I am considering being a vegetarian except I love chicken a lot. I have already cut out beef and pork from my diet because I find them nasty, and I have not drank milk for the past 3 years. (I am now lactose intolerant...)
The thing is that I am only 5'5", 105-110 pounds with petite bones. Will I get osteoporosis or other diseases if I become a vegetarian? (I do have anemia at the moment...)
What should I do to maintain a balanced diet? I do know that some vegetarians eat excess starch, from imitation meat...
2006-09-02 23:10:02 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Food & Drink ➔ Vegetarian & Vegan
Vegetarianism is a healthier lifestyle than meat eating. Chicken is just as nasty as beef and pork, chickens have hormones injected into them to make them grow faster and the hormones stay in the meat. When a person eats vegetarian they utilize what calcium and other minerals they take in more effectively than when meat is eaten. You are anemic? Perhaps you need to take an iron supplement. Also make sure you drink soy milk and eat enough protein rich things like lentils, beans, tofu and soy products like the ones made by Boca or Morningstar. Also make sure you are eating a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits and whole grain breads and cereals.
2006-09-03 08:35:07 · answer #1 · answered by a_delphic_oracle 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Actually I did a lot of research before I became a full vegetarian. Here's what I found. Vegetarians live longer becasue they not only avoid animal meat but watch their fat intake and eat more whole grains, fruits and vegetables than carnivores.They have a lower risk of heart attack, heart disease, osteoperosis, cancer, and high cholesterol. The misconception that vegetarians can be anemic ifs false. As long as you have enough iron in your diet you're fine.
2006-09-03 11:02:14 · answer #2 · answered by autumn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try it for a short time and see how you feel. Some people benefit from a vegetarian or vegan diet, while others do not. Most who do not benefit from a vegetarian diet, do not do well because they do not know how to eat correctly. Our society knows almost nothing about nutrition, so I suggest reading up on nutrition and what your body needs in order to make a sound decision.
all the best
rivka
2006-09-03 11:34:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I Suggest, Vegetarian + Chicken + Calcium Pills = Success Good Luck.
2006-09-02 23:13:02 · answer #4 · answered by iLL_TeK_NeekZ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is healthy if you do healthy choices! First of all, many vegan are not strict and eat some chicken or fish once in a while but they try to buy certified organic products to have the healthiest ones! Be sure to include nuts, beans and grains to have complete proteins. There are good soy and rice milk products and greens will help you have your daily intake of calcium. BTW, the sun helps metabolize vitamin D which is used in our bodies with the calcium. I would check with the doc and see a nutritionist specialized in vegan diets to be sure if you want to be a strict type to be sure to have food you enjoy and miss nothing. Good luck, you can do it!
2006-09-06 17:24:32 · answer #5 · answered by Mel 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You get osteoporosis from eating too much meat, not eating too little. The body has to leach calcium from bones to digest and process massive amounts of protein. Thats why osteoporosis is so prevalent nowadays. The average american diet is about 90% meat and dairy.
I know some people that haven't eaten a piece of fruit in weeks, and won't even touch anything on a plate thats green.
2006-09-04 13:04:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
one thing, being obese and getting disease has to do with the quantity of food you eat, not whether you are an vegetarian or non-veg'n. If you cut out meat, and consume lot of fatty foods like potato, fried iterms like chips or desserts, you are going to put lot of weight. Being vegetraian, it should be easier to count calories, and keep weight under check if you are disciplined. As far as calcium deficieny is concerned, soy milk or some calcium supplements will do.
2006-09-03 11:57:54 · answer #7 · answered by curio 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I became a vegetarian about a year ago. Before I was veg, I was close to anemic. I got my blood tested recently, and everything is fine.
Oh, I'm petite too, and I haven't had anything go wrong.
Here's a website that helped me a ton when I went veg.
http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/index.php?referrerid=12059
Good luck!
2006-09-05 11:46:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is very healthy being a vegetarian. You can drink soy milk to avoid osteoporosis. Tofu made from soya and soy meat can be included in your diet instead of meat so you do not have give up on health or taste.
2006-09-02 23:16:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
No , It's not healthy ,
because u need a complete source of proteins that is hard to be maintained by vegetables and fruits alone every day so u need to eat meat , also milk and diary products are the best source of calcium , cus calcium pills can cause kidney stones.
2006-09-03 00:38:02 · answer #10 · answered by Moon_light1985 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋