Transitioning to Vegetarianism?!
Is it just the? iron? Just spinach?
?
Answers:
There isn't just one or two plant foods you can add to your diet that will replace meat. Humans evolved as meat eaters. That's a simple fact, proved by our need for vitamin B12 which is not available from any plants.
Your body gets nutrients easier from meat than from plants. Protein is made up of amino acids. Meat (animal products) contain all the amino acids needed for complete protein. Most veggies only contain some of those amino acids (or weak versions). So you need to eat a lot and a variety of veggies so your body can (hopefully) combine them for the complete protein it needs to work properly. One of those amino acids, lysine, is found mostly in legumes (beans). You need at least one serving a day of beans, three is better. There are a multitude of different legumes. You shouldn't have a problem getting enough of them, but you will have to work at it.
The heme iron in meat is much easier for your body to absorb than the non heme iron in veggies. You need to eat a lot of iron rich veggies to avoid becoming anemic.
Many iron rich veggies (soy is one) contain oxalates. Oxalates inhibit your bodys ability to absorb calcium and iron. Do some research before you jump into this diet. Cutting out one complete food group for your diet requires some serious meal planning to stay healthy.
http://www.ehow.com/list_5901532_list-fo…
http://www.livestrong.com/article/261402…
well no, unless you're eating a really bad diet- one without cheese, soymilk, tofu, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds. because all these things, plus spinach and other green veg, have enough iron and protein to build a ship.
So you're probably eating these already right?
In that case, there's no need to add anything to the diet.
Ifyou're not eating those things, well, you should be.
