Long-term vegetarianism is a way of life, and more and more people are opting for a vegetarian diet, believing that it will make them healthier. However, studies have shown that a long-term vegetarian diet may cause children to be below average height.
First of all, we need to make it clear that the human body needs nutrient support for growth and development. Among them, protein is an important nutrient to support human growth and development. Protein is the basic substance for the construction of body cells and the source of life activities.
However, in a vegetarian diet, it is difficult to get enough high-quality protein because protein is found in foods such as meat, eggs, milk, etc. Vegetarians can only get it through plant-based proteins such as grains, legumes, nuts, etc. However, plant-based proteins have lower amino acid integrity than animal-based proteins and do not provide adequate nutrition, especially in childhood, where a lack of high-quality protein can have an important impact on growth and development.
Therefore, from a nutritional point of view, long-term vegetarianism may affect the growth and development of children. Studies have shown that the height and weight of long-term vegetarian children are significantly lower than the standard value, and even lower than the average of their peers. This is caused by malnutrition caused by long-term vegetarianism. In addition, other health problems such as anemia may occur.
Therefore, it is recommended that children should consume enough high-quality protein during critical periods of growth and development, such as the first few years of life and during puberty. Make sure your child gets enough animal protein such as meat, eggs, and milk to support his or her growth and development.
In short, although long-term vegetarianism is a healthy lifestyle, it must be practiced under the premise of balanced nutrition. Especially for children who are growing and developing, it is necessary to ensure that the nutrition is comprehensive and balanced. Therefore, parents should scientifically plan their children's meals to ensure that their children get enough protein, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients to achieve a good level of growth and development.