Why do people become vegetarians? Are you the one of them too?

Question

I'd like to know advantages and disadvantages of being vegetarian. Maybe some of you guys practise this way - any secrets the beginner should know? I'm not vegetarian, but I'd like to be one very soon. I'm 18.

Answer 1

You are asking this on the UK&Ireland site, so I'm guessing your either British or Irish. Either way, in both of those countries it is illegal to feed animals hormones or drugs to increase their size or the rate at which they grow, meaning many of the issues surrounding meat in America don't affect you.

A carefully planned vegetarian diet that ensures you get all the nutrients, vitamins, minerals and proteins you will be missing from meat from plant sources can be healthy. However, many of the benefits are a symptom of having a wide range of fruit and vegetables in your diet, not because of not eating meat. This means those benefits can be obtained without turning vegetarian. Needless to say a uncarefully planned vegetarian, or especially vegan, diet can lack many essential nutrients and be very bad for your health.

I am not a vegetarian, and like the vegetarians, there are health, ethical and environmental reasons why. Many vegetarians claim that meat is unhealthy. This is a blatant fallacy, and in fact the opposite is true.
It is well established that eating meat improves the quality of nutrition, strengthens the immune system, promotes normal growth and development, is beneficial for day-to-day health, energy and well-being, and helps ensure optimal learning and academic performance.
A long term study found that children who eat more meat are less likely to have deficiencies than those who eat little or no meat. Kids who don’t eat meat — and especially if they restrict other foods, as many girls are doing — are more likely to feel tired, apathetic, unable to concentrate, are sick more often, more frequently depressed, and are the most likely to be malnourished and have stunted growth. Meat and other animal-source foods are the building blocks of healthy growth that have made America’s youngsters among the tallest, strongest and healthiest in the world.
Meat is an important source of quality nutrients, heme iron, protein, zinc and B-complex vitamins. It provides high-quality protein important for kids’ healthy growth and development.
The iron in meat (heme iron) is of high quality and well absorbed by the body, unlike nonheme iron from plants which is not well absorbed. More than 90 percent of iron consumed may be wasted when taken without some heme iron from animal sources. Substances found to inhibit nonheme iron absorption include phytates in cereals, nuts and legumes, and polyphenolics in vegetables. Symptoms of iron deficiency include fatigue, headache, irritability and decreased work performance. For young children, it can lead to impairment in general intelligence, language, motor performance and school readiness. Girls especially need iron after puberty due to blood losses, or if pregnant. Yet studies show 75 percent of teenage girls get less iron than recommended.
Meat, poultry and eggs are also good sources of absorbable zinc, a trace mineral vital for strengthening the immune system and normal growth. Deficiencies link to decreased attention, poorer problem solving and short-term memory, weakened immune system, and the inability to fight infection. While nuts and legumes contain zinc, plant fibre contains phytates that bind it into a nonabsorbable compound.
Found almost exclusively in animal products, Vitamin B12 is necessary for forming new cells. A deficiency can cause anaemia and permanent nerve damage and paralysis. The Vitimin B12 in plants isn't even bioavailable, meaning our body can't use it, luckily in the UK our cereals are fortified to prevent deficiencies though.
Why not buy food supplements to replace missing vitamins and minerals? Some people believe they can fill those gaps with pills, but they may be fooling themselves. Research consistently shows that real foods in a balanced diet are far superior to trying to make up deficiencies with supplements.

Some people claim that meat is unhealthy because it contains saturated fat. So does margarine and olive oil, and they're vegan suitable (in fact the hydrogenated fats in Marge can be very bad, but that's another story). Besides, any excess calories in your diet, any excess sugar, starch or carbohydrates are stored in your body for later use. This is done by turning them into saturated fats.
Cholesterol also, your body on average creates four to five times more cholesterol than the average person consumes, and compensates by creating more when less is consumed. Cholesterol isn't evil, it is essential; it makes up the waterproof linings of all our cells and without it we would die. Too much can be bad, but as with saturated fats there are more healthy ways of disposing of it, like regular exercise. For this reason that eating meat gives you heart disease is very misleading, and for the most part untrue.

Yes, there are things in meat that there is some evidence can cause cancer in some people, but there are nas many in plants too. Soy especially has some very potent carcinogens. Processing of soy protein results in the formation of toxic lysinoalanine and highly carcinogenic nitrosamines.
Soy phytoestrogens disrupt endocrine function and have the potential to cause infertility and to promote breast cancer in adult women. Also they are potent antithyroid agents that cause hypothyroidism and may cause thyroid cancer. In infants, consumption of soy formula has been linked to autoimmune thyroid disease.
Soy is bad for numerous other reasons, but that isn't the point, I'm just using it as a quick example relating to cancer.

Some people also claim that we aren't designed by evolution, to eat meat. They claim that our digestive system is quite long and that we produce amylase, a starch splitting catabolic enzyme, akin to herbivores and unlike carnivores. Apparently this clearly shows that we were designed to eat plants. Such people should go and look up 'omnivore' in a dictionary. They have also been known to cite other reasons we are like herbivores and unlike carnivores: that we suck water instead of lapping it, and that we perspire through our skin, such things have nothing at all to do with whether or not we were designed to eat meat.

The fact is Humans are omnivores, with the ability to eat nearly everything. By preference, prehistoric people ate a high-protein, high-mineral diet based on meat and animal sources, whenever available. Their foods came mainly from three of the five food groups: meat, vegetables and fruits. As a result, big game mammoth hunters were tall and strong with massive bones. They grew six inches taller than their farming descendants in Europe, who ate mostly plant foods, and only in recent times regained most of this height upon again eating more meat, eggs and dairy foods. We are adapted to eat meat, and it is just as natural as eating plants.
Some also claim that the digestion of meat releases harmful byproducts into our system. This is true, however such are our adaptations to eating meat that our bodies are quite able to dispose of said products without any adverse effects.

Next, onto ethics. I won't say very much on this, because it is a matter of opinion and therefore everyone's is valid. Everyone knows what they believe and it is very hard to change someones ethics. However, I don't think eating meat is cruel.
Yes, I have seen those videos on Peta TV, they had no effect on me whatsoever. I don't see how it appears logical to anyone that by not eating meat we are preventing the suffering of animals.
Yes, Peta TV does chow some cases where animals are very badly treated, but there is no proof that these cases are anything but exceptional. Not that it would be like Peta to exaggerate anything!
Farmed animals have, for the most part, relatively stress free, healthy lives, free from fear of predators and hunger. Make no mistake, they are much healthier and better cared for than they would be in the wild. I know that in the USA they pump hormones and things into them, to cause unnatural growth, but here in the UK the practise and importing such meat is illegal, so that has no effect on me.
Besides, if we were to all turn veggie, no one would keep the animals and, as releasing them all into the wild is unfeasible, they would have to be slaughtered.

And finally, the environment. It is claimed that by using the land w currently use for arable farming for crops we would be able to grow enough food to feed the third world. This fails to take two issues into account. Firstly, that almost all the land we use for arable farming, much of it scrub land, heathland or moors, is unsuitable for cultivation. Secondly, that there is already enough food in the world to feed all the third world countries, and there always has been. Only problem is they're too poor to afford it, and if we were to stop eating meat that wouldn't change.
Also, cultivation is more damaging to the environment than animals are. Farmers use pesticides and fertilisers that are very bad for the environment. That also means the area, unlike that used for animals is completely unsuitable for wildlife. Arable farming is less damaging in this way.
Of course, if they were to stop using pesticides we'd have to cultivate more land to compensate for the decreased yields, and that wouldn't be brilliant for the land either.
More animals are killed each years by combine harvesters than the meat industry.

And again I say, being a veggie can be just as healthy as eating meat if done correctly, but not eating meat doesn't provide any benefits per se. And if uncarefully done deficienies can occur.

Answer 2

Different people have different reasons for becoming vegetarians.
Some have an ideological motivation, others religious rules they chose to follow, and others are doing it for health reasons.

Personally I fall into the third group. After years of eating "normal" I had reached the point where I was overweight and not feeling happy with myself. I decided to make some radical changes, and I became not just a vegetarian, but selected only macrobiotic and organic food to eat. Over a time span of three months I lost more than 25 kg in weight, gained a lot of extra energy and am now a much healthier and happier person.

I should add that even before that change I did not eat red meat, and not much meat at all, since I disagree with the way modern farming and the meat industry is treating animals.

Answer 3

there are many reasons people become vegetarians, there r some who feel sorry for the animals that are butchered to make the food, some people who have actually seen this, and are scared of eating meat(seeing this image every time there is a burger on their plate) and some who just decide that they don't want to have meat any more, no particular reason they just say "OK, I've had enough meat for my life,".

some advantages are a quicker metabolism(usually), and also some weight lose.(again usually). also, you are less likely to have a heart attack, stroke, blood-clot, nd other serious health risks, but some disadvantages are that unless you find an alternate source of protein(to-fu, nuts, some beans) you will have major muscle deterioration, not fun. and of course, you can't have meat, but also, meat is loosely defined, i have a friend who only eats chicken, another girl i no only eats fish. i try and go veggie every now and again, but i always wind up caving when the only thing in the house is that killer chicken parm. lol
(in response to cty girl, that is a religious issue, hindus and buddist are not allowed to eat meat on the grounds that they will be reincarnated as a lower life form)

Answer 4

I am a vegetarian. I chose to become one because I disagree with the disregard for life that now accompanies industrial meat production.

In my Granny's day..they kept chickens. The chickens were well fed/ran free but eventually would end up in the pot. This was considered a luxury and not a bit was wasted..

Today, in every supermarket in the land is millions of lbs of meat half of which will end up in the bin and even that which is consumed is often the product of a miserable life the animal experienced..

Chickens today for example are kept in hangers with thousands of others, are knee deep in their own faeces and never have more than an A4 piece of paper to stand on.

Because of these practices I chose to become a vegetarian. In a market economy - the only way producers of dead animal meat are going to start to care more for the welfare of those animals is if people stop buying their products.

Good luck! I love being vegetarian and there is a lot of choice out there now..

Answer 5

People become vegetarians when they reach a higher level of consciousness and are able to communicate with animals. Through this higher consciousness, they are able to feel the animals pain and thus become vegetarians in response to this pain.
Advantages: the ability to see that animals don't give a damn.
Disadvantages: ooh, so many....
I am not one.
Secrets a beginner should know: You will miss meat, a lot, but follow closely the teachings of Priest Do-Little, they will see you through. Give not into temptation, avoid those vile meat -eaters. Oh and I think you have to be over 21.

Answer 6

first of all its great that youre thinking of becoming vegetarian.There are sooo many advantages.For a start, animals arnt suffering and being slaughtered to supply you with meat which is great!!! People are always going on about the main reason for turning veggie being health but for me its predominatly the moral side-to know animals were being killed to feed me is something i jst couldnt live with.
Health is also a good aspect-you can get all the nutrients you need if you eat a varied and balanced diet, and theres no risk from things such as CJD, BSE, bird flu and food poisioning such as salmonella.Meat is more fattening so being vegie means less chance of weight problems, and meat can be very harmful to your digestive system too. Also being veggie is cheaper- meat cost a fortune these days.
In fact I cant think of any downsides to being veggie-health and peace of mind, what more could a person want!!
Whatever you decide good luck and if you do decide to be veggie, then well done!!!

Answer 7

Reasons to become a vegetarian: Compassion, health, weight issues, the environment.

Tips: if you need to ween yourself off meat give yourself reasonable goals like eating meat only once a day, then every other day, then once a week, etc. Make sure you don't load up on carbs too much. Rice and beans, The pseudo grain quinoa, spirulina, hemp seeds, soy (tofu), all are complete as proteins.

I highly suggest trying to ultimately go vegan. Vegetarians basically cheat being more cheeseitarians. This is really bad for you creating all kinds of health problems, i.e. sinus infections, earaches, soar throats, etc because milk products create an incredible amount of mucus. There are other negative aspects to milk products, but just trust me. Try to eventually find ways to ween yourself of them as well.

Ultimately you need support and information. I suggest joining an organization like PETA. They will send you info that will help you live a healthier vegetarian life as well as how to help alleviate the suffering many animals go through at the expense of human desire.

Spend most of your time with people that will try to support you. Many people can't stand that you are something they are not. They will even use passive aggressive tactics to undermine your resolve. If you ever feel you need encouragement please feel free to contact me. We all have need for community.

Best of wishes on your new Journey.

Answer 8

When I was about ten I just thought the idea of sticking some bit of a dead animal in my gob, chewing and swallowing was revolting.

That's why I stopped eating meat and fish. After a while it just becomes part of life, like breathing, and I don't really think about it.

I don't even plan my diet, just eat what seems appetising. Sometimes I feel like eating beans or having an egg or spinach or something so I suppose that may be when I need protein.


As for health, I'm six feet one and average weight, have done various very demanding jobs (both physically and mentally) and don't have any health issues.

Answer 9

I went vegetarian for health reasons. Most beef farmers will inject their stock with growth hormones to make them grow faster, develop faster, add more muscle, and produce more milk. Adding these hormones into the system may also cause premature development and some of the hormones used have also been found to be carcinogenic (including an estrogen suppliment called 17 beta-estradiol). Also sometimes beef cows are fed antibiotics to increase their immune system, so that when a human eats them they are encouraging bacterial resistance to the antibiotic developing new strains of resistant bacteria. Scientists are currently in the process on testing if the hormone injections are harmful or not, but I figure why risk it. I also never have to worry about getting the human form of mad cow, E. coli, or salmonella.

I have been a veg for about 8 years now and have no plans on changing. If you decide to go veg I wish you lots of luck. I quit cold turkey (no pun intended). What helped me in the early days is whenever you crave meat, it means your body is lacking protein so eat a protein bar instead. So now instead of craving meat when my body needs protein, it craves protein bars. If you decide not to go veg, thats fine too, I would just recommend you try and eat organic meat thats free of antibiotics and hormones.

Vegetarianism is a good lifestyle change, you just have to be very careful about what you eat and be more in tune with your body. I will get my blood tested a few times a year to make sure I have enough protein and other nutrient level. You may have to start buying protein suppliments and other vitamins. Being a vegetarian can become somewhat expensive, especially if your leaning more towards organic vegetarian.

Good luck to you!

Oh yeah, and prepared to get teased by your family for going veg...thats what families are for! :)

Answer 10

being a vegetarian is VERY VERY good for you and it is good as mainly people feel good not eating an animal and having its blood all over their dinner plate, anyway it is better than eating meat as meateaters may be getting more nutrition but we have things like linseed which is an alternative to oily fish which provides omega 3
also things like salads can fill you up and you can be healthy and have a great body without working out much, also you dont have to eat the steriotypical types of vegetarian foods you can sill eat ur burger king and mc donalds as the vegggie burgers are just as good also things like cake -eggless which by the way tastes the same and also things like pizza and oters.there really is no difference
!!! bye

Answer 11

Well, many people nowadays do it for moral reasons, because they feel eating animals is somehow wrong, nevermind the fact that people have been eating meat since the dawn of time (not to mention animals eating other animals). I myself don't like watching the animals get slaughtered, but I love my hamburgers and steak.

There are others however, who can only eat vegetables, either because of health, they can't afford it much, or religious reasons, which for me is perfectly acceptable. It's just the ones that say eating a hamburger is wrong because some poor animal got hurt in the process to make it. Livestock was made to be eaten by people, so why not enjoy it?

Just make sure you're doing it for the right reasons. Not many people have respect for those who refuse to eat meat solely on moral grounds (I find it interesting that organizations like PETA think eating only plants wouldn't hurt animals, but they don't mention that the harvesters and other farm equipment kill many wildlife animals such as gophers, rodents, birds unintentionally as its harvesting the crops).

You could get by from just eating plants, but it's often not a healthy lifestyle for many, especially those who are used to eating meat.

Just be sure you look up all the facts, not just listen to one side of the story. I'm trying to be objective here, but I really don't have much respect for people who tell me eating meat is wrong.