Are most vegetarians just health nuts, or are they...?!


Question: Are most vegetarians just health nuts, or are they!.!.!.!?
vegetarians for political/religous reasons like the PETA group!?Www@FoodAQ@Com


Answers:
people can become vegetarian for many reasons!.
-they love animals
-for a healthy diet
-to lose weight
-to follow a trend
-cause they don't like to eat meatWww@FoodAQ@Com

I don't think you can say that MOST vegetarians are vegetarian for any one reason!. Most probably went vegetarian for one reason, like the ones you have described, but most probably stay vegetarian for a variety of reasons!.

For example, I went vegetarian for health reasons, but it's a nice bonus that I'm causing less animal suffering, contributing to less poor land use, and finding more wonderful foods to eat!. I think the same can be said of an animal rights vegetarian, who feels physically healthier because of his/her choice!.

The longer you are vegetarian and more positives you find from that choice, the more reasons you find to continue such a great lifestyle!. :)Www@FoodAQ@Com

I could not pass up pointing Tom R!.'s very ironic response!. He discusses the "fact" that vegetarians miss the "proteans" needed for brain development and "mussel" development!.

Tom it is protein and muscle!.
And before you make those statements again, look into how many college professors and Mr!. Universes are vegetarians!. I think you would be surprised!.

I did it for health reasons more than 20 years ago!.
(I am a college professor who has succeeded in many athletic endeavors) Www@FoodAQ@Com

Wow - it never ceases to amaze me how some folks (LIBERTY!) are not even vegetarian but feel as though they have the right to throw in their $0!.02!.!.!.an insulting $0!.02, might I add!. She knows two people who abstain from meat and all the sudden, she's an expert!.

At any rate, I think that it's hard to generalize and figure out if numerous vegetarians fit into one category (like, are the majority Democrats!? are they pro-choice!? do they practice yoga!? etc)!.

For every vegetarian, I assure you, you will find the same number of different reasons behind their decisions!.

Personally, I initially gave up meat because of cruelty reasons!. Upon further research, I also found other great reasons to give up meat (health, environmental, etc!.)!.
Being a vegetarian (and then eventually becoming a vegan) has indeed lead me to be a health nut!. I don't eat processed junk food anymore, I use my juicer more and I buy good, wholesome foods!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I would say that most go for reasons other than health- but usually find the health benefits that are included!.

Other reasons for going veg are weight-loss!. Many models go vegan, for example, to keep the weight off!. also, cancer patients often go vegetarian because of the benefits (as in an increased amount of antioxidants in such a diet)!. Studies regarding diabetes have found that their patients process glucose levels better, and since they lose weight more efficiently, see overall better health!. A calorie-restricted diet, which has plenty of promise backed by studies, can be more easily achieved by a vegetarian diet!. And of course, a vegan diet is cholestoral free and such a diet provides relief to those with high cholesterol!.

Another poster claimed that vegetarians who go for health reasons are ignorant!. I would say that he, himself, is ignorant for ignoring research studies done by practitioners in the dietetics community and ignoring the facts behind the 'blue zones' (places in the world with the longest-living communities)!.

As a student at a health-care based university where the study of nutrition is large, most of my peers are vegetarian!. I would think that both students and professionals who understand on a rather deep level the science behind proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, etc!. and work with people and their diets often would be the most informed!. That being said, if it wasn't healthy (when done right), dietitians (even those who are not vegetarian) wouldn't be able to provide quality service to those who aim for the vegetarian lifestyle- nor would there be organizations like the Vegetarian Resource Group (a branch of the ADieteticAssociation)!.

Yes, there is controversy still over protein quality, to a degree, however, large groups of people living vegetarian lifestyles who are outliving others (and not just outliving, they are staying younger for longer) outshow some of the individual controversies!.

Sure, there is controversy over soy products as well!. More research needs to be done!.

As for why most go- as I said- I'm sure the start is moral!. However, it usually becomes more complex than that as the pros often outweigh the cons!.

Each vegetarian has their reasons though!. Some are religous (like many Seventh Day Adventists), some are 'health nuts', some are trying to live more 'eco-friendly', some are trying to have skinny bodies, some just don't like the taste of meat or it makes them physically ill(I have found this often!), same have been asked to go on a strict diet by a physician for a number of reasons, some are against animal cruelty and the list goes on!. While I personally believe most begin on some moral region, that is alone my opinion and usually, wherever it begins, it becomes more complex and encompasses two or even all of the reasons I list!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Yes some friends that I've had are vegetarians because they are against animal cruelty!. Some have just grown up in a house where parents/guardians are vegetarians and they have no choice or just get used to it and don't know anything else!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I'm vegan an i do it for the reason that it is just cruel to eat a living animal or keep one trapped in a cage to get milk, ect!.

But there are soo many foods you can still get fat on being vegan!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Depends on the vegetarian!.I am just because I don't want an animal to die for my dinner and I don't like the thought of eating a dead animal!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

My wife is vegetarian because she is against the cruelty to animals!.

(And if you ever see how they treated animals in the stocks, you would tend to agree!.)Www@FoodAQ@Com

It's probably close to an even split!. With more older vegatarians being health nuts and younger ones being animal right nuts!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I tried my hardest to be a health nut even before going veg, so yes I am still a health nut as best as I know and can financially do!!Www@FoodAQ@Com

PETA isn't religious or political!. They just don't agree with animal abuse!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I do it for the cool title and health reasons!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Just nutsWww@FoodAQ@Com

vegetarians who claim health reasons are simply ignorant, although they get plenty of protean from soy and other sources, they severely limit the variety of protean they take in and that causes many problems with brain development (in younger and pregnant mothers) and mussel development!.
most vegetarians chose to be so because of a misplaced moral valueWww@FoodAQ@Com

Lol! You're question for some reason brings to mind the kids that used to stand by the corner of KFC every sunday morning with signs that say things like "KFC is cruel" and such!.
My husband rolled down the window once and yelled "Stick with your own species"!.
I know I'm ranting!.!. but honestly, with so many wrongs going on with human kind they were protesting for!.!.!. CHICKENS!?!?!!
I guess we did live in VA Beach, aka Peta Land!.

Whatever!. :-)
I think that a lot of them are health nuts as well!. With the only two vegetarians I knew, one did it for health reasons (incidentally, she was just diagnosed with cancer at the age of 55, I hope she will be ok)
The other was a PETA nut!.!.!. poor girl was skin and bones, but she thought that even drinking MILK was morally wrong, so she was a VEGAN and made that clear to all of us!.Www@FoodAQ@Com





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