I've been thinking about it lately and the only thing I'm worried about is health issues. What would you suggest investing in, in order to maintain good health while being meat free. I've heard B12 supplements and Flax seed oil? Are these good? Would you suggest more?
2006-08-30 17:39:21 · 18 answers · asked by kaykay4915 3 in Food & Drink ➔ Vegetarian & Vegan
I would suggest that you read up on it. Being a vegetarian is healthy if you know how to balance your diet. Contrary to what some may say, you can get everything your body needs without eating meat. And with all the byproducts that are in our meat today, it is actually a wise chioce. Being a vegetarian, you are not limited to just vegetables. It is easy to find meat substitutes in the freezer section of your local grocery store. Here are some websites to help you become more informed...
2006-08-30 17:54:24 · answer #1 · answered by nightingale008 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Unless you choose a vegan diet, there is no need for supplements if you eat a balanced, varied vegetarian diet. Including dairy products and eggs, neither of which require taking life, will insure adequate B12 levels in healthy people, and whether you need flax oil for omega-3's depends on what else you eat. You can be meat-free without being an extremist and have a very healthy diet.
However, you can be a strict vegan and eat a very unhealthy fat-laden diet, so you need to do some homework about nutrition. Use reliable sources like the US Dept. Of Agriculture and the American Dietician Association, not doctrinaire sites like PETA whose claims are often exagerrated or inaccurate.
We have omnivore's bodies and are designed to eat just about anything. If we were meant to eat just vegetation, we'd likely have four stomachs and moo.
Vegetarian Times magazine has reliable information and great recipes. They have a website as well.
2006-08-31 05:37:20 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
B12 is definitely important-almost the only way you can get enough of it is meat, so you have to take a supplement. I used to be really tired until I started taking it. It made a world of difference. I think you should also take a regular daily multivitamin. Everybody should.
A vegetarian can be just as healthy as someone who eats meat-sometimes healthier. Many people actually eat too much meat, and it isn't good for our bodies.
The only way you will be able to stay being a vegetarian is if you find food that you like...I buy boca "burger" crumbles, and put onion and garlic in it, and as long as you put it in something like soup-you almost can't tell the difference. Also, I make tacos with boca crumbles, chili beans, and taco seasoning-you almost can't tell the difference except for the texture.
Just keep experimenting with foods-some are great, and some are gross! You'll find some that you'll actually really like.
I love being a vegetarian, and am very healthy. It has SAVED me from eating McDonalds every day...good luck!
2006-08-31 00:53:27 · answer #3 · answered by hopewriter 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm a vegetarian. What I did was go online and find the vegetarian food pyramid, and go by that. There is also Vitamin B12, which can be found in dairy products(if you are planning on eating eggs and such), and leafy greens like Spinach. Protien can be found in tofu, eggs, yogurt, nuts, legumes, and grainy breads. Being a vegetarian is not that bad, so long as you give your body what it needs, then you'll never crave a big steak!
It's also better to think about how there is no meat rotting in your colon. LOL. I hope I helped. :)
2006-08-31 00:50:35 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Don't listen to half these people. If you eat healthy like you are supposed to anyway, you will not be sickly and pale. Humans do not need meat to be healthy.
Many foods are supplemented already with B12 and as stated, cheese is a good source.
2006-08-31 07:44:40 · answer #5 · answered by KathyS 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Going vegetarian is the best thing you could do. I recommend going to your local book store and picking up a beginner's guide to vegetarianism.
Don't let the meat eaters discourage you. The only reason that meat eaters even post in this area is an attempt to hide their own guilt by attacking others.
2006-08-31 00:48:15 · answer #6 · answered by pm_msn@msn.com 1 · 3⤊ 1⤋
When my boyfriend went vegetarian, he had the same worries. Learn to like tofu, because it'll suppliment your proteins without using animal protiens. Any kind of soy will help with your proteins as will many legumes (beans) or nuts. I've cut out all land-based animal proteins and doing quite well with soy products.
If you balance your new diet with the food groups like you learned in school, you shouldn't need any additional suppliments (unless you have a medical condition, like pregnancy, that requires it). Or, if you're allergic to soy, then you need some enzyme suppliments, like lysine, to create amino acids (which are the building blocks of protein).
Good luck.
2006-08-31 00:44:52 · answer #7 · answered by cujoswings 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes both are good also eat beanns and nuts for protien. The doctor does bloodwork every year during my physical to make sure i'm not lacking in vitamins and it has never been a problem
2006-08-31 09:17:21 · answer #8 · answered by Lynn 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For info about vitamins and minerals etc check out this link at the Vegetarian Society UK site...
http://www.vegsoc.org/info/foodfacts.html
2006-08-31 19:26:15 · answer #9 · answered by sarch_uk 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
avoid supplements 100%
2006-08-31 06:34:23 · answer #10 · answered by hara 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋