[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/holistic-nutrition-for-vegetarians-how-to-do-it\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/holistic-nutrition-for-vegetarians-how-to-do-it\/","headline":"Holistic Nutrition For Vegetarians\u2009\u2014\u2009How To Do It","name":"Holistic Nutrition For Vegetarians\u2009\u2014\u2009How To Do It","description":"Vegetarian diets are becoming more and more popular, and there are a variety of reasons why people choose to follow them. These reasons can vary from environmental concerns to health benefits....","datePublished":"2021-10-21","dateModified":"2026-01-29","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/author\/ein_marlene\/#Person","name":"Marlene","url":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/author\/ein_marlene\/","identifier":4,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/669d68837c50949b8a978b90d77c2c97da62be0c9a8fee8912abb01c7e0947a8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/669d68837c50949b8a978b90d77c2c97da62be0c9a8fee8912abb01c7e0947a8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Edison Institute of Nutrition","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Edison-Institute-of-Nutrition-logo-color.svg","url":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Edison-Institute-of-Nutrition-logo-color.svg","width":0,"height":0}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/holistic-nutrition-for-vegetarians-how-do-you-do-it.jpg","url":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/holistic-nutrition-for-vegetarians-how-do-you-do-it.jpg","height":630,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/holistic-nutrition-for-vegetarians-how-to-do-it\/","about":["Articles","Diet Plans","Healthy Eating","Recipes & Meal Planning"],"wordCount":1692,"articleBody":"Vegetarian diets are becoming more and more popular, and there are a variety of reasons why people choose to follow them.These reasons can vary from environmental concerns to health benefits.As a holistic nutritionist, it\u2019s important that you are able to accurately work with your vegetarian clients in order to meet their health goals.If you want to learn how to become a nutritionist in Canada or wherever it is you live, it\u2019s important that you learn about the nutritional needs of vegetarians in order to successfully count them among your clientele.Now, let\u2019s dive in.What Is A Vegetarian?A vegetarian is a classification that includes various attitudes and eating habits towards foods of animal origin.For example, a pescatarian is a type of vegetarian that does not eat meat or poultry, but will eat fish and other seafood.Another example is that being vegan is also a type of vegetarian diet that only eats foods of plant origins.Why Do People Choose To Be Vegetarians?There are a number of reasons why people choose to follow a vegetarian diet.Some people are concerned about the effects of factory farming on their climate.Others are concerned about the welfare of animals in factory farms.Finally, there are also health concerns that persuade people to follow a vegetarian diet.Some people just physically don\u2019t feel good eating animal-based products, and that\u2019s okay.Is A Vegetarian Diet Healthier?Now, this is the question about following a vegetarian diet.Are they actually healthier?The answer is that it can be.There is a growing body of research that shows that a well balanced vegetarian diet offers preventative measures against high blood pressure and other cardiovascular issues, osteoporosis, renal disease, dementia, and even rheumatoid arthritis.It can also help prevent cancer.Benefits Of A Vegetarian DietThere is a multitude of benefits that following a vegetarian diet can bring to your clients.We\u2019re going to go through some of the major concerns that come to your client\u2019s mind when considering the benefits of a vegetarian diet.1. It\u2019s Good For Your HeartOne study through the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: \u201cIntake of whole grains is associated with lower risk of myocardial infarction: the Danish Diet, Cancer and Health Cohort1\u201d showed that vegetarianism reduces the risk of hospitalization from heart disease.Another study by Nutrition, Metabolism, & Cardio Vascular Disease released: \u201cVegetarian diets and incidence of diabetes in the Adventist Health Study\u20112\u2033\u2009\u2014\u2009this study showed that following a vegetarian diet reduces the risk of high blood pressure.Together, reducing the risk of both heart disease and high blood pressure is a solid step forward for overall heart health.As your clients age, this will become a greater concern for them.Of course, following a vegetarian diet is not the only way to look after your heart.But the benefits can\u2019t be denied.2. Decreases Risk Of DiabetesStudies like the this: \u201cVegetarian diets and incidence of diabetes in the Adventist Health Study\u20112\u2033 published on the Nutrition, Metabolism, & Cardiovascular Disease journal have shown that following a vegetarian diet led to a decreased risk of developing diabetes.A vegetarian diet is a great option to consider, especially if your client has a family history of developing diabetes and they are looking to reduce their risk.3. It Lowers Your Risk Of Some CancersA study called: \u201cAn evaluation of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans in relation to cancer occurrence\u201d also showed that following a vegetarian diet confers protection against certain cancers.In particular, a vegan diet tends to lower the risk of gynaecologic cancers, and a vegetarian diet lowers the risk of gastrointestinal cancers.As a result, certified holistic cancer practitioner training often includes training in the benefits of a vegetarian diet.The Edison Institute Of Nutrition offers training as a certified holistic cancer practitioner, as well as live blood cell microscopy analysis training, and other nutrition continuing education units.If you have a client with a family history of these cancers, they may want to consider a vegetarian diet.Risks Of A Vegetarian DietWhile there are many benefits to following a vegetarian diet, it is not without its share of risks.This is because a poor vegetarian diet that relies too heavily on processed foods is equally as unhealthy as a non-vegetarian diet that relies on processed foods.Consuming too much of any type of processed food involves consuming excess calories, sugar, trans fat, and sodium.It\u2019s important to remind your clients that just because something is vegan doesn\u2019t make it healthy.Oreo cookies, for example, are technically vegan, but no good holistic nutritionist would suggest them as a healthy snack.It\u2019s also possible if you\u2019re not getting a balanced vegetarian diet to be deficient in several important nutrients.This is usually due to poor meal planning and exactly why consulting a nutritionist is recommended for clients new to vegetarianism.A poorly planned vegetarian diet could also lead to anemia, hypoglycaemia, hormonal imbalances, and dental problems.The following list includes common vitamin deficiencies that may arise following a vegetarian diet and how to compensate.1. Calcium DeficiencyCalcium is a mineral that helps to build and maintain strong bones and teeth.Because calcium is most abundantly found in milk and dairy foods, certain types of vegetarians that don\u2019t eat dairy (like vegans) could be at risk for a calcium deficiency.Dairy isn\u2019t the only place to find calcium though.How To Make Up For ItYou can also find calcium in dark green vegetables like turnips, collard greens, kale, and broccoli.You just have to eat a sufficient amount of them to maintain your calcium levels.Calcium can also be found in fortified juices, cereals, soy milk, and tofu.You may consider taking calcium supplements as well, but if your clients are eating a balanced diet it shouldn\u2019t be an issue.2. Vitamin B12 DeficiencyVitamin B12 is found almost exclusively in animal products.As a result, it is a vitamin that all vegetarians are at risk of being deficient in.This is a problem because it\u2019s a very important vitamin that is necessary to produce red blood cells and to prevent anemia.It\u2019s also worth noting that vegans specifically may not realize they are vitamin B12 deficient because the vegan diet is typically rich in a vitamin called folate, which may mask the deficiency until severe problems occur.Vitamin b12 is known to be one of the vitamin deficiencies that cause depression as well.How To Make Up For ItThis vitamin is very important and so it\u2019s recommended for vegetarians to consider vitamin B12 supplements, or vitamin B12 enriched cereals and soy products.3. Omega\u20113 DeficiencyOmega\u20113 fatty acids are very important for heart health.They\u2019re also beneficial for eye health.Vegetarian diets that do not include fish and eggs are generally lacking active forms of omega\u20113 fatty acids.How To Make Up For ItYou can make up for it by considering products fortified with omega\u20113 fatty acids or supplements.This is because while you can find them in walnuts, flaxseeds, and soybeans, your body has a harder time converting plant-based omega\u20113 fatty acids.This means that you will absorb a lot less than what you actually intake, which is why we recommend going with the former option.4. Iron DeficiencyIron is another important mineral that is a vital part of red blood cells.It can be found in both animal and plant sources, however iron from plant sources is not so easily absorbed by your body.As a result, many vegetarians tend to be iron deficient and are recommended to intake twice as much iron from plant sources as non vegetarians.Common symptoms of low iron include feeling tired all the time, weak and brittle hair, and depression.Beyond being a vegetarian, iron deficiency during pregnancy is also common.How To Make Up For ItThe plant sources of iron include dried beans, peas, lentils, enriched cereals, whole-grain products, and dark, leafy green vegetables.Since these are plant-based sources, you\u2019ll want to help your body absorb the iron you intake by including foods rich in vitamin C while you\u2019re eating the plant-based iron.Some sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits, strawberries, and tomatoes, all of which go well in a salad with dark, leafy green vegetables containing iron.5. Iodine DeficiencyIodine is a mineral that is an integral part of your thyroid hormones which regulate your metabolism, organ function, and general growth.Vegans specifically may be at risk for being iodine deficient because it is commonly found in animal products.How To Make Up For ItOne of the most common sources of iodine is in iodized salt.While this is an easy way to make up for your lost iodine, a diet heavy in iodized salt has too many health drawbacks that come along with it.A healthier way to make sure you get enough iodine is to include the following foods in your diet:SeaweedPrunesLima beansStrawberriesCranberriesPotatoesGreen beansWatercressSpring mix greensContact Edison Institute of Nutrition TodayAs you can see, there are a number of health benefits to following a vegetarian diet.That being said, there is also a number of risks of deficiencies.It\u2019s your role as a holistic nutritionist to accommodate any dietary limitations your clients throw at you.To get educated, contact Edison Institute of Nutrition todayto get started and speak to one of our educational advisors."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Holistic Nutrition For Vegetarians\u2009\u2014\u2009How To Do It","item":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/holistic-nutrition-for-vegetarians-how-to-do-it\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]