Dangers of Vegetarianism?

[sulis]

French fries aren't healthful!?!?!

(mmmm, french fries and mayo...)

Umm..lets see - French Fries are made from potatoes and potatoes are a vegetable...so they must count towards my veggies for the day - thereby being a healthy food!

If I dip them in ketchup, can I count that as a fruit?
Sigh - fries are a weakness. Of course I don't dip in ketchup. I love chocolate shakes. Yumm..sweet and salty.

Doh - now I am craving fries and a shake

[mimitabby]

I am an omnivore. I always will be. However, I know that humans can do well on a vegetarian diet, but it is even more critical to pay attention to nutrition because the western diet of convenience foods sort of precludes good nutrition.

So, it's harder, takes more thought and planning. I know you guys are joking about french fries, but i have known some vegetarians who took a bad diet with meat and cut the meat out. and french fries apparently are a large part of that kind of diet, coupled with soft drinks.

As I stated in the beginning, I am an omnivore. I believe that humans evolved to where they are by their incredible flexibility. If you don't count cockroaches, there isn't a single other animal on the planet that eats (and thrives on) a more diverse diet.
So who am I to eschew tasty nutritious animal proteins? gnamgnam gnam.
I can't give it up, but more power to those of you who want to!

[michelem]

Interesting article on this topic:

http://www.westonaprice.org/mythstru...tarianism.html

[Pax]

Interesting article on this topic:

http://www.westonaprice.org/mythstru...tarianism.html

Very odd, point by point The China Study counters every single argument made in that article. Makes it hard for us lay people to know who's right.

[lizbids]

Thanks so much for the input!! For the record, genetics can certainly take over no matter what, unfortunately. For instance, someone wrote they have less grey hair, but I'm 27 and apparently take after my grandfather, who also went grey pretty fast. I just hope that the breast cancer my uncle has and my mom had won't come finding me...oh and the colon cancer of said grandfather.

I'm suspicious of multi-vitamins...are there any that dissolve in a drink, like water, as opposed to swallowing the pill? I've heard studies that proved they didn't dissolve, hence the term, "All you have now is expensive urine."

What about protein shakes with vitamins? I'm trying to cut back on milk products (never digested well anyway)...I bought some vanilla soy milk but have yet to try it. I'll let you all know

I also want to warn veggies about over-consumption of the wrong foods. I hate it when a vegan or a vegetarian would point out the dangers of my burger while they scarfed down fries and were about 40 lb.s overweight. I suppose nowadays is IS easier, with pastas having multigrain and using whole wheat and stuff.

So these books you all recommend...they have break-downs of what foods to include in your diet in order to receive the right nutrients? I'm so excited to read!!

[divingbiker]

I hate it when a vegan or a vegetarian would point out the dangers of my burger while they scarfed down fries and were about 40 lb.s overweight.

Well, here's where genetics enters into it also. I'm 40 pounds overweight, even though I'm a vegan who eats french fries very rarely. I'm proof that it's possible to be fat even if you eat right and exercise, so go figure.

For me, veganism is an ethical choice. I'm sure that one can eat a healthy diet that includes animal products, but I choose not to for the sake of the animals.

[kaian]

I was a vegetarian for several years and went back to eating chicken about a year ago. I was having soft tissue problems - I had tendinitis in 4 different parts of my body within a 3 year period all from "overuse" even though I really was not over-training. My chiropractor suggested I try eating some meat to see if it made a difference. I don't like red meat and I am allergic to fish, so I just eat chicken maybe 2-3 times a week at most and do whey protein shakes as well. I have not had any problems since I started eating meat. I have also noticed that my performance on the bike has improved, which I didn't expect.

So...while I think vegetarianism is the ideal (I don't really enjoy eating meat), I don't think it was working for me. A lot of veg products you can buy at the store are processed and that's something to think about too. Too much processed food is not good either. So...if you can prepare healthy meals and your body responds well, I say go for it. I think it's different for everyone. It certainly can't hurt to try. I tried for 6 years and ultimately I think there was something I wasn't getting that I needed.

It's hard though. I do think about the animals and some days it's hard for me to eat the chicken. I have to eat pre-cooked (can't see it in its raw form) chicken. But, I am feeling better and it has kept me out of physical therapy!

[deena]

I have been a vegetarian for more than ten years. No meat, chicken, or fish. I do eat eggs and dairy, but as I have become a better eater, have reduced that too.

Concentrate on whole grains, fruits, and veggies. The key is variety. I don't look at the nutritional value of each meal, but of the day as a whole. If I am eating lunch out with co-workers I may wind up with a cheese sandwich - just make up the difference at dinner. I also took to grazing (on HEALTHY foods) rather than eating big meals.

There's a great book - Vegetarian Sports Nutrition by D. Enette Larson-Meyer, who is a cyclist. She covers foods as well as meeting the hydration needs. Great resource.

[mimitabby]

Thanks so much for the input!! For the record, genetics can certainly take over no matter what, unfortunately. For instance, someone wrote they have less grey hair, but I'm 27 and apparently take after my grandfather, who also went grey pretty fast. I just hope that the breast cancer my uncle has and my mom had won't come finding me...oh and the colon cancer of said grandfather.

I'm suspicious of multi-vitamins...are there any that dissolve in a drink, like water, as opposed to swallowing the pill? I've heard studies that proved they didn't dissolve, hence the term, "All you have now is expensive urine."

What about protein shakes with vitamins? I'm trying to cut back on milk products (never digested well anyway)...I bought some vanilla soy milk but have yet to try it. I'll let you all know

I also want to warn veggies about over-consumption of the wrong foods. I hate it when a vegan or a vegetarian would point out the dangers of my burger while they scarfed down fries and were about 40 lb.s overweight. I suppose nowadays is IS easier, with pastas having multigrain and using whole wheat and stuff.

So these books you all recommend...they have break-downs of what foods to include in your diet in order to receive the right nutrients? I'm so excited to read!!

yes, You're right about the grey hair. People don't go grey because they eat meat. There are millions of people who never eat meat and their hair is grey.
However, if your urine is colored from your vitamins, that means they DID dissolve. what it also means is that your body didn't absorb what you see obviously...

[Zen]

When I was a student of anatomy our textbook had photos of cadavers to show various muscles. That pretty much put me off meat. I find that the vanilla soy milk has too high a sugar content. You may want to do a search with the terms complete and incomplete proteins and complimentary proteins.
and check out http://www.mypyramid.gov/mypyramid/index.aspx

[smilingcat]

Cookbooks for reference:

Any of Moosewood cookbooks. Great recipe.
Laurel's Kitchen Have nutrional information and how to mix grains, beans corn and other vegetable protein to make it worthwhile. After six or so month of veggie diet, your nose will become sensitive to the smell of meat in a grocery store. And you'll be able to pinpoint where the meat section is just from the smell.

I like veggie burger from Trader Joe. You can't tell its veggie burger... yum...

smilingcat

[beetle]

Another omnivore here. I don't have the time or inclination to become vego BUT think those that do it well should have a very healthy body and be giving themselves a great chance against many diseases.

Just wanted to add that if you are exercising a lot make sure you are getting enough protein as plant sources are not as efficiently processed as animal sources (which could include milk, eggs and cheese if you choose to eat them).

Also be careful falling back on multivitamins to replace the things not in your diet. This link shows an interview discussing recent findings about some antioxidant supplements (inc beta-carotene, Vit A and Vit E) and links to increased risk of mortality. http://www.abc.net.au/rn/healthreport/stories/2007/1861068.htm
. This guy is talking about Danish research but it supports recent American findings. I've not read this particular interview transcript but read a summary of the American findings just the other day. It seems that until now little research had been done into potential negative effects of taking supplements and really its just been assumed (with the help of multivit producers no doubt) that they are beneficial. My personal view - there is no substitute for real food - if you can't get all the vits and minerals you need from real food (with certain exceptions) then perhaps your diet needs to be rethought vegetarian or otherwise.