Vegetarian Diets

Vegetarian Diets questions and answers

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Q: Vegetarian diets?
I was wondering if anyone has a good websight out there that contains information about vegetarian diets. Including the vitamins I would need to take to replace meats. Any information would be helpful Thank you muchly!

A: I have to wonder whether you intend to give up eggs and dairy as well as animal products. If so, you should look for vegan information. You'll be surprised where you find animal products by the way, for example; anything with gelatin, such as marshmallows or yoghurt are made with meat. You can get some great vegetarian starter info at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vegetarian-diet/HQ01596 And veggie 123 site quite useful: http://www.veggie123.com/ And (my favourite) http://www.goveg.com has a great starter kit that you can order for free. Don't be too hard on yourself if after 6 months of thinking you're successfully being vegetarian that you discover you've inadvertantly being eating some form of animal. It happens to the most meticulous vegetarians. Good luck.

Q: what do you think about vegetarian diets?
how do you feel about vegetarian diets? and why is it good for your health?

A: Contrary to the belief that vegetarian diet is nutritionally poor, meeting energy requirement is not usually a problem in a vegetarian diet (Lacto vegetarian diet) because of the high energy content of dairy product. In India almost all vegetarians take dairy product along with vegetable products. Proteins: Body's protein needs can be provided by either animal or plant sources. Mixed protein diet obtained from various plant sources is better than animal protein and is recommended in diabetes, renal diseases and liver diseases. Mixed protein diet from different plant sources has been the pattern of diet in India for all vegetarians. Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are mainly found in plant foods; like cereals, grains, fresh and dry fruits, legumes, vegetable, greens, nuts etc. plant carbohydrates include' large amounts of starches, sugar and fibers which are important for gut functions. The body is better suited to a high carbohydrate diet than a low carbohydrate diet. In fact 55% of the food intake should be carbohydrate. All animal products do not contain carbohydrate which is essential for body. Fat: Plant fats differ from animal fats in two different ways 1) they are cholesterol free 2) they generally contain more polyunsaturated fat and less saturated fats. Plant fats usually have higher polyunsaturated fat value than animal fats. A diet which is low in cholesterol and which contains fat of a high PIS value is associated with a lower incident of coronary health disease. Vitamins and Minerals: plant foods are rich in many vitamins and minerals. Vitamin D: Vitamin D is obtained by exposure of skin to sun light and this is not a problem in India. Calcium: The vegetarians can meet their needs for calcium from dairy products. Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) Dark green vegetables are good sources of Riboflavin as are legumes and whole grain cereal. Iron: The problem of iron deficiency is relatively common but vitamin C significantly enhances absorption of iron hence it is advisable for vegetarians to include with each meal a food high in vitamin C which as lime, citrus fruits or juices. Zinc: Zinc is found in large number of plant foods. Fiber: Fiber is found only in vegetarian food like whole grain cereals, legumes, greens, fruits, vegetable etc. Thus in vegetarian foods all requirement of nutrition for body growth and maintenance is fulfilled. One can have a complete and balanced diet provided we take enough food which is as close to nature as possible in maintaining sturdy and disease free body. It is equally helpful in curing many diseases. ADVANTAGES OF VEGETARIAN DIET: More & more evidence is surfacing that directly links a prolonged non- vegetarian diet to diseases as cancers, heart diseases, diabetes, asthma just to name a few. 1. LOGEVITY: Vegetarian can expect to live 4-10 years longer then the non-vegetarians. " Source: Seventh day Adventists study 2. LESS HEART DISEASE: Because of low fat, saturated fat and cholesterol content of the vegetarian diet the risk of heart disease is lowered. High blood cholesterol levels are associated with increased risk of heart disease. 3. LESS CANCER: Up to 40% of all cancers are diet related. Cancer death rates have been associated with obesity and high fat / low fiber diet. Vitamin A & C are thought to be protective against colon cancer. Low fat diets protect against prostrate and breast cancer. Indoles, lignans, isoflavones, protease inhibitors which are present in plant foods and shown to be potent anti carcinogens. 4. LESS BOWEL DISEASE: Diverticular disease and appendicitis occur more frequently with low fiber intake as in meat diet. 5. LEES OBESITY & LESS INCIDENCE OF DIABETES: It is easier to plan a low fat diet for a vegetarian then for a meat eater. The fiber in plant food dilutes the energy & provides a satisfying meal without all the calories. Diabetes over the age of 40 seems to be related to obesity. CONLUSION: When activists like M.K. Gandhi, sports personalities like Martina Novratilova & Carl Lewis, beauties like Brooke Shields & Kate Winslet, physists like Edison, Albert Einstein & A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, religious leaders & mystics like Jesus & Osho can be legendaries in there respective fields taking the advantage of being vegetarian, Is'nt it more prudent on our part to switch over to vegetarianism & enjoy better quality & longevity of life.

Q: Any good sites for vegetarian diets?
I'd like to get started on a vegetarian diet, but I don't know what's best to eat and what should be avoided. All I really know is, don't eat meat for it to be a vegetarian diet. Any other advice would be appreciated!

A: goveg.com vegetariantimes.com vegetarianteen.com

Q: How good are vegetarian diets for your health?
Is being vegetarian better for your health and good for keeping weight under control? I'm thinking about going vegetarian for the obvious reason, but I'd like to know how good it is for your health.

A: Being vegetarian is very good for your health! I couldn't lose weight for a while, and after I become vegetarian, I lost nearly twenty pounds with exercise! Being vegetarian reduced the chance for many health problems, as long as you eat right. You need to make sure you get enough iron and protien, although you don't need to take pills for it. You can get protien from legumes and nuts, as well from soy products and other foods. Iron can be found in spinach, bran cereal, and certain vegetables. There's lot of websites and books that give you good information about it. Not only is being vegetarian good for your health, you also feel lighter. Almost like you had weights inside you holding you down, but now they're gone.

Q: Anyone have any tips for vegetarian diets?
I eat mostly vegetarian because I just don't like meat. Anyone have any suggestions on what I can eat to raise my energy levels since I love to exercise? anything suggestions but beans please.

A: Vegetarian diets should provide adequate energy levels as long as protein is a substantial component of your diet. For a good guide to vegetarian diets check out the web site below. It also has links to a fantastic energy booster as a supplement

Q: What are some low carb vegetarian diets?
My fiance is a vegetarian, no big deal to me. I would love to cook for her, and I have no problem eating vegetarian food myself, but I am a meat eater too. I do, however, watch my carb intake. Where can I find some dishes that are low in carbs and vegetarian? FYI, she will eat eggs, fish, and drink milk products. FYI, I have already given 3 of you bad marks for either questioning her decision on being a vegetarian, or being one because she eats fish. I am looking for constructive feedback, not bad-mouthing.

A: Pretty much any vegetarian diet is low-carb friendly. A vegetarian's diet should be mostly plant based anyway. Just make sure to get lots of good fruits and veggies, and since your girlfriend eats fish, it shouldn't be too difficult to come up with some recipes that will please the both of you. If you are going to eat pasta or rice, make sure it is whole grain and use it as a side to accompany vegetables, as opposed to making it a main dish.

Q: do some people prefer vegetarian diets just for health?
I am wondering if some people have switched to no-meat diets not because of the animal issue but because they figure that more vegetable-oriented protein is healthier?

A: Definitely! There are many people who have realized that even cutting down on their meat intake would significantly reduce their daily calorie intake and their chance of many food born diseases as well as many chronic diseases. So it is no surprise that some wold cut meat out all together. I have also heard that some diabetics will adapt a vegetarian lifestyle to help keep their blood sugars under control.

Q: Why do people think vegetarian diets don't have enough protien?
If you are a person who believes they do not have enough protein, can you show me scientific evidence of that? For example: Medical Journal, etc. Does anyone have scientific evidence to back up what they say? Or am I just going to get opinions?

A: Anyone who tells you that a vegetarian diet doesn't have enough protein is making an inaccurate statement. On the other hand, a poorly balanced diet of a vegetarian (or anyone) may not have enough protein. My mother has been a vegetarian for all of her life and I'm a vegan. We are healthy, trim and have plenty of energy. There are more factors involved with total health than just diet or just protein. If anything, most persons in the USA eat too much protein. No one is going to be able to show you any medical journal which says that vegetarian diets don't have enough protein. They may be able to show you comments which state that 'some' vegetarians have poor oral intake of nutrients including protein, but that could be said of some meat eaters too.

Q: Vegetarian diets cruel for dogs?
I just wandered into the vegan section (HUGE mistake) and noticed that quite a few people were inquiring about vegetarian and vegan diets for their omniverous pets. I personally would never feed an exclusively vegan diet to my pets. What do you think? Is it cruel for an owner to push their dietary habits on naturally omniverous animals?

A: I think this depends...for some animals its necessary b/c they have allergies to other animals proteins and in those cases its not at all cruel, think if that animal was in the wild and then found out from eating meat with its pack it was getting sick. I'm sure they would have no idea what to do, and its b/c of the veggie diets that these animals can survive better then if they were on their own. But in all other cases I don't think its a good idea. Animals need protein which comes from the meat that they eat.. Ya sure they can eat soy based crap..but its not the type of protein that they need for their body's. Also they will be missing other types of mineral/ vitamins that they need like omega's and amino acids.

Q: Are vegetarian diets a cure all for health problems?
Since I became a vegetarian around 2 years ago my blood pressure went down, my brain tumor shrunk .. according to the neurosurgeon and latest ct scans, I've only been depressed 1 time, I have more energy, and my good cholesterol went up. All this happened after I became a vegetarian not before. There has to be some sorta correlation. Furthermore, its been proven that non-vegetarian diets do cause high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart problems. So naturally the opposite would occur, unless you are genetically predisposed to those things, if one eats vegetarian. Lastly, consumption of meat, mostly red meat, has been linked to heart disease and cancer. That happens because meat consumption increases levels of Homocysteine in the blood. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=535 http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/330/7483/111-a My neurosurgeon did nothing, nothing at all, but periodic brain scans and evaluations of the films from those scans. I cannot thank my neurosurgeon for the brain tumor being shrunk.

A: Not all health problems but it is a healthier lifestyle over all. My cholesterol has dropped over 60 points since becoming a vegan. I used to eat so many dairy products but I don't miss them. I still have arthritis though. I'm glad that your blood pressure went down and especially that your brain tumor shrunk. That is so great. Yes, I have more energy too and my moods are better. I'm Bipolar so this is good for that. Some people have the tendency to have a lot of carbs which is a bad thing if they are all sugar and white flour. Yes, I always hated red meat. The sight of meat repulses me now. I feel like God gave us animals to enjoy because they are so beautiful. I don't think his intention was for us to eat them. They is plenty for me to eat without eating animal products. No, your brain tumor shrunk because of you and the healthy choice you made and it is no coincidence that it has shrunk. Good luck to you. I hope that in the future your brain tumor will shrink completely.

Q: Vegans and Vegetarians...why do you claim that Vegan and Vegetarian diets are the only way to eat healthy?
So maybe there is proof that red meat and milk may be slightly 'bad' for you, but there is also proof that both have many benefits, insofar as human health, as well. Why is it that you can only find the proof that meat/milk are bad, but not the proof they they are good, too? Why can you only find the proof that that soy is good for you, but not that it has MAJOR jhealth risks associated with it? Didn't you know that soy can cause brain damage and that, when fed to small boys, can act similar to hormone therapy due to the similarities between soy and estrogen? If you want to claim health reasons, then PLEASE do all of your research. Otherwise, you look like an idiot to the more well-informed people of the world. I'm not telling you to change your dietary choices, just to realise that others may have information that makes them want to eat a more balanced diet that includes meat and dairy products. No one food is perfect. That's why variety is the key. I never said anyone should eat tons of meat or to eat so much saturated fat that it's like eating a tub of Crisco. I'm saying that balencing your food choices is a good thing. Remember, eating an ounce of meat per day is still eating meat. Also remember, I'm not advocating pumping meat full of chemicals and hormones any more than a Vegan would advocate coating their food in pesticides and eating it without washing it, at the very least. I never said, 'We need to eat more chemicals'. I know that soy is only one food popular with Vegans and Vegetarians. What I'm saying is that they tend to use only a few reports and ignore the rest. Read them ALL, then decide. I know, some eat the way they do, not for health reasons, but for animal rights (the cruelty of the slaughterhouses). Some even assume that all I eat is McD's burgers (blegh-no, just because I eat meat does not mean I eat at McD's). Mind you, my favorite meat to eat is venison...from wild deer, not farm animals. I'll give them the quickest, most painless death I can...which is much better than prolonging their pain and is much better than the ultra-fatty meat sold in stores from farm-raised animals. I don't assume to know what each individual Vegan or Vegetarian puts on their plate every night. Don't assume that I eat all my meals at McD's. it only leaves you with a flawed arguement. I asked why many of you think your diet is the ONLY way to eat healthy?

A: I never use the health argument that you are describing. For one, I never argue with people that want to defend their animal based diet. Unless a person ask me about vegetarianism they won't hear anything about it from me. Whether a vegetarian diet is healthy or not is a mute point to me. Healthy, healthier, or not I am still going to die. The question is why I am going to take all those innocent lives with me. Eating it is just like murdering it as far as I'm concerned. If I can live to be the same age eating vege- tation why not? Then I can live a full life and the cow next to me can live her 25 years out as well. I'm sure you'll argue that my being vegan doesn't save any lives. That is the whole point of vegetarian outreach. We can't do it without the cooperation of the rest of you.

Q: what different types of vegetarian diets are there?
how do vegetarians do to make sure they are getting enough proteins?

A: These sites should provide some relatively unbiased information... http://www.ehow.com/how_148_eat-protein-vegetarian.html http://www.thedoctorwillseeyounow.com/articles/nutrition/protein_2/ Most people get too much protein so if you're eating a well-balanced diet you shouldn't have any problems. If you have further questions I encourage you to stopy by my website at http://www.veggieboards.com - the largest and most active vegetarian forum online.

Q: Vegetarian diets that work? No fads, please?
I used to be more physically active and need to shed 25 pounds to help with my high blood pressure. I'm an ovo-lacto vegetarian. Suggestions?

A: There isn't any miracle cure other than to burn more calories than you consume! I've dropped almost 100 pounds over the last several years by making minor adjustments to my diet. Don't be in a hurry, just figure out what 100 calories you can remove from your daily diet and over time you'll lose weight. You can also add an extra hundred calories worth of physical activity to do the same thing or do both for faster results. It sounds ridiculous that that minor a change works but when you do the math it adds up, since that's a yearly difference of 365,000 calories! Do both and you get a yearly change of 730,000 calories!! Does it mean that you'll suddenly be slim and trim? NO, but it does mean that you'll not get into a yo-yo cycle of rapidly dropping lots of weight only to regain more weight than you started with!

Q: If it could be shown that vegetarian diets are ecologically preferable to meat-based diets or demonstrated...?
If it could be shown that vegetarian diets are ecologically preferable to meat-based diets or demonstrated that meat-based diets contributed to American Dependency on foreign oil products or contributed to global famine, would that mean that a vegetarian diet is necessarily morally preferable?

A: It's about making choices that are sustainable. Support your local farmer by shopping at the farmers market buying local products. Vegetables can travel just as far as meat products.

Q: does anyone know anygood vegetarian diets?
I am a Vegetarian and all of the diets i find have meat in them

A: It is easy to adapt the South Beach Diet for vegetarians. Instead of lean meats there are other sources of protein such as beans, legumes and soy products. Fruit and whole grain foods are allowed in moderation in the second and third phases of the diet. Low fat dairy products and eggs are allowed with more permissive vegetarian versions