Is it unheathy to be a vegetarin?

Question

Because my mother thinks im anorixic because i haven't ate much latly because there is only aninal fat at this house and i refuse to eat it help me!

Answer 1

The Pros

When it comes to fighting many chronic diseases, a vegetarian diet can provide potent dietary ammunition. Numerous research studies have shown that a diet rich in plant foods, specifically, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes, such as dried peas and beans — the staples of a vegetarian diet — can help lower the risk of obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, a specific type of diabetes, and certain cancers.

For those interested in maintaining a healthy weight, vegetarian diets can be kind to your waist, as the satiety-provoking whole grains, fruits, and vegetables tend to "fill you up before they fill you out". In other words, the fiber in these plant foods, and in the case of the fruits and vegetables, their high water, yet low calorie content, enables you to feel full or satiated long before you are likely to over consume an excessive amount of calories. A dinner plate piled high with a variety of vegetables ladled on top of a bed of brown rice and black beans may leave little room in your stomach for a second helping, and more importantly, for you to overindulge on the brownie a la mode that follows the meal.

When it comes to your heart health, plant foods tend to be extremely low in artery-clogging saturated fat. Dietary saturated fat is the biggest culprit in raising your blood cholesterol level. A high blood cholesterol level is a risk factor for heart disease. Since dietary cholesterol is found ONLY in animal foods, vegans have the unique opportunity to enjoy diets that are 100 percent dietary cholesterol-free. This is a plus for your health as dietary cholesterol can also raise your blood cholesterol level. Whole grains, fruits, and vegetables are also rich in antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, and beta-carotene, which also provide an extra heart-protective bonus.

Vegetarians, in general, tend to have a lower incidence of high blood pressure than non-vegetarians. An elevated blood pressure level can not only increase the risk for heart disease but also stroke. High fiber, plant-based diets have also been shown to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, the most prevalent type of diabetes mellitus in the United States. Unfortunately, diabetes is also a risk factor for heart disease.

Lastly, since plant-based diets have been shown to reduce the risk of both colon and prostate cancer, it's not surprising that the American Cancer Society has advocated a diet rich in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. The high fiber content, rich source of phytochemicals (plant chemicals), and the abundance of antioxidants found in plant foods are all thought to play a cancer-fighting role.


The Cons

While a vegetarian diet may help prevent many chronic diseases, an unhealthy vegetarian diet can create a different set of medical problems. A daily diet of only rice and vegetables may be "vegetarian" but far from a healthy and balanced diet. When meat, fish, poultry, dairy foods, and eggs are missing in the diet, several important nutrients could also be missing in action. All vegetarians need to make sure that they are consuming adequate amounts of protein, iron, zinc, and vitamin B12, calcium, and vitamins A and D. Vegetarians who include dairy foods in their diet need to avoid loading their plates with saturated-fat laden, full-fat dairy foods such as whole milk and cheeses. Even though fatty meats may be limited on a vegetarian diet, a steady diet of fatty dairy products could cause the amount of artery-clogging saturated fat that is consumed to be off the Richter scale. Also, a vegetarian diet isn't guaranteed to keep you svelte if it is a predominately junk food vegetarian diet that is loaded with high calorie cookies, cakes, candy, and sweetened drinks.


- By Joan Salge Blake, MS, RD, LDN. Blake is a nutrition professor at Boston University and a nationally known writer, lecturer and nutrition expert.

Answer 2

Being a vegetarian does not make you unattractive. Being a vegetation makes you healthier with a nicer slimmer body if you eat well. I am actually a vegetarian myself and tons of people have said I am so beautiful. So many guys have had crushes on me and asked me out. Being a vegetarian will not make you anything but better-looking if you eat healthy foods. I have been a vegetarian since I was a very little girl and I have had no problems finding guys that thought I was pretty. Sometimes if guys find out you are a vegetarian, they will think that you could be a bit of high maintenance. And you can't eat where they eat. I am not very high maintenance at all. Not many of my friends are vegetarians and when we go to eat somewhere where they are eating burgers, I get a grilled cheese. Simple. Don't let any guy make you feel bad about being a vegetarian. I am sure that the guys that you've met have just been very immature. Don't listen to them. Most everyone in my class know I'm a vegetarian and like I said, plenty of guys say I'm hot. So don't you worry about a thing. Just wait for the right guy. :) I Hope I Helped. :)

Answer 3

Hello,

You have received many good answers to you question. Ia not a vegetarian myself but you will need to get as much information as possible about nutrition before you start making such a dramatic change. there are also different types of vegetarians (vegans, etc). For many it is a lifestyle and not just a diet.

The vegetarians I have known have always been very concerned and informed about health, exercise, nutrition, gardening, and just "Mother Earth". I have yet to meet a vegetarian I did not like. But it also takes a commitment of time and money. No more fast or frozen foods. It takes a lot of time to prepare a vegetarian meal compared to going to the drive up window at MacDonald's.

Me, I just never learned to enjoy vegetables, but I love fruit. Really the bottom line and the fundamental truth is that "you are what you eat"

Oh, just one more thing. Be very careful if you are young and growing. You need huge amounts of protein if you are to grow and develop.

Take care, I would like to hear back form you in ten years. I am sure you will be a far different person than you are today.

Answer 4

There are all sorts of vitamins and healthy stuff in other foods that don't come from an animal! Eat alot of fruits and vegetables. Also add legumes, or beans, to your diet. They add protein. It is very easy to become anemic on a vegetarian diet. It is easy to be unhealthy because it takes more effort to eat an animal-free diet. You just have to put alot of effort into it. Buy a vegetarian cookbook and ask your mother to make some dishes out of it. Your family may even like the recipes! You can also try the Boca products. They are like artificial meat-the chicken nuggets taste good. You might have to do research on how to get nutrients from non-animal foods, but it can be worth the effort. It is actually a very healthy way to live if done correctly. Don't forget your vitamin B-12 that is normally found in animal products. It is very important.

Answer 5

Being a vegetarian is not in itself unhealthy, but you have to make sure you get the proper vitamins and amino acids. A vegetarian diet may be missing the fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) although some are found in veggies (such as vitamin K). Two amino acids are often missing in vegetarian diets as well (leucine and lysine), but are found in soy. You can certainly supplement with soy products (tofu and various soy protein versions of meats - often found in Chinese supermarkets) and take a multi-vitamin to get all the proper nutrients.

Answer 6

For some people it is unhealthy to be a vegetarin.

However, it is more unhealthy to not eat at all

Go out and get some fruits, veggies, and fish (if you allow yourself to eat that)

I think there are special diets for vegetarins that make sure that they get the proper amount of nutrients that they need. Go check into that.

Answer 7

I dont think it is unhealthy to be a vegetarian. Sometimes, some people decided to become a vegetarian not for any religous reasons but for dieting purpose only. I know some friends who's into that.

Answer 8

My sister was very skinny when she was growing up, Mom thought she had an eating disorder, i myself rarely eat meat, esually it's chicken or turkey when i do cause they are low in fat, Now not fried chicken but baked chicken.

Just ask them to get more vegetables and eat lots of rice, no matter how much of that stuff you eat as long as you get "some" exercise, you can't get fat

Answer 9

It is very healthy to be one.
but think about it, if you have to use alot of energy during a day, then ur body needs lots of nutrition.
for example, if you need to study late at night, then ur brain needs much supply other than vegetables.
so it depends on how much u work.
Like the saying goes, Big output needs big input too.

Answer 10

its not unhealthy but if u need the iron from red meat I'm just like you i don't care for meat anymore but just eat it for the iron until i get some iron pills but you can also eat fish and chicken i think you should research you diet much further and even try a doctors opinion.

Answer 11

Protein is a necessary part of anyones diet in reasonable amounts . The lack of it may cause brain damage.