Im a vegetarian but im afraid it affecting my health? help?!
Im a vegetarian but im afraid it affecting my health? help?
i've been a vegatarian for the last 2 months and i dont plan on giving it up but everyone around me , especially my parents, have been advising me too. it seems that i've had a lot less energy lately. i come from school and fall asleep and im usually really drowsy and my mom says its becuase im not getting the energy i should be getting from meat. i have taken up eating beans at least once a week and i eat tofu. i even tried protien powder that u mix in drinks but it tastes gross. any suggestions on how to stay healthy and still keep up my vegetarianism?
Answers:
Research has shown that vegetarians are 50 percent less likely to develop heart disease, and they have 40 percent of the cancer rate of meat-eaters.3,4 Plus, meat-eaters are nine times more likely to be obese than vegans are.5
The consumption of meat, eggs, and dairy products has also been strongly linked to osteoporosis, Alzheimer's, asthma, and male impotence. Scientists have also found that vegetarians have stronger immune systems than their meat-eating friends; this means that they are less susceptible to everyday illnesses like the flu.7 Vegetarians and vegans live, on average, six to 10 years longer than meat-eaters.8
A plant-based diet is the best diet for kids, too: Studies have shown that vegetarian kids grow taller and have higher IQs than their classmates, and they are at a reduced risk for heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and other diseases in the long run.10,11 Studies have shown that even older people who switch to a vegetarian or vegan diet can prevent and even reverse many chronic ailments.
TIPS
Eat a variety of "whole foods," with plenty of beans, nuts, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Avoid unhealthy foods like trans fats, which are usually listed as partially hydrogenated oils. Deep-fried foods often contain trans fats. Choose margarines that use nonhydrogenated oil, like Earth Balance or Smart Balance. Although a diet consisting of Coke and French fries is technically vegan, you can't be healthy if you eat nothing but junk food.
Vitamin B12: Vitamin B12 is produced by bacteria, and some experts believe that vegetarians used to get plenty of this vitamin from bacteria in drinking water. Since drinking water is now treated with chemicals that kill the bacteria, it's important to make sure that you get enough vitamin B12 from fortified foods (like most brands of soy or rice milks, some breakfast cereals, and many brands of nutritional yeast) on a daily basis or by taking a sublingual B12 tablet of 10 mcg per day.
Source(s):
http://goveg.com/optimal_vegan_nutrition...
are you eating fresh fruits and vegetables? You should be, as well as whole grains like rice and quinoa. Perhaps you need a vitamin supplement until you learn how to function on a healthy vegetarian diet without supplements. Good luck
The way I see it is this, God made us and in the Bible he tells us to eat meat, so you figure it out. That's like running your car on water, there is something missing. It's ok to eat vegetables I love them, but not only veggies.
try eating nuts, eggs, & cheese. they have good amounts of protein and tend to give me energy when im draggin *** in the afternoon
Eating beans only once a week is not enough. Sounds like you aren't getting enough protein. Eat beans, nuts, peanut butter, broccoli, spinach, or other high protein foods every day.
meat gives u energy espescaily if u have pms
I've been a veg for 10 years now. I started in 8th grade. It's good to wean yourself off meat as opposed to just quitting "cold turkey" (pardon the pun), and to also eat as much protein as you would otherwise. Did you used to only eat meat once a week? If not, then beans once a week is probably not enough. (Protein powder is best in a shake or smoothie, by the way, anything creamy!) Here is something that's almost certainly missing from your diet and slowing you down: IRON. You probably have an iron deficiency right now, which can be solved by taking supplements and by checking out the link below for a list of great food sources for iron! Iron helps hemoglobin transport oxygen to our cells, which is vital in the production of energy. Not enough iron, not enough energy!
Lethargy can come from a lack or deficiancy of B12 in your diet. B12 is usually only found in meat or animal products. If you're not a vegan, B12 in your diet can easily come milk and eggs (both have roughly 0.9 micrograms of B12 in a serving).
If you would prefer not to eat animal products, try taking a supplement. Personally, I have found Propel and Vitamin Water to be good (but not great) sources of B12 as well. B12 can easily be found in ANY vitamin supplement.
The average adult needs about 2.4 micrograms of B12 per day. B12 is very important, a long lasting deficiancy can result in a weakened nervous system.
That is normal, you are no doubt overcoming your American upbringing in thinking that. The American media in cahoots with the beef, poultry, and other industries wants you to believe that if you don't stuff your colon with animal products that you are doing yourself harm, just to ensure that they always have fat wallets.
Those who say that is says it is okay to eat meat because The Bible says so is ridiculous. Where does it say that animals are edible? That cows and pigs, etc. should be raised for food just because we think they are palatable?
Congrats on going vegetarian. The only vitamin and mineral that you may need more of to make up for not ingesting meat is vitamin B's and maybe a bit more iron. Our intestinal tracts are almost identical to other herbivores, and just because we are brainwashed to believe that other animals are born to die for us, it is not true. Carnivores have short intestinal tracts (i.e. dogs and cats) and cannot absorb fiber (i.e. fruits and vegetables). We do not need as much protein as you may think. No faith should include the senseless slaughter of innocent sentient beings.
i have the same problem...but i've started eating beans at least once a day, and have also began eating peanut butter on toast every morning which seems to give me a lot of energy...also, soy milk has a lot of protein..i also eat a health bar once a day called LunaBars..There's 10 grams of protein in each one and they provide a lot of vitamins...in addition, they give you 30% of your daily iron needs, which is a huge thing when you're not eating red meat...you can find them everywhere from healthfood stores to Target..I know they can be expensive some places, but I get mine for 99 cents each at Whole Foods.
also, i have found meatless burgers and other products to be REALLY good and give me the energy i need...Boca and Morningstar make several different kinds of veggie burgers (the black bean chipotle ones are really delicious), and also make "chicken" nuggets, chicken patties, sausage links, and ribs....They're really delicious, and you'll find that they provide you with just as much protein as meat, without all the fat and cholesterol...Hope this helps..Good luck!!
My best advice is to eat more protein, try to eat beans more than once a week and try other things like nuts and legumes. Also try eating more whole grains.
If you still feel this way then talk to your doctor!
Eat a portion of tofu/veggie sausage/veggie burger or other meat substitutes once a day. Chickpeas are another great source of protein. And are you eating enough carbs?
Something else that hasnt been mentioned here is that you should vary your diet as much as possible. Try eating different vegetables/meat substitutes etc from day to day!
Could be like me. I had the same thing and Friends told my mother that it was because i was not eating meat (try telling that to my Mum, she a Nutritionist). I went to the Doctor and found i was not absorbing B12. I would not have absorbed it whether i ate meat or not.
Go to a Doctor and get a blood test. Then try to change your diet to get all the nutrients you need.