Immunity function and semi-vegetarian diet?

Question

If I don't eat any meat at all, I take only fish oil supplements, get calcium and protein from plants only and eat a variety of different foods that are gluten-free and dairy-free, will my immune system still function well? And btw, I wasn't successful in cutting out gelatin as well because I was craving for sweets about a week ago.

I'm asking because I've been meat-free for three weeks now and my right big toe tip is slightly occasionally itchy and I'm thinking I might have developed athlete's foot or something. Or should i add only fish back to my diet?

Answer 1

Take a B12 supplement to help with your immune system.

Answer 2

You eat animal products.... You're not vegetarian.



Love the comment about the itchy big toe. Would have been even better if you'd specified left or right toe....

Answer 3

Is there a reason you are concerned with "immunity function". Has this been diagnosed? have you ever asked a Doctor about it.



I have read a few articles that have connected diets to immune system boosts.



The one thing that seems pretty reliable is that a good intestinal flora really really helps. Or maybe it's just that people who get sick frequently have wrecked their little intestinal ecosystem with antibiotics. Vegans who don't eat yogurt may have more trouble with this more than other people. I don't think you need daily doses of probiotics to maintain a good system (unless it's wrecked). but regular infusions from a supplement or yogurt or a fermented food is an excellent idea.



M'aiq discussed Vitamin C. As it turns out, Vitamin C is good for colds is not an old wives tale. But its also true that your body does not store Vitamin C. It is constantly coming out of your urine. So it's not "mega-doses" you need but regular and constant infusions. If you eat fruit and vegetables this should happen without much thinking about it. but make sure you eat some. My favorite fruits are apples and bananas, but they don't have that much vitamin C. So lately I have been adding a glass of cranberry juice to my daily routine. But if you like oranges, they are even better. Skip the frozen or made from concentrate OJ, though, that stuff is garbage.



Besides Vitamin C, look for some foods with A and E. A lot of the good foods vegetarians eat are loaded with these. Like broccoli and spinach. It is also a good idea to include a few nuts in your daily routine.



Antioxidants are also good things to include in your diet. Again most "veggie" food is loaded with antioxidants. but if you need a good excuse to eat some dark chocolate, now you have one. The darker the chocolate the more antioxidants. Also, remember that milk chocolate is not dairy free.



Also, many spices have been associated with boosts to the immune system. Garlic is very powerful. good idea to include some garlic in any dish that calls for it.



Another spice that seems to have a lot of beneficial effects is Tumeric. Tumeric can be made into a tea. It is also great in a tofu scramble.



Unless you have celiac's disease or a gluten sensitivity, you don't need to go gluten-free. Actually, gluten is good for you. Its a great source of protein, calcium, and iron.



I wouldn't even worry about the small amounts of gelatin they include in foods. It's not going to affect you one way or the other. I would be more concerned with the 30 grams of highly processed refined sugar the candy bar contains, what that does to your insulin levels, and the subsequent inflammation it causes.



There are many good topical solutions for athletes foot that you can find in any drug or dollar store.

Answer 4

Your immune system doesn't depend on your diet, per say.

As a new born, your immune system is immature but drinking your mothers breast milk assures your immunity to what ever she is immune to for a short period of time..After that, being exposed and getting colds, makes you immune to what ever you catch as getting sick, being exposed to germs, etc, "teaches" your immune system how to fight those things. thats how vaccines work.

If you never ate meat again, it would have no impact on your immune system. Being too clean effects your immune system by not giving it much to learn about.

FYI not eating gluten has NOTHING to do with anything. If you don't have celiac disease, you won't notice a thing different whether you eat gluten or not. Not eating gluten because somebody you know doesn't is as silly as you not eating peanut butter because the neighbor kid is allergic...

Answer 5

There isn't really any such thing as a "semi-vegetarian diet" unless that's what you want to call an ordinary diet. If you eat no meat you are following a vegetarian diet.



Except in exceptional circumstances your immune system isn't likely to be affected by your diet especially a vegetarian diet followed for three weeks.



Athlete's foot is a fungal infection and has nothing to do with your immune system. The end of your big toe being itchy is NOT a symptom of athlete's foot.

Answer 6

Unless you're starving to death, your immune system isn't very dependent on your diet. There's this narrative produced by supplement companies and those dumb "immune system boosters" that provide vitamin C tablets that eating craploads of water soluble vitamins will make your immune system stronger but that's not really true. While certain vitamins and minerals are crucial for immune function, eating more than required does not do anything. Your body excretes extra vitamin C through your urine.



You don't need meat/fish to have an immune system. There are millions of vegetarians around the world who function fine. Just be sure to eat enough food (preferably mostly whole foods) and you'll be fine.

Answer 7

Why go through all the trouble? Just eat meat!