Ok vegetarians which ones of you are a vegetarian because ?!


Question: Ok vegetarians which ones of you are a vegetarian because !?
it is a healthy diet!? Are any of you vegetarian because of health problems!? I mean I see that most of you are vegetarian because 1!. eating dead animals is gross or because 2!. because you believe in being kind to the animals/earth!. Those reasons are good reasons!. However in the past when I've tried to be a vegetarian (and have gone for a year without eating meat 2x) I have done it for health reasons!. Www@FoodAQ@Com


Answers:
I became a vegetarian bc I love animals and don't want to be involved in causing them harm!.

When I became a vegan a little while ago, I did so for the same reasons, I do not want to cause animals harm!. BUT, it turns out that the vegan diet has done wonders for my digestive system, and I have fibromyalgia and I lost a lot of the joint pain associated with the condition within a week of starting the vegan diet!!!

Whatever your reasons are, there are health benefits associated with veggie and vegan diets, but you do have to make sure to get the things you need!Www@FoodAQ@Com

Sorry for the length!. You'll see why!.

Your diet, like your choice of religion is a very personal matter!. It is your choice!. You don't have to call yourself a vegetarian to eat a diet based on carbohydrates such as vegetables!. Your body takes in food and all of it turns into one thing - Glycogen or Sugars!.

To most meat-eaters, the vegetarian lifestyle is mysterious and confusing!. Do they never eat animal protein at all!? Does that include eggs and milk!? Is it something they do for health reasons or because they love animals!? And how do they get enough protein in their diets if they don’t eat meat!?

If you took a poll of vegetarians, you’d quickly discover that there are almost as many ways to be a vegetarian as there are, well, vegetarians!. Some people claim to be vegetarians when really they’ve just cut back on the amount of animal products they consume!. On the other end of the scale, there are vegetarians who eat no animal protein at all, or anything produced by animals – including milk, eggs and honey!. So the first thing to consider when approaching the vegetarian lifestyle is exactly what kind of vegetarian you plan to be!.

Vegetarian Diets – the Big Three

There are three main vegetarian diets, although variations abound in each category: Lacto Ovo vegetarian, Lacto vegetarian, and Vegan!. Let’s take them one at a time and look at the differences:

A lacto ovo vegetarian eats mostly plant foods, but also eats eggs and dairy products including yogurt, milk, cheese and ice cream!. This is the first step most people take when they switch to a vegetarian diet, because it’s easy to fulfill all your nutritional requirements and, well, everything tastes good when you cover it with cheese! It’s also an easy diet to maintain in the "real world," as there are always restaurant choices – including fast food options – so no matter where you are or who you’re with, you can always find something to eat!.

Lacto vegetarians eat no meat or eggs, but do consume dairy products!. While acceptable dairy substitutes have become much more palatable in recent years, it can still be difficult to avoid dairy entirely, and it makes cooking much more challenging!. Many lacto vegetarians don’t eat eggs because, as ovum, they’re potentially animals!. Or they choose not to eat eggs because they’re uncomfortable with egg farming practices (more on that later)!. Conversely, there are ovo vegetarians, who eat eggs but don’t consume dairy products!.

Vegans eschew all animal proteins and animal by-products!. This is the most extreme form of vegetarian diet, as vegans get all of their nutrition from grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts and seeds!. And vegans must avoid a large number of commercially produced foods that contain animal proteins – most breads are made with eggs, for example, and many non-dairy products are thickened with casein, a protein extracted from milk!. Even vegetarian "burgers" often contain eggs! Despite the challenges, the vegan diet has steadily grown in popularity in recent years as more and more vegetarians have become savvy label-readers and vegan-friendly food companies have created more products for them to enjoy!.

In addition to the three basic vegetarian diets, there’s also macrobiotics, a diet inspired by ancient Chinese principle of yin and yang which relies primarily on locally produced, seasonal foods!. The basic macrobiotic diet includes fish – but remove the fish and the diet is vegan, with most macrobiotic cookbooks heavily favoring Asian-influenced cuisine and the use of ingredients like pickled vegetables, daikon radishes and sea vegetables like kelp and nori!.

This isn’t to say that you’re required to sign up for any one style of vegetarian diet and follow it to the letter!. Pesco vegetarians, for example, don’t eat poultry, beef or pork but they do eat fish!. The so-called "semi-vegetarian" has cut back on their intake of meat overall, but still eats it occasionally – if you’re reading this, that’s probably where you are already! Pollo vegetarians avoid red meat and fish but eat chicken!. while the pesco-pollo vegetarian avoids red meat but consumes both chicken and fish!. There are even fruitarians, who only eat seeds, nuts and fruit, plus vegetables that are botanically classified as fruit like zucchini, eggplant, squash and avocados!. And there are other diets that, while vegetarian in nature, further restrict consumption of certain foods depending on the diet’s purpose – the raw food diet requires that you only eat uncooked foods, and the "natrural-hygeine" diet, while making limited use of animal products, is designed to cleanse the body of toxins and the allowed foods are chosen accordingly!.

But don’t let all of that confuse you! As a newcomer to vegetarianism, you should first set your sights on the three primary types of the diet – ovo lacto, lacto and vegan!. Once you’ve discovered which of these best meets your needs, then you can decide if you want to adapt them even further, adding or subtracting as you see fit!. For the most part, labeling your diet is less important than figuring out how to transition from a meat-based diet to a vegetarian one!.

Which Comes First – the Dairy or the Egg!?

Giving up meat but holding onto eggs and dairy in your diet is a good way to start your vegetarian experience!. Your menu options are far greater, and it’s easier to work enough protein into your diet than by jumping straight to a macrobiotic or vegan lifestyle!. Yes, there are good reasons to avoid eggs and dairy, and we’ll discuss that as we go along!. But ovo lacto vegetarianism is perhaps the most popular, simple and straightforward approach to vegetarianism!.

Besides being a great protein source, eggs also provide your body with lecithin, a substance that emulsifies dietary fat and which is needed to build cell walls!. In fact, lecithin is very important in protecting your cells from oxidation, and is vital in building the protective tissues that surround the brain!. (Should you choose not to eat eggs, lecithin is still important – but there are now soy-based lecithin supplements that have been shown to improve blood cholesterol levels!.)

Besides, eggs are an easy meal and, for many vegetarians, the veggie omelet is a great fall-back meal that’s available at virtually every coffee shop!. You should limit the amount of yolks you eat, though, as they’re high in fat and cholesterol – egg whites, on the other hand, are almost pure protein!.

As for dairy, you may find yourself going overboard when you first start your vegetarian diet, making up for the loss of meat by eating more cheese and drinking more milk!. Keep an eye on the amount of fat you’re eating – changing your diet isn’t going to make you feel better if you start loading up on extra fat and cholesterol!

So – What Can I Have For Lunch!?

If your first thought is that you’re about to embark on a way of eating that’s going to be boring, repetitive and limiting, then you have a surprise in store!. Vegetarians – vegans included – enjoy a widely varied diet made up of tasty and nutritious foods, most of which you already eat on a regular basis!.

All of the same things that you eat today – burritos, burgers, casseroles, soups, lasagna, sandwiches – can be enjoyed as part of a vegetarian diet!. All you need to do is remove or replace the meat!. The key is to make sure you get enough protein from combining grains and legumes (which we’ll discuss in detail in Chapter Five) and choose your meals wisely!.

Take that burrito!. Skip the meat-based style and go for one that’s packed with beans, rice, tomatoes, onions, bell peppers and sour cream!. It’s delicious, chock-full of protein and other vital nutrients, and absolutely delicious!. Even something as decadent as stroganoff can be adapted to a meat-free diet – cubes of tofu, marinated in soy sauce, make for a find meat substitute when tossed with noodles, spices and cream!.

And don’t overlook the cuisine of cultures that have long celebrated vegetarian cooking!. Miso soup, Spanikopita , hummus, vegetable curries, tabouli salad, samosas and veggie stir-fry dishes are all on your menu – so enjoy!

Once you become accustomed to eating meatless meals, you’ll find that it’s much easier than you think!. With a little creativity, you can even plan entire meatless dinner parties around foods so delicious that your most carnivorous guests won’t even notice that meat’s missing from the menu – a dinner of hearty vegetable chili topped with shredded cheese with a spring salad of field greens, toasted walnuts and crumbled bleu cheese in a balsamic vinaigrette, followed by key lime pie for dessert !.!.!. well, who wouldn’t love that!?

By choosing to adopt the vegetarian lifestyle, you’re going to improve your health, help conserve the earth’s natural resources, eat more ethically and responsibly, and lower your risk of contracting meat-borne illnesses from E!. coli contamination and additives like hormones, chemicals and antibiotics!. But that doesn’t mean your diet has to be boring – there’s a whole world of foods out there that you can enjoy!.

Whatever the reason you’ve decided to remove meat from your diet, you’ll find that it’s the best nutritional decision that you’ve ever made!. In the course of this book, you’ll learn about the fascinating history of vegetarianism, how you can transition from a meat-eating diet to a meatless one, the ways in which you can insure that you’re getting proper nutrition, how to buy food and cook for your family, and how to stick with your diet in a world full of carnivores!.

You’re about to embark on a journey which will make you healthier and happier!. Congratulations on choosing to live as a thoughtful, caring eater – your body will thank you!Www@FoodAQ@Com

I've never been comfortable with the killing of animals for food, but it's the health reasons that made me decide to become vegetarian!. My parents both have diabetes type 2!. By becoming vegetarian (and dropping fast food) I'm lowering my risk of becoming diabetic in the future!. also, if I do become diabetic I still lower the amount of medication I would need to control the disease, as well as many diabetes related conditions!.

also, I used to have high cholesterol and I don't anymore!. I feel better!. I eat better!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I'm vegetarian but becuase I think it's unfair to breed animals purley so they can be eaten!. I don't agree with people who say it's not very kind and gross to eat dead animals becuase as humans we are omnivores (eating meat AND vegtables etc!.) and it's only part of the circle of life that we should eat meat!. My point is that it is not in the circle of life that we breed them, keep them locked up in cages, feed them sickening amounts of food so that they taste better put get so fat they are crippled and can enjoy no quality of life!. I'm all for eating meat if it's had a life first it just seems like we have an unfair advantage!. I suppose theres a fine line between my point of view and and anyones who thinks its wrong to eat meat full stop!. But it's just my humble opinion!.


:)Www@FoodAQ@Com

????????The best time of my life was the time I went strict vegan vegetarian (including eliminating all processed sugars and vinegar) for four years!. I started it on health principles -- not for health issues!. So much so, that when I started losing (a lot! of) weight, but hadn't been eating less or even exercising at all, I thought I had cancer!. I even went to the doctor!. It was only after he assured me that I did not have cancer, that I was able to put two and two together to realize that my change in diet was triggering this!.

????????I ended up losing 60 pounds, in six months, without any effort at all!. I was back to my high school weight (180# and 6' tall) and feeling great!. As I said, that lasted for four years!. Then I got married again and she didn't want to be vegan vegetarian!. She is an ovo-lacto vegetarian and plenty of sugar & vinegar!. So, naturally, if it was in the house -- I would eat it!. I've gained 55 pounds, again, within the first four years of our (now) nine year marriage!.

God bless!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Most of them do it mainly because of the reasons you listed, then they point to inherently flawed studies to reassure themselves that while they are saving animals they are also going to live X amount longer than all us horrible meat eaters!.

There are health benefits to being vegetarian for certain people, but for the majority of the population if you enjoy meat correctly (in moderation) and eat a well balanced diet you will be just as healthy as the healthiest vegetarian!. You also need to keep in mind that just because vegans do not eat meat there are still A TON of junkfoods that they can eat, vegetarians can also be very unhealthy if they do not eat a good diet just as a meat eater will be unhealthy if all they eat is meat!.

also, to the guy above me, i would not believe a thing that peta says to be true!. They are an extremist group that takes joy in bending the truth and manipulating young naive people into backing a cause they know little about!. Go to petakillsanimals!.com for the real truth!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

The reason I started to look into veganism was because meat is an inefficient food source!. There is more than enough food in the world to feed the entire human population!. Yet more than 840 million people are still going hungry today!. Our meat-based diet is partly to blame, as land, water, and other resources that could be used to grow food for human beings are being used to grow crops for farmed animals instead!. It takes up to 16 pounds of grain to produce just 1 pound of edible animal flesh!.

But that's just the reason I got interested in it!. What made me actually go vegan is another story: http://www!.meat!.org/Www@FoodAQ@Com

My best friend is a vegetarian because she has health issues!. whenever she would eat meat, she would get bad reactions!. she cut all meat but fish out of her diet 4 years ago and she no longer gets the reactions

I cannot eat red meat for the same reasons - even fish and chicken sometimes give me bad allergic reactions, but mainly red meatWww@FoodAQ@Com

My cousin was a non vegetarian!. But when he turned into Vegetarian he have found lots of positive things happening in his life!. also killing animals is not good, Even they feel the pain!. Just because they don't speak like Humans it doesn't mean u can kill them!. Vegetarian food is again Healthy diet!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

That was part of why I started being a vegetarian nine years ago - I weighed 300lbs (keep in mind I'm a tall fellow at 6'2, but even still, I was pretty damn fat)!. But in addition, when I was nine, I got a pet cockatiel and quit eating poultry a week or so later!. As I got older, it became harder for me to personally justify not eating birds, but still eating cows, pigs, and lambs!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

a large part of me being vegan is for my health, i feel like if i wasnt i would be poisoning myself and i can't eat anything without knowing exactly what is in itWww@FoodAQ@Com

I want to lose weight!.!. and by supplementing soy protein for meat i can eat a vegetable based diet with very few carbs!.!.carbs are where the weight go on, that and cheese/dairy and a lack of caloric burn!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I started out as a vegetarian for health reasons and it has evolved over the last 15 years!. Www@FoodAQ@Com

I've done it because I feel sorry for the animals!.
And yeah, I personally think it's a more healthy diet than eating meat!.
:]Www@FoodAQ@Com

I'm a vegetarian for mostly health reasons!. I also never liked the taste of meat!. Www@FoodAQ@Com

i like veg and some chicken, fish and once in awhile some beef!. no, health problem!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

The health part is an added bonus for me, not why I am veggie!.!. It's for the animals and myself!.Www@FoodAQ@Com





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