Jamie is a 16-year-old tennis player who has recently embarked on a vegan diet. Because of her food choices (mostly fruit smooth
ies made with almond milk and salads with a mix of richly-colored vegetables, fat-free dressing and nuts sprinkled on the top for protein), she is having difficulty meeting her caloric and protein requirements. She has lost 10 pounds in the two months she's been vegan. A week ago, Jamie tripped on the court and skinned her knee. Her injury is inflamed and is slow in healing. What might be a reason for this?
The human skin is made up of fats, water and protein with the most important protein being Collagen. Collagen is necessary for the body to heal its skin and nails and it uses it to reconstitute the damaged skin cells.
Meat provides an abundant source for proteins like collagen and because vegetarians like Jamie do not eat meat, they are denied this abundant source of protein such that they will be unable to heal their skin as effectively and as fast.
