What are Some DISadvantages of being a Vegetarian?!


Question: What are Some DISadvantages of being a Vegetarian!?
I am a lacto-ovo-vegetarian!. I hear lots of good things about my lifestyle, but there have got to be some downsides too (besides having trouble getting the right amount of daily protein for your weight)!.Www@FoodAQ@Com


Answers:
One of the reasons that many health professionals consider a vegetarian diet unhealthy is the routine dependence on carbohydrates to fill the gap left by meat and other animal-based foods!. Younger vegetarians are especially likely to lean on bread, cereal grains, sugary fruits, and desserts to fill them up while the rest of their family is eating meat or poultry, but adult vegetarians can fall prey to carbohydrate dependency and addiction as well!. Foods rich in protein take longer for the body to digest and will fill you up, so a meal without enough protein will naturally leave a person hungry and can lead to overeating - usually of carbs!. Excessive carbs and sugars becomes a vicious cycle, since eating sugar tends to make you crave more sweets!. An unbalanced vegetarian diet without sufficient protein can lead to sugar addiction, blood sugar highs and lows, and in the long term even diabetes!.

Other unhealthy vegetarian foods to watch out for include margarine (made of highly processed hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fats; even “soft” non-hydrogenated margarine often contains toxic additives) and soy - which can be healthy in moderation, but dubious in large quantities since it can create hormone imbalances in both men and women!. Heavily processed veg protein foods like textured soy protein, seitan, and fake meats (veggie dogs, veggie “chicken,” “tofurkey,” veggie slices) are good in extreme moderation but are very difficult for most people to digest because of their additives and the degree of processing they undergo!.

Fortified rice/soy drinks and other foods that vegetarians are often directed towards can also be a mixed blessing!. The sources of the vitamins and minerals in these foods are rarely listed and may be from natural or, more usually, from cheap manufactured sources that are difficult for the body to absorb and make use of - so you receive hardly any useable nutrition from them!.

A vegetarian diet is, by definition, neither healthy nor unhealthy – like any diet, it depends on the extent of your knowledge and how much care you take to eat foods in balance, get the right nutrition for your body, and avoid overly processed foods and sugars!. The website for VIVA, Vegetarians International Voice for Animals, summarizes nicely: “The truth is, most people who eat meat don’t give a second thought to diet and nutrition and that’s one of the reasons that diet-related illnesses such as obesity, diabetes and many cancers are on the increase!.” Vegetarianism comes with its own set of associated risks, but if you care enough to be a vegetarian, it’s in your interest to give a second thought to your diet, take the time to get it right and do what’s best for your health!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

First of all, I don't know where people get the idea that getting protein as a vegetarian is a problem, especially if you're lacto-ovo!. People in the Western world eat FAR more protein than they need!. Humans only need 50 grams of protein a day unless they're super athletes or have a medical issue that demands more than that!. If most people are consuming some combination of eggs, dairy, tofu, soy products, mock meats, beans, nuts, and grains, they're going to be just fine!

I only think of two disadvantages to the choice:

- People don't understand the lifestyle, so they ask you strange questions!. For example, "Do you eat fish!?" and "Oh, if you don't eat fish, that means you're vegan, right!?" The weirdest one I ever got is if vegetarians eat flour!. (Not unless you bake it into something!.!.!.)

- There are restaurants in this country that still don't offer a lot of vegetarian options or that have non-veggie ingredients in their foods!. For example, there are Mexican places that put lard in their beans and/or chicken stock in their rice!. So you may have to ask a lot of annoying questions when you're out or at someone else's house!.

But that's all I can think of! Overall, being lacto-ovo is a really positive experience!. It's easy to find food almost anywhere, I feel much healthier now, I know that I'm causing less animal suffering and harm to the environment than the average person, and I get a lot of compliments from people who admire my commitment to do this!. I don't find it hard, but I still enjoy the praise!. :)Www@FoodAQ@Com

Being criticized and judged by uneducated people!. Not that I care what they think, I'm just sick of being bombarded with their stupid questions!.

also the limitations at a resturant!. I'm generally a picky eater anyway, but it sucks going somewhere I use to love and not have anything to order anymore!. Plus you never know exactly what your getting at a resturaunt, like if they used lard, or where exactly the food came from!. Most of the time you never even think of asking, and when you do it turns into a big deal where the waiter has to go out of his way back in the kitchen to ask the cook!. Ahhhh!.!. sometimes I miss not caring about what I eat!.!.!.!.!.psh, what am I saying, no I don't!
Being vegetarian is worth all the sacrifices!. Health benefits are amazing!. I also became more spiritual and open minded, as have alot of people that have made the switch!. At the end of the day I'm more happy with myself!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

For me the biggest disadvantage of being a vegetarian is the limitation on the scope of what one eats!. I am not one to agonize over how "healthy" or "unhealthy" every item in my diet is!. One reason I don't need to worry is that I eat such a wide variety of foods that I don't eat very much of any one thing!.
Over many years I have found that the broader one's spectrum of foods, the more fun eating is!. So why put limits on one's enjoyment of food in its many varieties and even more combinations!?Www@FoodAQ@Com

If a sizable portion of one's diet is fruits, then he or she may become addicted to the sugar (this is a potential problem for fruitarians, so they are recommended to eat a few bitter leafy greens each day)!. Whether your a carnivore, omnivore, or herbivore, you are subject to overeating if you are not eating enough fiber or protein, becoming addicted to sugary foods, and/or becoming addicted to grains (like I did when I still consumed meat and dairy)!. I think that even though an individual eats meat, he or she can still overeat!. Some would recommend small, more frequent meals to stay satisfied/healthy!.

http://www!.naturalnews!.com/023951!.html

Self-control is always required when it comes to one's diet, in my opinion!.

Since you're a lacto-ovo vegetarian, protein doesn't seem to be as "hard to get" as it may seem for vegans!. The only concern I see so far for vegetarians in general is vitamin B-12 (which can be taken in supplements, obtained through the consumption of seaweeds, or obtained by eating unwashed organic fruits/vegetables)!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

There is only one disadvantage!.!.!.!.people will stereotype you into their views and opinions of what vegetarians are!.

Protein is a non-issue for vegetarians!. Protein is in almost all foods and protein deficiency usually only happens to people in countries with war and famine!. The average person only needs about 40-70 grams of protein a day, which is easily met with a varied diet!. Www@FoodAQ@Com

The only really big side effect that you can be effected by is lack of protein, but if you are smart about it, there are many substitutions for protein!. If you are that worried about it, go to a dietician!.
There's also a really good article in the link below
http://www!.msnbc!.msn!.com/id/15194356/Www@FoodAQ@Com

hmm i do miss some meat and having to read labels on everything to make sure everything is suitable for vegetarians can be a pain!. health wise i dont see any disadvantages!. I've lost weight and eat much more healthily since becoming vegetarian!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

The amount of time it takes to cook dinner!. Some vegetarian meals can take forever to prepare!.

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Iron deficiency,and dumb questions from stupid people that don't understand your choice!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

putting up with the ignorant comments from meat eatersWww@FoodAQ@Com





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