Question For Veggies????

Question

What Benefits do you notice from being Veggies?

What would you say to someone considering becoming a veggie?

Answer 1

I was veggie for 14 years and didn't really notice anything especially different with regards to my health. But then I turned vegan nearly 4 years ago and boy! what a difference!
I feel more positive about life and have not had a single cold since - previously, I would have at least 2 or 3 a year.
I also used to suffer chronic stomach aches and they too have disappeared -despite having a negative test result for lactose-intolerance!

And just to clarify an earlier comment - someone who eats chicken is not a veggie, in any stretch of the imagination.
And a person who eats fish is a pescivore - again, not a veggie.

And anyone contemplating a veggie diet MUST think of their health, but then that goes for omnivores too. You can be veggie on chips and chocolate - but that does NOT a good diet make!!

Answer 2

You can go to websites and all that good stuff, but I'll tell you my own personal experience with the benefits.

I used to get sick a lot, especially from so much dairy (I'm not lactose intolerant) and once I became veg, I very rarely get sick.
My cholesterol and blood pressure are at a level that doctors consider to be optimal.
I lost a ton of unwanted weight after giving up all that meat and dairy.
I also learned how to cook because you have to have a varied diet to get all of your nutrients. Although there are so many prepared items and mock meats out there, all the preservatives are not good for you.
I learned to appreciate ethnic cuisine and in turn other cultures. Since American dishes aren't too veg- friendly, I explored different diets and cuisine- like Indian, Asian, Ethiopian, Thai- that use a lot more veggies and such.
Consuming meat and too many animal products has been scientifically linked to impotence and other sexual (as well as general) health problems. Let's just say my sex life has gotten a whole lot better since I have more energy and am not weighed down by decaying meat in my system.
I'm also saving thousands of innocent lives- both human and animal- by not consuming meat and that gives me a great feeling.
There are so many benefits to being veg, they are too numerous to mention.

If someone is considering becoming veg, I would tell them this: Read up on it and become well acquainted. Vegetarianism is not just a diet, it's a lifestyle and you have to be commited to it or you'll never gain the full experience and benefits of a cruelty free diet. It can be difficult sometimes, especially at first when giving up meat, being taunted by meat eaters, or when going out and the only thing for you to eat is a salad. At least give it a try for awhile to see how it fits you and if it doesn't work out the way you want, then at least you can say you tried something new and had a great learning experience.

* I would just like to clarify an above response. There ARE NOT several different types of vegans. Vegans (VEE-gans) do not consume or wear ANY animal products whatsoever, that would include fish oil. There ARE many kinds of vegetarians including lacto (dairy), ovo (egg), and Lacto- ovo. Even if someone consumed a small amount of animal derived products on a regular basis, they are considered vegetarian, NOT vegan. Some may argue that there are vegetarians who eat poultry and/ or fish or have a mostly veg diet and occassionally eat meat (flexitarians). They ARE NOT vegetarians. Fish and birds are animals and are hence, meat- so they are not actually vegetarians.

Answer 3

My major benefit: As has been mentioned several times, a clearer conscious. Many people do it for philosophical reasons, you have to choose yours accordingly. I'm all for people becoming veggies!! You can get many of the same benefits of eating meat in eating legumes, beans, whole grain, etc. and without the cholesterol. I would say, though, if you've tried it before and have failed, you may want to ween yourself off. If you're accustomed to having meat in your diet on a regular basis, trying cutting out certain types a week or month at a time, i.e. cut out red meat first, then seafood, then chicken/turkey, etc. You may find this easier, especially eating out. Another benefit is that you don't eat as much fast food, simply because there isn't a whole lot of selection for veggies at McDonald's!

Answer 4

I became a veggie about 15 years ago and whilst it cured my asthma...I developed an allergy to citrus fruits and products with citric acid in them. I remain a veggie because I found out what was in corned beef, hot dogs etc,... I even found a cyst in my friends chicken burger from a huge burger chain many years ago.
I suppose I'm fatter now than when I ate meat but I feel better and don't worry about what I eat as far as meat ingredients go.
All in all, if you do decide to go veggie then just don't overdo it with 1 group of specific food as you may develop an intolerance or allergy to it!

Answer 5

Well becoming a veggie is not a bad idea, more and more people are becoming overweight.
Worldwide, one billion adults are overweight and 300milliom of them obese. In Britain alone, the cost of treating health problems due to being overweight is at a rocketing 7billion pounds sterling a year. By 2010 1/3 of British men will be overweight and 28% of British women are expected to be overweight. And 22% of girls and 19% of boys aged 2 -15 will be grossly overweight.
The traditional way of dealing with this is to diet and exercise; but seeing as this is failing it would not be bad to take a step further and become a vegetarian.

Answer 6

I think its the right thing to do for animals.

We own a farm where all the cows, sheep and chickens are pets. When you get this close to them you realise they have feelings and thought processes.

Doesn't make me better/worse than anyone else, its just my view.

Can't say it makes me feel better because I've got nothing to compare to - i've been veggie all my independant life.

I'm a bit lacking in iron though, don't know if thats a direct result of being veggie ( I sometimes get rejected for giving blood as my iron is low ). I've started gnawing on bicycles - i think that might help

Answer 7

Don't bother.

Well, Irina C obviously copy+pasted her answer (as can be told from the go to the top bits) so I don't think anyone will mind my not answering the question directly but rather posting a few links.

So here we go:

http://www.becomehealthynow.com/article/dietbad/293/
http://www.mercola.com/2002/feb/2/vegetarian.htm
http://www.vanguardonline.f9.co.uk/00509.htm
http://www.mercola.com/2001/dec/29/vegetarian.htm
http://www.becomehealthynow.com/article/dietbad/136/

I now need to explain little, as those links do it all in detail. Interestingly providing the answers to why Irina C's answer is mostly fallacy, particularly the stuff about living longer and heart problems.

Answer 8

The benefit would be an enhancement of the world of cooking and food. You are forced to look in to it. If you are considering vegetarianism, read. The Food Revolution by John Robbins is a good start. No More Bull, by Howard Lyman is good. www.veganoutreach.org is a great source.

Answer 9

I can only tell you of my experience with two daughters. Although I am a meat eater slowly their beauty, health and energy is making me change my views. they look slim, fit and healthy. Their skin is not filled with fat and they feel good for eating the right things. Vegans only have problems when they don't eat certain essential foods. So unless you are willing to read into it and be prepared to cook with pulses. You should think seriously about it. Vegan can have an excellent diet but you need to be prepared to read about it,be commited, learn about it and live it.Unless ypu are prepared to do these things. It is not worth changing because your health would suffer.

Answer 10

i would have to say you can eat a lot being a vegan without the weight gain-as long as it's healthy.

there are also a variety of vegans....

there is the true vegan that it's no meat or bi-products of meat
there are those like my son who still eat eggs and drink milk and eat cheeses
there are those that eat fish and chicken and no red meat

the easiest way to lose weight is becoming vegan like my sons diet. the absence of meat has helped him lose weight while being healthy. he has recently introduced fish oil (omega-3) and a multivitamin (got tired of the chewables at 15)

he has had no asthma and his chronic epstein barr has lessoned in its chronicity.

his teeth are even white now, verses the slight yellowing he had prior to his decision to become a vegan.

now days with meat packed high in preservatives and steroids, no wonder we have the issue we do today!

tips to get you started if your contimplating the diet: eat lot's of grain, nuts and beans.... there are several vegan frozen meals that are good as well as canned soups and packaged ones. darker beans (black beans) are higher in protein than that of pinto.

as for organic foods: they still contain pestisides. most don't realize that. if you eat lots of fruits, more expensive does not mean less dangerous so always wash your fruits and veggies (fresh).

taking a bunch of herbs too will be a waste of money because your body will only absorb what is needed to begin with anyway.
a multivitamin is just as good as all the rest.
good luck no matter what you decide!