.

There can be many reasons for not eating meat. Whether you don't like the taste or are a vegetarian by conviction, your body misses meat. It is therefore necessary to adapt your diet to this fact. ━━ There can be many reasons for not eating meat. Whether you don't like the taste or are a vegetarian by conviction, your body misses meat. It is therefore necessary to adapt your diet to this fact. ( Source: Brooke Lark /  Unsplash+ )

Mental changes in the body of vegetarians

There is probably no doubt that your physique will change. It is also something that is quite commonly addressed. But little is written about what changing your diet will do to you psychologically. In doing so, there will also be quite big changes.

  • Memory and concentration can deteriorate significantly if a person lacks vitamin B12, which is important for the nerves and brain. When iron deficiency is present, oxygen transfer to the brain is also negatively affected.
  • Mood is also altered. If you have a balanced plant-based diet, you may get better. However, you need to watch out for a lack of omega-3 fatty acids, which can cause irritability, fatigue and depressive states.

If you don’t eat meat (or fish) you need to include lots of seeds and nuts in your diet, but also avocados, which are foods rich in just omega-3 fatty acids. You can get iron and vitamin B into your body mainly through leafy vegetables, cucumbers, green peppers or kohlrabi.

So if a person wants to live a vegetarian lifestyle, whether because they believe they are protecting animals or because they simply don’t like meat, that’s fine. But you need to know what style of diet to supplement and how to take care of your body so that it really doesn’t miss anything.