What are the disadvantages of vegetarian diet?

I've been a vegetarian for many years, but recently a friend tells me about some B12 deficiency. What exactly am I missing? Should I quit being vegetarian?What are the disadvantages of vegetarian diet?
People often say you need meat for vitamin B12 but animals don't make vitamin B12 - it comes from bacteria. Pernicious anaemia is incredibly rare as B12 is only needed in really tiny amounts on a daily basis. Vegetarian sources include eggs, dairy, fortified soy, rice or oat 'milks', fortified cereal and nutritional yeast.
You're asking an internet discussion board what you're missing in your diet? Get real. You can be a healthy vegetarian if you pay attention to what you're putting in your mouth. You can be an very, very sick vegetarian if you ignore the fact that veggies either don't contain the nutrients your body needs or doesn't contain them in the same easy to absorb manner that meat does. B12 is a very important nutrient and is not available in any plant food. Ignore that at your peril. Take pills. Non-heme iron is available in veggies, but your body doesn't absorb it nearly as well as the heme iron found in meat. Below is a link to the VeganHealth site. Take some time to understand what you're missing....What are the disadvantages of vegetarian diet?
Hi. Don't listen to those idiotic trolls, you won't have any definiencies if you eat right. Vitamin B12 is found in eggs and dairy so if you're vegetarian and you are eating those, you definitely won't be deficient of B12. There aren't many disadvantages, just the fact that some people who don't understand vegetarianism or feel threatened by it might tease you about your choice and that you might occasionally get meat cravings. Still even meat cravings can be fixed so really there's only one disadvantage that I've said. Meat cravings can be fixed by eating veggie burgers or veggie sausages or any other fake meat. I don't recommend veggie bacon though, I don't really see the point of it. If you're going up bacon (which is great that you have) then why eat veggie bacon? At least veggie sausages and veggie burgers can be used in meals as the main veggie dish. Hope this helps!
There are no disadvantages if you understand how to manage your diet. Honestly, all you need for B12 is a good multi-vitamin that doesn't have gelatin in the capsule and you'll be fine. That would cover your daily iron too. Soy typically has some B12 as well. Adults over the age of 19 need 2.4mcg a day.



Fortified foods contain vitamin B-12 in varying amounts. This includes cold cereal (2-24 mcg) and hot cereal such as oatmeal (14 mcg).



鈥our body has the ability to store B12 for a number of years, so if you鈥檙e newly vegan, you may have sufficient reserves for another decade, but unless you have your B12 levels tested regularly there is no way of knowing.



As for protein, the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of protein is .37 times your body weight. So if you're 130lbs you only need about 48 grams a day. Non-vegetarians blow the protein thing out of proportion.What are the disadvantages of vegetarian diet?
Vegetarian food is tasty and nutritious. For the deficiency of B 12 we can take supplementary consulting Doctor.

Anyhow B 12 is available in green leafy vegetables, cheese, milk,orange juice, whole grain food etc.
No, you don't have to quit being a vegetarian.

Sometimes vegetarians can be low on B12, but really it's only something vegans have to worry about since B12 is in dairy and eggs. But vegans usually just take a supplement.
A vegetarian diet does not cause any deficiencies as long as you research which foods contain which essential nutrients and eat a healthy diet. No supplements required. No you should not quit being a vegetarian.
All the cute, innocent animals don't get to be slaughtered and tortured for the amusement of those who slaughter them.
The only people who dislike the idea of vegetarians is those who have never been one.
No. you shouldn't. Just take some good multi-vitamins that will support what you are missing.
The disadvantages out way the advantages. A vegan and diet isn't healthier than a meat eating diet. Vegans are more prone to developing a number of deficiency disorders like Vitamin B12 deficiency disorder or iron deficiency, become anemic, malnourished, irreversible damage to nervous system, etc. Symptoms of zinc deficiency include: Frequent infections, Hypogonadism in males Loss of hair, Poor appetite, Problems with the sense of taste, Problems with the sense of smell, Slow growth, Trouble seeing in the dark, Wounds that take a long time to heal. Vitamin B12 deficiencies occur when the body is unable to properly use the vitamin. Pernicious anemia can make the body unable to absorb vitamin B12 from the intestinal tract.Vitamin D deficiency can lead to osteoporosis in adults or rickets in children.



Nutrients that vegans and vegetarians more likely are lacking in a vegetarian's diet include:



* Vitamin B12

* Vitamin D

* Riboflavin

* Zinc

* Iron

* Protein



Plus, It's funny how people insist on mimicking meat in their cuisine. why do they imitate a product that is criticized and is hated by them? Most meat substitutes and fake meats are very highly processed, refined foods. Plus, they require a lot of energy to make. Thus, you are contributing to more greenhouse effects. if you are under the impression you are not contributing to more carbon footprint compared to a meat-eater, rethink that idea. Many Morning Star Farms products are highly processed. Soy is usually the main ingredients found in fake meat products. But soy is a refined food so they have no nutritional value. And soy by-products, artificial flavors, and food coloring are not healthier than eating meat and dairy. They are one of the things that are the worse things you can eat. The idea that a vegetarian processed meat-like product is better for your health than the real thing is laughable.
I would stop being vegetarian, its not worth it in my opinion, you can be health eating whatever you want. just exercise and work out! Unless you have a thing against killing animals for food, i'd consider eating meats.
very low iron intake which means i high chance of becoming anemic unless you take all the right suppliments every day.. there's also alot of other nutrients your bodys missing personally if you can consider being non vegetarian then i think you probably shouldn't be one anyways
Well, being a vegetarian has its ups and downs you can't get any really good protein. I would stop if I were you.



thanks.
There are many sides to the problem.

Truth is, it does cause B12 deficiency.

But it depends heavily on the person.
you don't get to consume tasty meat and meat products