Deciding to follow a vegetarian diet is a highly personal choice. Whether people choose to follow such a diet due to religious reasons, curiosity, or ethics, it is important that they understand the potential health effects of changing to a meat-free diet. There are some health hazards involved, but these can easily be remedied so that breaking a vegetarian lifestyle will not be necessary to maintain optimal health.

Vegetarianism is obviously not detrimental to development. After all, a whopping 35 percent of people in India follow a vegetarian diet without issue, and have done so for generations, according to an article published in the medical journal Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. By definition, vegetarians do not eat any meat, poultry, or fish, though some do consume eggs and dairy products while other stricter vegetarians do not consume any products made by animals. All in all, vegetarian diets are extremely healthy. Due to the lack of animal products, vegetarians typically consume plenty of whole grains, cereals, nuts, fruits, and vegetables. In addition, due to the fact that many sweets and fatty foods are made with animal products like eggs, milk, and butter, vegetarians tend to avoid these foods. This already makes their diets substantially healthier than those who eat animal products.

However, vegetarians, especially those who do not eat any animal products, can suffer from vitamin B12 deficiency, which can cause depression, lethargy, weakness, and memory loss. This vitamin is not found in plants, so human beings must get it from eating meats. Vegetarians who eat dairy products and eggs can get their vitamin B12 from those sources, but those who follow a vegan diet – that is, a diet devoid of any and all animal products – are at a greater risk of developing a vitamin B12 deficiency. Some vegetarians also lack certain protein-based fatty acids that are naturally occurring in non-vegetarians, though the health effects of this loss have not been researched or well-documented.

Overall, a vegetarian diet is completely healthy and adequate as long as it is well-planned and those practicing a vegetarian lifestyle make sure that they are eating nutritious and well-balanced meals. After all, eating nothing but Saltine crackers would technically be a vegetarian diet, but it is hardly balanced or nutritious. Just as sticking to a healthy lifestyle is important for non-vegetarians, it is also essential for vegetarians as well, especially when it comes to taking vitamin B12 supplements to ensure that they do not develop a deficiency.