What are the benefits of becoming vegetarian?!

I only became a veggie once I realised it was healthier.

You're right about the taste- I realised that I never actually ate any without some kind of flavouring- added salt, TOMATO sauce, APPLE sauce, HORSERADISH etc etc.

If you want to become a vegetarian, you will have less digestive issues, more energy, a clearer conscience and a better chance of avoiding cancer.

Forget all this rubbish about 'protein'. You can make protein from eating fruit and veg- the same as elephants, gorillas and many other strong veggie animals do.

Also forget about the idea of having to run around looking for a balanced meal. The only reason some veggies do this is that they are generally anal people, always looking for the perfect diet ( I include myself in this!). But do you think it coincidence that the people who are most interested in and passionate about the subject of nutrition are the ones who become veggies and vegans? Or do you think maybe, upon investigation, it's a better diet?

Anyway, keep a reasonable mix of foods and you'll be fine. The only vitamin your diet is likely to miss is B12- take a tablet for this. B12 is a bacteria that lives in slightly dirty water, and as we now process our water to clean it, we no longer get it naturally. Meat contains B12 but not much- many meat eaters are also lacking in sufficient quantities of it, so think about a tablet even if you don't make the change.

Basically, if you put no thought into a veggie diet, you may miss out on some nutrients. But isn't this exactly the same case as if you put no thought into a carnivore diet?

People think that meat is some sort of panacea of nutrition, but what nutrients do you think are actually left in something that you have to expose to 200 degrees for 45 minutes (except for the magical 'protein' that no one in this country has suffered a deficiency of for decades)?

What the hell has being a vegetarian got to do with being an animal lover.

There is only a very few vegetarians on this site that know what it is to be an animal lover and it has nothing to do with being vegetarian.

The only reason why most people become vegetarian after a life time of eating meat is the shame of not knowing anything about the food industry or nature for that matter. It does not mean you are an more animal lover if you convert to vegetarian!! Kids growing up to be adults then come across a PETA clip and all of a sudden know everything from that one video and none of them have set foot on a farm or abattoir etc etc.

It is important to get a varied diet, people are eating far too much meat but they are eating far too much in the first place anyway. Food has become more about enjoyment than necessity!! We have to change attitudes and the demand for cheap food, which puts pressure on animals and the farmer!!

Some people who dramatically change their diet with no support can make themselves ill!! I know of people who choose vegetarian because they can not eat meat due to illness and I know people can't be vegetarians due to not getting enough nutrients enough for their body. A family friend was tolled by the doctor that if she continued on the vegetarian diet she would die, simple as that!! She was not doing anything wrong her body did not like it!!

I have yet to see anyone who preaches and preaches they are vegetarian because they are an animal lover make a difference to the animal world any more than omnivores!! The problem I have is the violent attitudes that seem to linger within the veg/vegan community, fighting with others more than helping animals!

If you are going to be a vegetarian due to animals then you are going to be just as ingnorant now as before. No the world wont stop eating meat and animals suffer due to increasing human population!!

Watch out for American answers as their laws on animal treatment and farming are very different, the UK and possibly the EU have the best record for fairness to animals than anywhere in the world!!

By all means be an vegetarian, I eat more veg stuff than meat but my grievance is with uneducated buffoons that have no clue what they talk about. That's the reason why veg/vegan get a lot of stick!!

On this site the good sensible Vegetarians are - Frou Frou, Hannible the Cannible, White Wolf and Queen of the Jungle. They have helped me on veg questions and are open minded and knowledgeable people!!

I will get plenty of thumb down for being an omnivore!!

Omnivore (animal lover) work outdoors with animals all the time Farmer and Gillie. Rescue injured or ill animals!! Only eat organic and am careful where I buy my meat, has to be free range including pigs!!

You can become very ill very quickly if you do not nutritionally balance your diet. That is the brilliance of a vegetarian diet as it forces you down a path of having to become more nutritionally aware. However if you are already very nutritionally aware then there are no benefits. Note, cutting out two food groups is never recommended.

I worked in catering for a good while and found that vegetarians spent their entire waking day worrying about food, simply because the need to find a balanced healthy diet with the right amounts of protein and all the rest of it seemed to be a never ending quest...while meat eaters sorted the problem by the time breakfast was over..!

The only vegetable product that has comparable amounts of protein is Processed Soya and you can only eat so much Soya per day.

During my stint of catering they did a one Soy Products Workshop and made casseroles, vegetarian 'meatballs,' stir fry and all the rest of it. Tasted O.K. but when I tried serving it it flopped miserably.

Admittedly, we eat too much meat but erasing meat from the diet entirely is not something I would do. And the only reason I eat meat is because it tastes so good..! Which means, of course, it has to be prepared properly.

IMO

It is definitely worth giving up meat!!! So much healthier. Slimmer. Conscience is free. Can look at any animal in the world and feel no guilt or remorse. Eating meat is violent because killing animals is violent so violence is terrible. If you become vegetarian be sure to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables because you could become ill if you are just eating junk.

Yours Sincerely Anna

the benefits of being veggie are many, among them is never having to worry about finding jokes funny, protein levels are linked to humour. i am an animal lover too, i love animals on a plate with vegetables and sauces.(joke). as a human you are unique and have the freedom of choice not gifted to most other creatures. trust your heart. there are no right and wrongs in food. all grub is good. don't be led by others, while the saying goes that you are what you eat, and you are what you think. just don't become a political foodie that defines themselves by what they stuff in their mouths. avoid the food 'police'.

chef

You discover great new foods and get to taste many new and very delicious flavors. You also become a lot more healthier. Did you know that meats are very dangerous? And don't eat imported fish. Only US. A lot of imported fish are raised in sewage water and fed with very harmful drugs that can't be tasted or cooked out. POWER TO THE VEGETARIANS! Yay!

You gotta take the good with the bad. On average you're likely to live 7 years longer. The down side is that you're 3X more likely to go nutz. Remember too that beer and potato chips meet the definition of a vegan diet. I don't think you could make the argument that such a diet was more healthful than eating meat.

Not eating flesh is a benefit in and of itself.

Also it's more sustainable. The meat industry is responsible for a lot of deforestation and pollution.

Given your own statements, you will most likely feel better about the food you eat. Other then that, unless you actually learn about your food and choose wisely it has no apparent benefit.

Animal-friendly.
Can be a lot healthier than an omnivorous diet, if done correctly.
A lot less destructive to the environment.
Vegetarians generally live longer.

More here: http://chooseveg.com

You get to eat more food than the rest of us carnivores.