
Potentially Critical Nutrients In an Omnivore Diet
Not only are there critical nutrients in a vegan diet, but nutrients can also become critical in an omnivore diet. In our modern world, where most products are highly processed or farmed, it is increasingly difficult to get all the nutrients in sufficient quantities. In addition to the nutrients that are critical in a vegan diet, others are added in an omnivore diet.
Hunger For More
Unfortunately, today’s food industry only focuses on a person’s calorie needs. As a result, we consume enough calories but almost no nutrients. This is because refined products are cheaper to produce in large quantities. Just think of table sugar and white flour. These sources of calories are often referred to as empty calories because they contain relatively few nutrients. In the western world, hunger has been eliminated and we no longer suffer from a lack of calories. However, there is often a lack of nutrients because some individuals frequently fill their stomachs with empty calories. The feeling of satiety is triggered by two types of receptors. One type responds to the volume in the stomach, the other type responds to the nutrient content. When the plate is filled with lots of refined products, the stomach gets full, but you feel hungry again after a short time. Most people then treat themselves to something sweet because they have already eaten. But the feeling of hunger does not come from an empty stomach but from the low nutrient content of the products eaten. The abundance then shows in the figure instead of in the nutrients. In principle, in such a case, a raw vegetable salad with sprouts, berries, nuts, green leafy vegetables, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, seeds, etc. would be a better choice, because then you are treating yourself to the nutrients your body demands. An even better solution would be to eat a nutrient-rich meal right from the start so that you don’t have to eat twice. A whole food diet, mostly plant-based, would be preferable.
Nutrient Situation of People with an Omnivore Diet
People who live an omnivore diet usually eat fewer vegetables and fruits than vegans. This is because their calorie needs are met with animal products, which are usually low in nutrients. This usually leaves less room on the plate for nutrient-rich foods of plant origin. Legumes are usually omitted from the Western diet altogether, even though they have been shown to have health benefits. As mentioned above, many potentially critical nutrients in the vegan diet are generally counted as critical nutrients because some of them are no longer available in our soils, are not absorbed by plants or are no longer present for hygiene reasons. Since most farm animals eat plants, this also applies to the animal products derived from them, which is why certain nutrients are fed to the animals as supplements in modern animal farming. In such a case, however, it is more advisable to take the supplement directly yourself, as you are then free to decide on its quality.
In order to meet the nutritional requirements of an omnivore diet, it is necessary to ensure that the majority of nutrients are provided by whole plant foods.
In addition to vitamins B2, B12, D, iron, selenium, zinc, calcium, iodine and omega-3 fatty acids, an omnivore diet often lacks fibre, unsaturated fatty acids, phytochemicals, magnesium, folic acid, vitamins B1, C and E. Furthermore, an omnivore diet contains too much cholesterol. Vitamin D should be supplemented in European latitudes from October to March by all sections of the population, as the angle of insolation from the sun is too low. Click on the pictures below for more information on the individual nutrients.


















