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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    Are there any health benefits of being a vegetarian?

    Related Topic
    Nutrition
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  • Chris Fonda

    Dietitian, Nutritionist, Sports Dietitian

    As an Accredited Sports Dietitian, APD and athlete (springboard diver), Chris has both professional and personal experience in sport at the sub-elite and elite level.Chris … View Profile

    There are definately health benefits to being a vegetarian and this stems from the increased consumption of plant-based foods. Fruits and vegetables provide important vitamins and minerals and the more you eat of them the more you will get. It depends if you are a true vegetarian (or “vegan”). Vegan's need to watch their levels of certain nutrients such as protein, iron, vitamin B12, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc to name a few.

    Because vegans do not eat meat or foods derived from animals (i.e. dairy and eggs), they have a lower consumption of fat (in particular saturated fat). Low intakes of foods containing saturated fats can be protective against heart disease.

    It is important that vegans consume a wide variety of plant-based foods including, soy products (e.g. tofu, tempeh, soy milk), legumes (chickpeas, beans, lentils), whole-grain breads, cereals, pasta, rice, quinoa, couscous, various colours and varieties of fruits and vegetables to ensure they are getting enough nutrients to support a nutritious diet and healthy way of life.

    It is important to get regularly checked for deficiencies in the nutrients I mentioned above from your doctor. If deficient, a visit to your local Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) can help you to rectify these deficiencies and help you to put together a nutritionally adequate diet. You can find an APD by logging onto www.daa.asn.au

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