Ask the Doctors: Teen loves animals, considering vegetarianism

Dear Doctor: I’ve always loved animals, and now I want to stop eating meat. But I’m 15 years old, and my parents think that’s too young to make such a big decision. What can I tell them about being a vegetarian? I’m hoping I can persuade them.

Dear Reader: We think it’s admirable that you want your lifestyle to reflect your beliefs. And we also understand how taking on a new diet might cause your parents to worry. As a teenager, you’re in a period of growth spurts and hormonal shifts. Poor nutrition can affect your health, moods and learning ability. It may even play a role in susceptibility to disease in adulthood.

That said, the good news is that with proper planning, a vegetarian diet can be as nutritionally complete for people of all ages as one that includes meat. The vegetarian diet is often low in saturated fat and also high in dietary fiber. As a result, studies find that vegetarians often have a lower body mass index (BMI), lower blood pressure and more healthful cholesterol levels than people who eat meat. In addition, death from heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes and certain cancers is lower among vegetarians than non-vegetarians.

You and your parents should start by deciding where on the meat-free scale of eating you wish to begin. Some vegetarians include milk and eggs in their diets. Vegans avoid all animal products, including honey and gelatin. And while it’s not strictly vegetarian, some individuals skip red meat and poultry, but do eat fish and seafood.

When vegetarians decide to cut milk and eggs from their diets, alternative sources of protein, calcium and B12 become necessary. Protein can be found in soy products, beans, legumes and supplements. Small amounts of calcium are available in leafy greens and almonds. To get enough of the mineral, vegans often include calcium-fortified soymilk, juice and cereals, and calcium-set tofu in their diets.

Vitamin B12, found only in animal protein, is a vital nutrient. Your body needs it to make red blood cells, for proper neurological function, and to synthesize DNA. Vegetarians can get B12 in fortified products like cereals and soymilks, as well as in supplements.

Iron is a nutrient that vegetarians and meat eaters alike can fall short on. It helps your blood carry oxygen to muscles and organs, and is important for growth and normal cell function. Heme iron, which is most easily absorbed by the body, is found in lean meat and seafood. Nuts, beans, some leafy greens and fortified grain products are sources of non-heme iron, which the body doesn’t use as efficiently. Vitamin and mineral supplements can help provide adequate iron, as well as other essential nutrients.

We’ve just hit the high points here. If and when your parents give you the OK to say goodbye to meat, we strongly recommend that you all become students of vegetarian nutrition. Your family doctor can help, and can also guide you to some excellent books and websites to help you plot your future journey.

Eve Glazier, M.D., MBA, is an internist and assistant professor of medicine at UCLA Health. Elizabeth Ko, M.D., is an internist and primary care physician at UCLA Health.