Vegetarianism is on the list of the most ancient and known currents of alternative nutrition. But if a mature adult can experiment with his body, then vegetarianism in childhood can be dangerous.
Vegetarianism in strict regime (and light form, too) the health of the child can cause harm, since the plant ration does not contain important components for the development and growth of the child. Let's look at what components are missing.
Animal protein, which by amino acid composition is full. And proteins are known to be the basic building material of the body. Once in the body, the proteins split into amino acids. There are only 20 proteins, 8 of which are simply irreplaceable. In the body, these 8 proteins are not formed, they come only with dairy products, milk, fish, meat, eggs. In the diet of a child, foods that contain high-grade protein should be present daily, because a growing children's body simply needs a building material.
A high-grade protein in sufficient quantity is also contained in leguminous plants (in soybeans, beans). Meat products contain iron in an easily digestible form. For a growing organism, iron plays a big role, as it participates in the formation of hemoglobin, affects hemopoiesis, participates in breathing, in the formation of certain enzymes, in the reactions of the immune system. In cereal crops contains phytic acid, which, when combined with iron, forms hardly soluble salts, which decreases the digestibility of iron.
Lack of vitamin B12 leads to a decrease in metabolic processes, including the exchange of fats and carbohydrates, the development of anemia. Vitamin B12 can be found in meat, milk, fish, beef liver, cheese, in the products of the sea.
Vitamin D is involved in the development of the skeleton, so its lack leads to the development of rickets, as well as to the breakdown of phosphorus-calcium metabolism, which changes the shape of the bones and softens the bones. The need for childhood in this vitamin is satisfied mainly due to its formation in the skin under the influence of ultraviolet rays and its intake with products. Vitamin D can be found in the liver of cod, fish oil, butter, eggs, milk, in plant products it is almost none.
The lack of zinc suffers from the integrity of the hair and skin, various lesions of the mucous membranes and skin develop (baldness, dermatitis). Zinc participates in photochemical vision processes, in the process of hematopoiesis, is contained in the hormone insulin, which is involved in carbohydrate metabolism. A high amount of zinc is contained in the beef liver.
Vitamin B2 is involved in the metabolism of fats, proteins and carbohydrates, thereby accelerating the metabolic processes in the body.
Riboflavin is necessary for the formation of antibodies and the formation of red blood cells. This microelement is also necessary for the growth and respiration of cells, yet it helps to improve the state of the organs of vision. Riboflavin is found in products such as: milk, eggs, beef liver, fish, cheeses.
Due to a lack of vitamin A vision can deteriorate with darkness (night blindness), the nails become dry and brittle, a violation occurs in the skin (begin to peel and crack). Vitamin A, like vitamins B6 and B12, is involved in the growth process. This vitamin is considered to be liposoluble. Vitamin A is rich in products such as: cream, cottage cheese, butter, cheese, liver fat, egg yolk and fish oil. In the human body, vitamin A is formed from the carotene of the plant pigment (found in fruits and vegetables of red-yellow color), in the intestinal wall and liver.
The child's body needs cholesterol, which serves as a building material for sex hormones and body cells.
Proceeding from the above, it can be seen that vegetarianism as a nutrition plan for children can not be recommended, since it lacks the necessary vitamins and nutrients that are vital for the full development and growth of the child.