If I try substituting beef or chicker with other sources of protein and turn vegetarian; what are the cons?!
Answers: what good comes out of it?
Worcestershire sauce is made from anchovies....this makes it a fish based product and thus not vegetarian. It also contains substantial amounts of salt which in a Western diet tends not to be a good thing.
The cons of being a vegetarian are subjective, the degree to which you will find yourself at a disadvantage when compared to meat eating depends on your personality and lifestyle. Possible cons are:
1) Social. Eating at restaurants, parties, BBQs etc may be made less pleasurable. You may also experience negative reactions from friends, family and even strangers. Much of that can be avoided so long as you do not antagonize them because if you want respect for being vegetarian, you must respect others if they are not.
2) For women, red meat is the best natural source for available iron in the diet to replace that lost by the menstrual cycle. Some vegetables are very iron rich but the iron does not tend to be absorbed by the human digestive system. Certainly there are dietary supplements but relying on pill popping to make up for a deficiency in your food doesn't appeal to some people.
3) Protein substituted based on vegetables, nuts and fungi are an acquired taste to some. There is the ongoing estrogen debate but I tend to think its more hype than true health issue (as has been pointed out). Tofu is infamous for its flatulence effect on some people, some beans also have a reputation in this area as well. Nuts tend to be high in fat and rice generally has a high glycemic index (it elevates blood sugar quickly and substantially which can lead to energy problems, weight gain or bloody sugar control issues). Avoiding these issues takes some shopping savvy in terms of product choice and some food preparation skills.
WHAT GOOD COMES OUT OF IT?
Depends on what you want our of it but here are some pros:
1) Save money, meats are expensive in most parts of the world now and the prices are unlikely to go down.
2) Ethics. Some people care a great deal about the cruelty of the meat industry and the raising and harvesting of animals for meat.
3) Health. Whilst heart disease and fat are not exclusive to the consumption of meats, meats contribute enormously to the poor effects of the Western diet with regards to health. Cholesterol and saturated fats are predominantly meat realted health issues. Various cancers, especially bowel cancer, are a much higher risk to people who consume meat.
4) Longevity. Go and research which in parts of the world where people live the longest and you will find that these populations are almost entirely vegetarian. This does not mean humans are herbivores, but it does demonstrate that were are naturally inclined that way. It is generally best to consider humans as meat tolerant as opposed to meat dependant.
Hope this helps clarify a few things. I say the effort is worth it and nothing worthwhile is easy!
What are the cons? None whatsoever! If you're a meat-lover, you might have to get used to the taste of tofu, beans, TVP or whatever but that's the only con.
What good? Well it's lighter on your stomach, it's a good source of fiber (not the processed stuff though), you can feel good that you're not eating a dead animal, etc.
Don't bother with tofu or soy-based products... they are all endocrine system disruptors that will put your thyroid flat on its back... make you tired and fat.
Look for a product called Quorn in the freezer section... it is a high-protein product made from mushrooms, and approximates chicken or ground beef quite well. The beef flavor is better if you hit it with some worchestershire sauce.
Cons
- You might be socially more isolated if eating meat is a big part of your social diet - barbecues, pot-lucks, that sort of thing
- You may not know how to cook with alternative foods like seitan, tofu, quinoa, beans, lentils, chickpeas, eggs, cheese, milk, yogurt, and wholegrains.
Ignore what was said above about soy being an endocrine disruptor. That's an idea popularized by Joseph Mercola, a quack herbalist "doctor." The more credible controversy over soy is due to its high plant-estrogen content, but I think that's a bit overblown, since nuts, whole grains, meat, dairy and fruit all have high estrogen content as well.
Also, Quorn is a delicious alternative to meat, but it is expensive and highly processed, and is certainly NOT made from mushrooms. It's a lab-produced protein whose closest relative is mold; that's not necessarily bad - after all, penicillin is made from mold, and yogurt and cheese come from bacteria.
Also, most Worcestershire sauce is not veggie, unfortunately.