What are the disadvantages of being a vegetarian?

Although vegetarianism has positive effects on the environment and animal welfare, veganism may also lead to some health problems. Here are some possible health problems caused by vegetarianism:

Nutritional imbalance: vegetarians may be nutritionally unbalanced due to the lack of various nutrients in their diet. For example, the absorption and utilization rate of plant protein is lower than that of animal protein, and it also lacks some nutrients in meat, such as vitamin B 12, calcium and iron.

Protein deficiency: If vegetarians don't mix food properly, protein intake may be insufficient, leading to muscle atrophy, anemia and other health problems.

Vitamin B 12 deficiency: Vitamin B 12 only exists in animal foods, so vegetarians are prone to lack this vitamin, which leads to health problems such as anemia and nervous system diseases.

Osteoporosis: Because of the low calcium content in plant foods, vegetarians will increase the risk of osteoporosis if they don't pay attention to their diet.

Digestive problems: Due to the high dietary fiber content, vegetarians may have digestive problems such as flatulence and diarrhea.

To sum up, although vegetarianism is beneficial to the environment and animal welfare, veganism may also lead to health problems. So, if you want to try vegetarianism, please pay attention to food collocation and balanced nutrition. It is recommended to consult a professional doctor or dietitian before going vegetarian.