What are the benifits to becoming a vegetarian?
I am interested in becoming a vegetarian. It is health driven as well as cruelty toward animals driven. Are the health benifits worth giving up meat? Also any advice to giving up meat would be appreciated and how to handle family situations when the rest of family and friends eat meat would be appreciated!!!!
A vegetarian diet, when well-chosen, can be more conducive to good health than an orthodox diet, and is linked with a reduced incidence of chronic diseases.
OBESITY: More fiber-rich bulky foods are consumed; therefore, less total calories are consumed. Also, the overall healthy lifestyle of vegetarians may lead to increased physical activity.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE: A lifestyle void of smoking and excessive alcohol intake in conjunction with regular exercise decreases blood pressure. Diets low in fat and saturated fat and high in fiber, fruits, and vegetables may also lower blood pressure.
HEART DISEASE: Most vegetarians replace meat in their diets with foods made with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and soybeans. These foods provide less saturated fat, more fiber, antioxidants, and promote overall lean body composition.
DIGESTIVE DISORDERS: High fiber influences the health of the digestive tract.
CANCER: Vegetarians tend to consume less fat and protein, and seem to produce fewer carcinogens in the body than meat eaters.
Additionally, many vegetarian societies maintain that a vegetarian diet:
• Is more humane, saving the lives of animals that would be slaughtered for food
• Is more economical than a meat-based diet
• Creates fewer demands on the environment
• Is more economical to follow than an orthodox diet
For more information on Vegetarianism, read about the History of Vegetarianism or see our Links section.
Become a Vegetarian Gradually
Does the thought of becoming a vegetarian seem appealing to you, but you’re a bit overwhelmed? Are you trying to figure out exactly how to become a vegetarian? If you want to convert but are not ready to quit meat cold turkey, try gradually switching over. Start by eliminating one type of meat from your diet (like red meat). Then, after a while, stop another. And, throughout this process, incorporate vegetarian meals into your schedule. Start slowly, have a couple of vegetarian meals a week. Over time, increase the amount of vegetarian meals until meat is eliminated from your diet. In addition, get some great vegetarian cookbooks so you can keep meals interesting with some exciting meatless side dishes.
WHY EAT ORGANIC?
You might think that organic food is a fad only to be found in speciality shops. You might think that because most people don’t eat organic, it must be something unusual. The truth is that ‘organic’ simply means food in its purest form, grown or produced without chemical aid.
When you crunch into an apple, bite into a burger or pour milk on your cereal these days a meal isn’t all that you’re getting. Crops and animals absorb the chemicals with which they’re sprayed or fed – and next in the food chain to absorb these chemicals is you. Though you may be able to wash pesticide residues off the outside of foods, the chemicals do not disappear. Some break down slowly, and enter the food supply indirectly in our drinking water and through consumption of animal fats. Evidence shows that chemicals in combination – the way we are usually exposed in everyday life – may exponentially increase risk.
While there is not conclusive scientific evidence at this time to suggest that organically produced foods are more nutritious than conventionally-grown foods, healthy soils grow healthy plants which many believe taste better and contain more nutrients. Organic methods do produce wholesome food from healthy soil, and because they protect and restore the health of the environment, they ultimately help create a healthier world
Risks of Vegetarianism
Balancing vegetarian food and nutrition is vital to maintaining a healthy vegetarian diet. Strict vegetarians may be at risk of several nutrition deficiencies such as vitamin B-12, riboflavin, zinc, calcium, iron, and essential amino acids such as lysine and methionine. Vegans and vegetarians are also at risk of energy deficiency in the form of calories, particularly in children.
Long-term deficiencies in an inadequate vegetarian diet may lead to the following complications:
Osteoporosis as a result of a lack of calcium causing bone demineralization
Rickets in children due to a lack of vitamin D
Iron-Deficiency Anemia due to low iron storage. One study found that 27% of women and 5% of men who were lacto-ovo-vegetarians had low serum ferritin levels (iron storage)
Macrocytic Anemia due to vitamin B-12 deficiency. This has been observed in infants breast-fed by mothers who are strict vegetarians
Emaciation or Slow Growth in vegetarian infants and children
Another issue facing vegetarians is low protein quality based on protein digestibility and amino acid composition. The risk associated with the protein quality of plant foods is based on a lack of certain essential amino acids that are found in natural combinations in animal protein. Combining different vegetarian nutrition sources of protein can ensure that all essential amino acids are found in a healthy vegetarian diet.
Read here:
http://www.vegetarian-nutrition.info/updates/vegetarian_diets_health_benefits.php
May 30th, 2010 at 1:35 am
A vegetarian diet, when well-chosen, can be more conducive to good health than an orthodox diet, and is linked with a reduced incidence of chronic diseases.
OBESITY: More fiber-rich bulky foods are consumed; therefore, less total calories are consumed. Also, the overall healthy lifestyle of vegetarians may lead to increased physical activity.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE: A lifestyle void of smoking and excessive alcohol intake in conjunction with regular exercise decreases blood pressure. Diets low in fat and saturated fat and high in fiber, fruits, and vegetables may also lower blood pressure.
HEART DISEASE: Most vegetarians replace meat in their diets with foods made with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and soybeans. These foods provide less saturated fat, more fiber, antioxidants, and promote overall lean body composition.
DIGESTIVE DISORDERS: High fiber influences the health of the digestive tract.
CANCER: Vegetarians tend to consume less fat and protein, and seem to produce fewer carcinogens in the body than meat eaters.
Additionally, many vegetarian societies maintain that a vegetarian diet:
• Is more humane, saving the lives of animals that would be slaughtered for food
• Is more economical than a meat-based diet
• Creates fewer demands on the environment
• Is more economical to follow than an orthodox diet
For more information on Vegetarianism, read about the History of Vegetarianism or see our Links section.
Become a Vegetarian Gradually
Does the thought of becoming a vegetarian seem appealing to you, but you’re a bit overwhelmed? Are you trying to figure out exactly how to become a vegetarian? If you want to convert but are not ready to quit meat cold turkey, try gradually switching over. Start by eliminating one type of meat from your diet (like red meat). Then, after a while, stop another. And, throughout this process, incorporate vegetarian meals into your schedule. Start slowly, have a couple of vegetarian meals a week. Over time, increase the amount of vegetarian meals until meat is eliminated from your diet. In addition, get some great vegetarian cookbooks so you can keep meals interesting with some exciting meatless side dishes.
WHY EAT ORGANIC?
You might think that organic food is a fad only to be found in speciality shops. You might think that because most people don’t eat organic, it must be something unusual. The truth is that ‘organic’ simply means food in its purest form, grown or produced without chemical aid.
When you crunch into an apple, bite into a burger or pour milk on your cereal these days a meal isn’t all that you’re getting. Crops and animals absorb the chemicals with which they’re sprayed or fed – and next in the food chain to absorb these chemicals is you. Though you may be able to wash pesticide residues off the outside of foods, the chemicals do not disappear. Some break down slowly, and enter the food supply indirectly in our drinking water and through consumption of animal fats. Evidence shows that chemicals in combination – the way we are usually exposed in everyday life – may exponentially increase risk.
While there is not conclusive scientific evidence at this time to suggest that organically produced foods are more nutritious than conventionally-grown foods, healthy soils grow healthy plants which many believe taste better and contain more nutrients. Organic methods do produce wholesome food from healthy soil, and because they protect and restore the health of the environment, they ultimately help create a healthier world
Risks of Vegetarianism
Balancing vegetarian food and nutrition is vital to maintaining a healthy vegetarian diet. Strict vegetarians may be at risk of several nutrition deficiencies such as vitamin B-12, riboflavin, zinc, calcium, iron, and essential amino acids such as lysine and methionine. Vegans and vegetarians are also at risk of energy deficiency in the form of calories, particularly in children.
Long-term deficiencies in an inadequate vegetarian diet may lead to the following complications:
Osteoporosis as a result of a lack of calcium causing bone demineralization
Rickets in children due to a lack of vitamin D
Iron-Deficiency Anemia due to low iron storage. One study found that 27% of women and 5% of men who were lacto-ovo-vegetarians had low serum ferritin levels (iron storage)
Macrocytic Anemia due to vitamin B-12 deficiency. This has been observed in infants breast-fed by mothers who are strict vegetarians
Emaciation or Slow Growth in vegetarian infants and children
Another issue facing vegetarians is low protein quality based on protein digestibility and amino acid composition. The risk associated with the protein quality of plant foods is based on a lack of certain essential amino acids that are found in natural combinations in animal protein. Combining different vegetarian nutrition sources of protein can ensure that all essential amino acids are found in a healthy vegetarian diet.
Read here:
http://www.vegetarian-nutrition.info/updates/vegetarian_diets_health_benefits.php
References :
May 30th, 2010 at 1:52 am
I am a vegan, and I don’t eat meat for ethical reasons. However, there are health reasons that make it good to stop eating meat. Factory-farmed beef is loaded with antibiotics and medicines because the animals live so close together and don’t eat a natural diet. The fat and cholesteral in all meat is bad, bad, bad for your heart. There is nothing anywhere that says it is necessary to eat meat. Americans get twice the protein they need, and it’s bad for your kidneys.
Even tho you’re going to be a vegetarian, get the Vegan Sourcebook, Vegan Freak or Becoming Vegan. They will guide you on nutrition, which is not as hard as you think it is. If you will be drinking milk and eating eggs, you;ll have no problem getting protein.
Tell your family my cholesteral dropped from 243 to 148 from my vegan diet. I try not to make a big deal of it, no "carcass" jokes, etc. When you’re on your own you can bar meat from your house. Just eat what you can at family meals and fill up later with a healthy snack.
Some people give up meat all at once, some take baby steps. You know yourself better than anyone. I gave it up all at once- like it hurts less to rip off a bandage then to inch it off. There are all kinds of frozen veggie meals, hot dogs, burgers, breakfast patties, lunch "meat", etc. Don’t expect it to taste exactly like real meat- it won’t. But it will grow on you. And there’s always peanut butter! (Nuts have wonderful nutritional qualities- but not peanuts. They’re a bean).
Good luck, and stick with it!
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May 30th, 2010 at 2:01 am
I have been vegan for 6 months now. I started it to lose weight, but somewhere along the way it changed my life forever. All of my health issues went away and I have a new awareness about the environment and animal rights. It is the single best decision I have ever made in my life.Go vegan for life! Treat yourself to the best food that nature has to offer and you will always maintain your ideal weight and never have to feel hungry. For the first couple of weeks nothing tasted good to me, I missed what I thought to be great tasting foods. But then my taste buds started adjusting to veggies.. It really helped when I discovered this website:
http://www.veganchef.com/
I have purchased a dozen vegan cookbooks, but I always come back to this girl. She has got it going on! The Venetian Veggie Burgers are out of this world. I stopped buying the ones in the stores because hers are so much better. I cook a double batch and put them between wax paper and freeze them. Make a sandwich with tomato,onion, vegan cheese,hummus,grape seed mayonnaise or just about anything you like. There are many meat substitutes on the market, I use a lot of seitan,tofu and textured soy protein in place of meat.
2 hours ago – Edit – Delete
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May 30th, 2010 at 2:13 am
there are plenty on benefits- healthy weight, no parasites(they mostly come from meat), no constipation( veggies have more water and fiber)less cholesterol-> normal blood pressure. i believe that a lot of illnesses come from meat, because they treat animals with antibiotics, hormones, add chemicals in their food. your body and breath will smell better, you will feel less tired (it takes a lot of intestinal work to digest meat). and also think about your personal contribution to the nature that suffers now because of meat industry. I practice yoga and teaching adds one more benefit: it is said that universe is created of energy that manifests itself in everything, and feeling and understanding this energy is understanding meaning of life. density of animal energy disrupts this process.
start gradually, specially if you really like meat, this will prevent feeling deprived of smth favorite. substitute red meat with fish, turkey, chicken, tofu.read some literature about healthy choices in your food. do autotraining, go to seminar about vegetarianism.
don’t become judgemental about people eating meat- it leads to agression ( they can hide it but will think you are snobbish).
don’t announce to everybody that from now on you not gonna eat meat, just say that you are concerned about your health and need help in maintaining healthy lifestyle. i think this decision should be personal. if you go out to eat with friends, don’t talk about why you order this not that, just get smth meat free, but tasty-it’s easy nowadays every restaurant has options for us.
think about your desires and feelings during transition period. personal journal would help. read blogs of new vegetarians for support. look up in the internet stories of people with20-30 years of experience-it’s an inspiration.
i wish you good luck. be strong in this journey. you have wonderful times ahead.
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May 30th, 2010 at 2:31 am
Yes, there are health benefits – but for me the biggest benefit is being able to walk around with a clear conscience knowing I am no longer contributing towards any animals living their short lives in hellish conditions and dying in fear and pain.
I gave up meat gradually over a really long time. i stopped eating lamb quite early when I realised that the cute baby sheep around the corner had to die for me to eat it. I went off beef when I found a big vein in a piece of meat at about 14 years old and after that only ate it occasionally. Between then and the age of 24 I really struggled with eating meat. I cut right down, eventually to just chicken breasts and white fish. I couldn’t eat anything that looked like a body part and if anyone mentioned where what I was eating came from (ie the word pig while eating bacon ) I couldn’t finish the meal.
At the age of 24 I forced myself to look into animal cruelty in the farming industry and that was that – no more meat – I just couldn’t do it.
Advice for family gatherings: If you are eating at someone else place – make a dish to take with you so as not to put out the host – but make enough for everyone to have a try – more often than not they really enjoy it!
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May 30th, 2010 at 2:55 am
Lots of people will give you many good answers and reasons to become vegetarian. How ever, you do need to be careful.
NEVER EAT ANY UNFERMENTED SOY PRODUCTS AND NEVER GO NEAR ANY TEXTURED SOY PROTEIN AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR MEAT. The stuff is poison and will kill you faster than any meat product. Go to http://www.soyonlineservice.co.nz for an unbiased review of soy. One of the main contributors is Dr. Mike Fitzpatrick. He has no ties to any organisations that have any vested interest in soy and he works at the Centre for Advanced Medicine in Auckland New Zealand, primarily treating cancer.
Get your blood tested. One of the side effects of vegetarian diet is enlarged red blood cells. This is one of the symptoms that my brother suffered from during his time as a vegetarian. In the end, his doctor advised him to go back to eating meat as his body was not coping well with the diet.
If it works for you – go for it. There are far fewer problems with family and friends attitudes. You just have to put up with them thinking that you are on a fad diet, or going through a phase that you will grow out of. Ignore it, don’t confront them and they will get used to it. As for me, it’s dinner time here and I am off to put a steak on the barbie.
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May 30th, 2010 at 3:26 am
yes and nooo.. yes because you wouln;t gett all the animals stresss and noo because you wouldnt gget the fibres and proteins that meat provides you with =)
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May 30th, 2010 at 3:45 am
You are not a part of all the other murderers.
Pretty much explains everything.
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May 30th, 2010 at 4:22 am
you fell really better, your body is more clean, easy to work liver, kidneys, intestines , circulatory system, your skin seem fresh , and the habits of food changes so the meat is seen as a poor animal that dies useless and umpunishedless
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May 30th, 2010 at 5:04 am
yay! a possible vegetarian to be ~!
hooray!!
yes there are so good many reason to become vegetarian~many wonders why one didn’t do it earlier !!
heheh ~
yes u get a reduced chance of getting cancer on a properly nutritional diet!~ u wont be overweight so easily as long as not much junk food..
well u can prepare a really nice salad
and tryu convince more ppl in ur family to beome vegetarian also!!
hehhe buy vegetable patties~~
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May 30th, 2010 at 5:28 am
being a vegetarian for the rest of your life is like never driving a car – co2 wise.
however, becoming a vegetarian has many benefits, if the diet is done properly.
you become healthier by having to monitor your protein and vitamins, something i know that i didn’t do before being a vegetarian.
plus, you save the animals, and more people feel obligated to do the same as well.
as far as the family and friends thing, this is another opportunity to show people the vegetarian lifestyle.
for example, if you go to a friend’s house that you know is very big on eating meat products, then bring a vegetarian dish such as tofu or vegetables over, that way they can get a taste of it and of a vegetarian diet.
as far as family goes, go along with your parents to the grocery store every once in a while and stock up on dairy, cheese, pasta, legumes (beans), granola, etc.
lots of protein!
good luck!
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