Do Vegetarians Have a Stronger or Weaker Immune System?

Do Vegetarians Have a Stronger or Weaker Immune System?

Over the past few years, vegetarian diets have become increasingly popular for a number of reasons. Some people do it because they believe it to be morally right, while others try it out to see weight loss benefits. 

Many have claimed that by going vegetarian and maintaining a plant-based diet you will boost your immune system, while others believe it will actually hurt you in the long run. The reason people believe that a vegetarian diet is better for your immune system is because so many of the immune boosting foods that you need are plants and plant based, so revolving your diet around that will give you more of the vitamins and nutrients that you need to boost your immune system. 

It’s very true that vegetables and fruits contain many important nutrients, and they’re essential to your diet if you want to maintain a strong immune system. However, some people take issue with the lack of meat in a vegetarian diet, citing the fact that you also need protein to keep your immune system strong. 

While meat is a very plentiful source of protein, it’s not the only source of protein. These days, vegetarians can get protein from all kinds of different sources, all of them without any meat. 

Protein is important to your immune system because it helps build white blood cells and antibodies, both of which specialize in fighting off diseases. So vegetarian diets that have alternative sources of protein are able to keep the body well stocked with the building blocks it needs while also preventing diseases with an array of vitamins and minerals. 

That must mean that vegetarian diets are simply better for your immune system. However, that may not fully be the case. While going vegetarian is a surefire way to ensure that you get enough fruits and vegetables, it’s not required for you to get enough. 

Just like if a vegetarian doesn’t eat enough protein, they’ll suffer, a person who only eats meat without any vegetables will also suffer the consequences. You can still eat meat if you want to – it’s not going to ruin your immune system or anything. 

What you do need to do is simply increase your intake of vegetables and fruits. If you’d like to go vegetarian, you’re still going to reap the same rewards, but don’t think that it’s the only way you’re going to have a good immune system.