Disadvantages of a Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian Diet

A lacto-ovo vegetarian diet excludes all meats and meat products like fat or lard. It allows the consumption of dairy products like milk, cream and cheese, as well as eggs. A lacto-ovo vegetarian diet doesn't pose any particularly great nutritional risk, according to BenefitsOfVegetarianism.com, but there are a few concerns you should consider.

Concerns for Children

A common concern about vegetarianism is its effect on children who are vegetarian before their bodies have fully developed. Children who are lacto-ovo vegetarians should eat foods rich in iron, zinc, copper, B12 and calcium, according to Chiro.org. Children who are vegetarians tend to grow a little more slowly than meat-eating children, but will develop normally if their diet is healthy.

Vitamin B12

Getting enough vitamin B12 is a major concern for all those who do not eat meat. Although a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet includes foods that contain B12 naturally, some lacto-ovo vegetarians still do not manage to get enough of the vitamin. You should be aware of its necessity and take care to ingest enough, according to the Diets Index.

Compared to Veganism

The choice to retain eggs and dairy in the diet, rather than eating a vegan diet, is convenient but relatively unhealthy. Milk and eggs are constipating, acidic and full of harmful chemicals like pesticides and hormones, according to RawFoodExplained.com.

Protein

One problem that lacto-ovo vegetarians run into is protein deficiency. Though eggs are rich in protein, some vegetarians still neglect to eat enough. Both men and women should eat 0.8 grams of protein a day per kilogram of body weight, according to HappyCow.net. Soybeans and most common grains are rich in proteins.

References

• Benefits of Vegetarianism: Disadvantages of a Vegetarian Diet
• Chiro: Your Vegetarian Child: How Healthy Are They? Are Their Nutritional Needs Being Met?
• Diets Index: Vegetarian Diets
• Raw Food Explained: The Vegetarian Diet - The Types Of Vegetarian Diets
• Happy Cow: Sources of Vegetarian Protein and Guide