Vegetarian vs Meat-Eating Diets

Posted by Dr. Della Parker     on February 28, 2019

First off, just by looking at a person’s face we can usually tell if they’re a vegetarian. This is due to the nutritional deficiencies that occur when you consume a vegetarian diet. Not a healthy look! Many vegetarians turn to supplements to compensate for the nutrients lacking in their diet. Supplementation is not the best option based on how body chemistry works. Dense animal protein is what stimulates stomach acid, which helps the body absorb vitamin B12. Without the animal protein to trigger stomach acid production, it will be difficult to absorb B12 vitamin supplements. Without meat, you’ll also be deficient in iron. It’s very difficult to get enough iron from other sources like spinach and legumes. At Stellar Health and Wellness, we suggest following the Paleo diet for optimal nutrition and body function. 

What is the Paleo Diet?

The Paleolithic diet, (Paleo) is sometimes referred to as the caveman diet or stone-age diet which requires eating foods presumed to have been available during the Paleolithic era. Following a Paleo diet is great for increasing your nutrient absorption and reducing inflammation, which is vital for your health since inflammation is the cause of all major diseases!

What Not to Eat on Paleo?

• Sugar
• Grains or simple carbohydrates
• Dairy
• Beans and Legumes
• Potatoes

What to Eat on Paleo?

• Vegetables
• Fruit
• Meat
• Nuts (except peanuts)

Limiting processed food, fast food, and sweets is the bottom line. Unfortunately, most Americans consume processed foods daily.

Conventional Meat vs. Grass-Fed Meat

Currently, there is a big debate regarding the pros and cons of eating conventional meat versus grass-fed organic meat products. Conventional meat comes from animals that have been fed genetically modified grains and soy, this is the meat found in most grocery stores. Grass-fed meat is just what it sounds like, meat that comes from animals that primarily ate grass. Conventional meat is subjected to antibiotics and growth hormones. Grass-fed meat is not exposed to the same conditions as conventional meat and contains more of the healthy Omega-3 fats our bodies need. If you can’t afford the organic, grass-fed meat should you risk the conventional meat? We say yes, you still want to include meat in your diet even if it’s not the best quality available because your body needs meat to function properly.

Click to learn more about eating real food.

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