Vegetarian Diet Problem?!


Question: Vegetarian Diet Problem!?
Ok so I have been eating vegetarian for about 2 months now and I have been careful to include complementary proteins and nutrients into my diet, I have been getting very ill after eating my meals lately and the doctor's only explanation is that it may be the price I pay for cutting meat out of my diet!. So, the other day I ate some fish and did not get sick off of it!. Here is my question, I don't want to switch back to my former diet does anyone have any suggestions about what protein rich foods I could incorporate into my diet so that the transition is not so rough on my body!? Www@FoodAQ@Com


Answers:
I am not a doctor!. Based on my own experience if you are getting sick after eating it is either an intolerance or a digestion problem!. The first things I'd examine are if you are eating common allergens!. Determine if this is happening when you ingest soy, gluten, dairy, eggs, or nuts!. This would also explain why fish didn't impact you as fish doesn't contain any of those common vegetarian allergens!. I'm allergic to milk protein and I feel miserable shortly after ingesting it!. If I eat a dairy-free vegetarian meal I suffer no symptoms!.

The other issue may be your body adjusting to the high amount of vegetable matter you are taking in!. There's a lot of sugar, starch, and fibre in those things that can take the ol' digestive system some getting used to!. This can cause gas, cramps, bloating, etc!. Some possible ways to help this are using a product such as "beano" which contains enzymes to help break down those nutrients or taking live bacterial cultured products (yogurt or dietary supplement) to make sure the yeast in your guts isn't getting too wild!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Eating meat is not as healthy for you as a vegetarian diet!. What I mean is, if you are getting the protein you need with a vegetarian diet you should be a lot healthy!. I would suggest taking B12, Iron, Calcium and Iodine vitamins and maybe getting some blood work done to see if you are lacking anything in you body!.

I have been a vegetarian since I was 12, I got sick a lot when I was younger because I didn't eat right!. When I started eating better I have been healthier than ever! Now I'm Vegan and I'm even healthier!

Hope this helps!Www@FoodAQ@Com

You aren't telling us what your vegetarian diet consists of!.
Most doctors are very prejudiced against veggie diets and I'm sure your doctor didn't even ask exactly what you've been eating!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.
Remember that there are millions of people who have never eaten meat or animal products and are perfectly healthy!. There are also millions of people who become vegetarians and are also perfectly healthy!.
There are also unhealthy vegetarians who eat a lot of junk!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!. Some are healthy,some are not!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.

Have you done enough research on the subject before becoming a veggie!? Do you know your proteins,carbos,vitamins,minerals,etc!?
Do you have friends/relatives who are also veggies and could assist you!?Www@FoodAQ@Com

What supplements are you adding to your diet!? Have you been monitoring your protein, zinc, calcium, iron and B12 intake!? B12 is particularly important since we primarily get it from eating meat!. Other protein rich foods you could add are nuts (great with leafy salads), lentils, beans, and tofu!. Look into dietary supplements as it is something that is very important to do when opting to remove meat from your diet!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

lack of protein would not make you sick (i'm thinking stomach ache sick!. lack of protein would make you weak!.!.)

look at how much protein you are getting you should be getting around 40-50 is you are severly over weight maybe like 60-70

Broccoli, carrots, and potatoes have a good amount of protein!. as well as nuts and peanut butter!.


and a doctor shouldn't tell you that its the 'price you pay for cutting out meat' maybe he wants you to get high blood pressure so he'd get more money!?!?Www@FoodAQ@Com

Cutting out meat should not be so hard on your body!. Try eating more beans, pulses and nuts!. If you still eats eggs and dairy try eating some free range organic options as they are lower in cholesterol and fat!.
Did you get tested for anything else, like celiacs or a food allergy!? And be sure to get a B vitamin supplement!. Www@FoodAQ@Com

Marissa, you have not given us enough information to help you!. What foods have you been eating!? Not eating meat will not cause anyone to be sick in and of itself!. Www@FoodAQ@Com

Low fat dairy is a quality source of protein that is easily digestible provided you are not lactose intolerant!.
I would also seek a second opinion-your doctor sounds prejudiced!. Www@FoodAQ@Com

i am no doctor and cannot tell you why you are ill

but i can tell you that i have been a vegetarian for 5 years now and have never fallen ill because of my diet!.

you need to ensure you incorporate proteins in your diet - tofu / cheese / lentils / pulses are very important!. also you should not have to eat tablets for additional vitamins!. a well balanced vegetarian diet has all the nutrients you need!.

i hope you are not making the classic mistake of just cutting out meat from your daily food!. that is not vegetarianism, you need to subsitute meat with other veggie options!.

pls read the following sites which i hope you find useful !

http://www!.bbc!.co!.uk/food/vegetarian_and!.!.!.

http://www!.bbc!.co!.uk/food/vegetarian_and!.!.!.

As is the case with meat-eaters, eating a wide variety of foods is the key to having a healthy, balanced diet!. This approach is particularly true for vegetarians because, apart from a few foods such as tofu, hempseed and 'grains' such as quinoa, most plant food proteins have a low content of one or more of the essential amino acids needed by the body (you can think of these as the building blocks of proteins)!. By eating a variety of plant proteins, you can optimise your protein intake!. The body is very clever at balancing complementary amino acid levels from various vegetables, cereals, pulses, nuts and seeds!.

What to eat every day
If all of this sounds like we're blinding you with science, here's a quick summary of what you need to eat every day if you're a vegetarian, from the Vegetarian Society:

4 or 5 servings of fruit and vegetables
3 or 4 servings of cereals/grains or potatoes
2 or 3 servings of pulses, nuts and seeds
2 servings of milk, cheese, eggs or soya products
a small amount of vegetable oil, margarine or butter
some yeast extract that has been fortified with vitamin B12

http://www!.bbc!.co!.uk/food/vegetarian_and!.!.!.


have a look, have a read and hope it helps Www@FoodAQ@Com

Tofu, legumes and beans (red beans, lentils, pinto beans, black beans, garbanzos) are all good sources of protein without a lot of fat!.

Nuts have protein, but they also have more fat (albeit good fat for the most part)!. Use them to add protein and flavor, not as a primary source of protein!. Try adding some cashews to stir fry or almonds to salads, for example!.

There are also some good meatless products out there that are good for subbing for meat in recipes- tempeh instead of slices or chunks of meat, TVP (textured vegetable protein) crumbles instead of ground beef, garden burgers or veggie chicken patties are also good subs!.

You'll also want to be sure to eat a well-rounded diet because you're veggie!. Be sure to eat dairy, a wide array of veggies and whole grains!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

There is no way that eating vegetarian for 2 months will make you sick!. Deficiencies do not make you sick AFTER eating a meal!. If you are getting sick AFTER eating a meal, then the food you are eating is making you sick!. You could have food allergies to anything and everything (I am a vegan and I am allergic to soy! so I do not eat soy products - and boy is it in everything! even my favorite salad dressing!)!. So we know that you are not allergic to fish!. Find out what you may be eating different as a vegetarian (perhaps processed soy products!?)!.
also, protein deficiencies do not have symptoms of stomach pains, and you will not see protein deficiencies within 2 months of eating vegetarian (especially if you are still eating eggs and dairy/cheese, which are complete protein sources with all the essential amino acids, and the Vitamin B12, and other needed animal source nutrients)!.
The other thing, is that you might actually want to eat meat, and are looking for an excuse to go back to it !. !. subconsciously!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Don't know how old you are but if you are a teen you should be having meat at least three times a week as you are still growing and developing if your an adult meat, poultry once a week fish as much as you want!.The right thing to do is go and see a professional dietitian that can guide you better as we all have different needs!.Www@FoodAQ@Com





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