will becoming vegetarian help me feel better?

Question

ive recently discovered i have high blood pressure and an enlaged heart. ive quit smoking, begun exercising daily, and switched to mostly salads, but still with some meat and dairy in there. would switching to vegetarian style of eating or vegan help me feel better?

Answer 1

It might help you feel better if you are getting enough essential proteins in youe diet. I'm a vegetarian as well, but I make sure I get my protein from taking skim milk and low fat dairy products. I also still eat free range eggs. The fable of being healthier on a vegetarian diet just isn't true if you still take mock meats that are made of gluten, which is simply empty calories with no nutritional value at all. Also, most vegetarian meals outside (hawker centers and restaurants alike) sell deep-fried food, which simply defeats the purpose of going vegetarian.
If your diet is already a well-balanced and healthy one now (i.e. consisting of brown rice, pasta and breads; lots of fibre from different fruits and vegetables of different colours; low fat dairy and dairy products; white meat without skin and fat trimmed from it), I'll say you're doing just fine. If you're still thinking of going vegetarian, do make sure you steer clear of the mock and deep fried stuff. And also ensure that your protein intake is adequate by incorporating unsalted, unsweetened, unroasted nuts (such as cashews and macademia) in your diet. If you like your nuts roasted, get the raw ones from the supermarkets, and roast them yourself at home without any added sugar, butter, margarine or salt. Ready roasted nuts that you get from the supermarkets are sprayed with oil during roasting, which can turn rancid, release lots of disease causing free radicals, and are unhealthy.
Tofu (unfried) is a great option as well. You can add them in soups, in your stir-fries, even make them into burger patties by mashing them with cashews.
For butter on bread, use avocado, which has been shown to be beneficial to heart conditions and in lowering blood cholesterol level. If you drink fruit juices, buy the fruits, and juice them youself, as commercial juices contain added sugars. Make sure you drink them with the pulp, with some added ginger, within 5 minutes of juicing to prevent them from losing their water-soluble vitamins.
Finally, any drastic changes in diet is best discussed with a qualified dietician or nutritionist as you have an existing medical problem. Your doctor should be able to refer you to one of them. What you've been doing so far is already good enough though...and great job in quitting smoking and getting your exercise!
Take care and good luck.

Answer 2

I would advocate changing to a diet that is mainly vegetable orientated. I cook a lot of Punjabi vegetable dishes - the spices make the veg interesting and the fibre does wonders for the bowels.

However, the body needs proteins, and there are certain amino acids that the body cannot synthesize from vegetable protein, so have some meat or chicken once a week. Fish, too, should be eaten to keep calcium levels up.

Explore the web for interesting veg recipes, or visit an Indian restaurant and try the vegetable curries and the lentil dishes (dahl). You will find that vegetarian food can be pleasant, satisfying, and very beneficial to your health and general good feelings.

Answer 3

You'll get different opinions on this one, based largely on the perspectives people have toward the killing and consumption of animals, fish, etc. Personally, I believe it is important for us as humans to realize that we have canine teeth for a reason. In my opinion, it is totally natural and within the intended scheme of things to consume fish, fowl and meat. I do think that it would be good in your case to minimize the consumption of red meat, and to stick mostly to chicken and fish because they are excellent sources of protein and other critical nutrients. There has been substantial research done over the past several years on contaminants....a serious problem in today's polluting society. However, there has also been a lot of over reaction to the problem, in terms of picking on one food source or another. The truth is that all food sources have the potential of contamination (including vegetables). Organic vegetables do help minimize this risk, though don't eliminate it. I believe the best diet is one that is well rounded, heavy on fruits and veggies, but not void of any, other than saturated fats. I'm no doctor, but in your case, it makes sense to me to eat healthy foods in modest amounts regularly, stay off the cigarettes and keep up with the exercise. The other thing I'd strongly recommend would be to develop and maintain a positive attitude toward yourself and life. It really is a beautiful world we live in, one that deserves our love and respect...and you're an important part of it.

Answer 4

Oh god no! You will lose many nutrients that your body needs to get better.

Replace meat with poultry and fish.

Eat a LOT of whole grains.

Low fat or fat free dairy products.

Make sure that the bulk of your meals are vegetables and fiber.

Drink lots of water. Make it your primary drink.

Answer 5

1) High salt intake
2) Sedentary lifestyle
3)Tobacco smoking
4) Alcoholism
5)High levels of saturated fat in the diet
6)Obesity-losing it can let you go down depends if u are obese
7)Stress
8)Diabetes mellitus
9)Various genetic causes
10) Occupational, aircraft and roadway noise exposure.-in other words loud muzic.
(*!*)and maybe but if you are addicted to meat / all you basically eat is meat you might have a problem ( big problem)

Answer 6

the veg diet really helps. if u take care of proper diet by dietician u can reduce fats, colestrols also. moreover veg diet is a balanced diet and it also save one from diseases

Answer 7

eat fake chicken tenders...lol they taste like real chicken but its all soy procucts

Answer 8

absolutely!!
read www.pcrm.org

Answer 9

no!!!