Pros and cons of vegetarian/vegan diet?!
Now that my bio is done with, here is my question. What, if any, are the health-related drawbacks of taking on a vegetarian lifestyle, or if I wanted to go to the extreme, a vegan lifestyle? I know the vegan lifestyle is a huge step and requires a load of determination and will-power, along with the knowledge of what products on the market contain, but I may get there one day.
I've been on a vegetarian diet for about the last 2 weeks and haven't seen any negative changes yet (other than very solid poo). Should I be expecting drastic changes in my body in the next couple of weeks or are my carnivorous friends who know about my decision doing a great job of fear-mongering?
Answers: Lately (last 2-3 months), I've found myself feeling extremely guilty every time I knowingly consume any meal with meat or other animal bi-product (dairy products). I even feel a little guilty knowing my shampoo was tested on animals or that my couch is leather.
Now that my bio is done with, here is my question. What, if any, are the health-related drawbacks of taking on a vegetarian lifestyle, or if I wanted to go to the extreme, a vegan lifestyle? I know the vegan lifestyle is a huge step and requires a load of determination and will-power, along with the knowledge of what products on the market contain, but I may get there one day.
I've been on a vegetarian diet for about the last 2 weeks and haven't seen any negative changes yet (other than very solid poo). Should I be expecting drastic changes in my body in the next couple of weeks or are my carnivorous friends who know about my decision doing a great job of fear-mongering?
Ok, this is going to sound flippant buuuut - what are the pros and cons of meat eating? Here's a few cons: The consumption of animal products has been conclusively linked with heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, and osteoporosis. Cholesterol (found only in animal products) and animal fat clog arteries, leading to heart attacks and strokes. The rate of colon cancer is highest in regions where meat consumption is high, and lowest where meat-eating is uncommon. A similar pattern is evident for breast, cervical, uterine, ovarian, prostate, and lung cancers.
So someone might come along and say that a diet that is vegan will cause - huh, more gas (more veggies = more ruffage = more gas). Or they might say "you gotta watch your vitamin intake cuz meat has so much more and your going to be giving them up" - paaaleeeeze.
So here is how it works: instead of getting the calcium leaching vitamin D milk from cows (quick question: what country has the highest milk consumption AND the highest osteoporosis disease rate? You got it - America) you will get your calcium from - where do I start - spinach, seseame seeds, cualiflower, chard, broccoli and if you want soy milk, tempeh, tofu.
Instead of getting your protein from the amino acids derived from animal flesh you'll now get them from the amino acids derived from beans and grains and veggies and fruits and everything else that doesn't cost a life in exchange.
Concider for a moment how many people there are that have serious health problems who eat meat compared to those that don't eat meat. The problem is that most people who eat meat don't want to admit or haven't been told that the cause is years and years of meat eating. They hear diabetes and they don't here that milk is a contributing factor. They hear arthritis and nobody has made the connection for them. Well the facts are out there, just take the time to look.
As far as guilt - nothings going to bring the cows back that gave their leather for your couch. But you can do something to help the ones that are still alive. Start by adopting a vegan lifestyle: first for the animals, then for the environment and lastly for yourself.
Take a moment and go to Meat.org and find out how animals suffer and why you should put them first. This info is what the meat and dairy industries do not want you to see.
Your friends are idiots. Fear mongering is the latest pastime and it looks like both developed and developing nations' peoples indulge in it. Whether it's dissuading people from going vegetarian, or wondering if the world will end on Dec 21, 2012, the human race has a penchant for gloom and doom imagination.
Well technically if you are very careful then you should not have any problems even if you go vegan. However, I mean VERY careful.
As a vegetarian you can help yourself in several ways. First, get on a good daily multivitamin. You can ask a pharmacists or doctor for a recommendation for your age, gender, and life style. Its important and can help you a lot.
If you are watching your protein and fat intakes that should be fine. However it is VERY important that you get enough protein and healthy fats, which can be hard for a veggie and extra hard for a vegan. The numbers are different for everyone based on age and gender, so either talk to a doctor, nutritionist, or do some research to find out what your daily needs are and make sure you meet them! Without proper protein and fat intakes your body will try to get it from other places to feed your brain. That means your muscles will weaken and be fed to your brain, leaving your muscles damages. This can do permanent heart damage.
However you can get plenty of fat and proteins from tofu products, beans, legumes, nuts, et cetera. You just have to pay attention. Also you can get some good and healthy fats from fruits and veggies, include things like avacado and coconut in your diet.
Make sure you take in plenty of fluids, waters and teas. You should be getting at least 2.5 liters of fluid a day in the form of water or herbal teas.
Basically if you do a good job of getting your nutrients you can have a happy, healthy veggie or vegan life style. If you do not watch it and dont get your proper vitamins you will lose bone density, muscle tissue, and the quality of things made from protein, such as your hair, skin, and nails will break down.
There have been connections to vegetarians having less cancer and alzheimers, having less heart disease, and living quite long lives. Just make sure your veggie decisions are well researched and healthy ones.
Good luck.
Congrats on going vegetarian! There really aren't any health-related drawbacks. You'll get all of the nutrients you need by eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and grains. Some new vegetarians make the mistake of only eating low-calorie foods like salads, so you'll want to make sure you're still meeting your caloric needs.
Position of the American Dietetic Association on vegetarian/vegan diets: http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada...
Veg foods high in protein, iron, and calcium:
http://www.tryveg.com/cfi/toc/?v=08sourc...
I've been vegetarian for over 10 years and vegan for about five years. I enjoy good health and am one of the only people in my family who doesn't have to take cholesterol-lowering drugs. Ask your friends why so many people in India are raised as vegetarians and are perfectly healthy. :)
At least for me, being vegan hasn't been nearly as difficult as I had imagined. (It does take awhile to adjust though). There are tons of delicious non-dairy products and faux meats. I eat vegan versions of milk, yogurt, ice cream, cheese, butter, etc. Here's a list of some popular vegan products if you're interested:
http://www.vegcooking.com/guide-favs.asp
Good luck!!
Provided you get all your nutrients then go for it, though the idea that you feel guilty about something shows that there could be a deeper problem in your life that you are feeling guilt over and that should be addressed
The only con I can think of is that some people don't do well on vegetarian diets, especially if they are doing a lot of manual work.
I lived on a commune/artist co-op/organic farm for about a year. We tried going strictly vegetarian (with people very knowledgeable about nutrition planning the meals), but several of us (myself included) just didn't do well on the diet. We started eating limited amounts of meat afterwards, and everybody felt much better. Mind you, we were out doing farm work from sun-up to sun-down. If you aren't doing that much physical work, it shouldn't be much of an issue for you.
We also experimented with the "Blood Type Diet," with mixed results. If you have "O" blood type, according to the diet, you should be eating "meat and potatoes."
I myself never experimented with that diet very much, because all of my favorite foods (like citrus fruit) were off limits to my blood type. I'm from Florida! I can't give up my tangerines and grapefruit! (I was supposed to drink coffee, though, so it wouldn't have been all bad!)
edit: So I suppose I got a thumbs down because I dare express a view point based on my own personal experiences. What works for some people doesn't work for everyone. I know, better than anyone else, how I felt after trying to be a vegetarian. It didn't work for me, so now I eat meat, on a limited(compared to "mainstream" society, anyways) basis. I try to always eat locally produced meat, raised and slaughtered as humanely as possible. Eating meat isn't the problem. Factory farming (including industrial-organic farms, like cascadian farms) and over-consumption are the problem!
Pros: too many to list
Cons: others' ignorance and harassing comments.
You won't see any negative changes unless you aren't eating well and that has nothing to do with being a vegetarian.