Pro's and Con's of being a vegetarian?

Question

thinking of becoming a vegetarian... have been meat-free for 5 days.

Answer 1

Being a vegetarian can be very good for you, but you must make sure that fulfill your requirements for nutrients such as protein, and other minerals like Iron. The problem is that the human body is not able to fully digest some raw vegetables because of the chlorophyl, this is why grazing animals have multiple stomachs and chew constantly to create cud and break the food down, we do not have this. Also, a benefit of meat is that there are some bacterias in meat that not only help you develop a good immunity, but also help you break down other items in your digestive tract. MEAT OR MEATLESS it is your choice, but some meat such as maybe some chicken or fish once in a while will help you greatly.

Answer 2

Pros- Feeling good about not killing animals in order to 'enjoy' a lunch or breakfast. I began to feel it seemed awfully unfair to eat a cow or a chicken and just skip along my merry way like I hadn't done anything morally questionable. This is the most tangible benefit, even over health, that I got from being a vegetarian. I needed to be a veg in order to have a clear conscience. (I realize not everyone feels the same. C'est la Vie)

But on the health front, my doctor, on a recent exam, told me he had never seen such low cholesterol in a person my age. He was staggered. I attribute that to a veggie diet. My blood chemistry, electrolytes etc were normal or good, btw. You DO NOT HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN health or meat. That's just propaganda.

Cons - From my first days as a veg, everyone I knew ate meat. So not only was it hard overcoming the appetite for meat, which I had eaten most of my life, everytime I smelled meat or saw it, but we always wound up at restaurants that catered to meat people, and all I could get was a baked potato or a salad. it would never occur to most meat eaters to try to accomodate vegetarians by picking a veg friendly restaurant. --So vegetarians usually do all the accomodating.

Also, as you see in yahoo answers, a lot of people like to heckle vegetarians. I think they see veggies as feeling morally superior to them, and they are too proud to let anyone put that on them. So you have to put up with a fair share of BS if you go veggie.

Good luck.

Answer 3

I was a vegetarian for four years and I will say that you do need to be really committed to it, and to your health. You will want to make sure that you are finding ample sources of protein in other foods, and you might want to start taking a multi-vitamin. I would talk to your doctor and make sure that you are getting regular blood work done, you want to make sure that things like your iron levels don't get to low or cholesterol to high. It isn't all easy, going out is easier now for Vegetarians then ever, but the choices are still limited, and that can become a bit of a downer. But if your a good cook with a taste for adventure it can be a wonderful experience. Best of Luck!

Answer 4

I've been vegan for over 10 years and have never had a health related issue due to my diet.
Protien is not really an issue if you are eating properly, Vegetarians also don't tend to be lacking in energy (I'm training for the Boston Marathon). We tend to live longer and and have lower incidence of heart disease. You can get Vegetarian Starter Kits from VRG.org or Peta.org to help you start out.
the only cons I can think of is finding food when eating out and having to put up with the constant questioning about your choices.

Answer 5

I dont know of any cons if a person eats a well balanced diet. I'll be honest, most people no matter what diet they subscribe to, do not eat a balanced diet.

Check out the vegetarian food pyramid. It's a pretty good guide.

Answer 6

For me the pro is I don't feel any guilt about what I put in my body. I do this for me to feel good, and yes, it does take effort to get sufficent protien. However, most americans overdo it on protien already. What are your eating habits now? How often do you eat meat, and how much would you miss it? These are important questions to ask yourself so you do not feel deprieved when you give up meat. Also what effort are you willing to put forth? Eating takes more consideration for me because I am more concious of my decisions. To do it right you have put your heart into your decision.

Answer 7

Pros:
--food tastes fresh, not dead, and no blood (ick!)
--nothing died to make your meal; so guilt-free eating
--not getting all the antibiotics and hormones given to meat animals
--more energy
--fewer digestive upsets
--less cancer, heart disease, diabetes, diverticulosis, etc; fewer medicines
--longer life
--less erectile disfunction (impotence) for men as they get to middle age
--more interesting food
--generally less expensive

Cons:
--sometimes it's hard to find veggie food in certain parts of the country (in rural Louisiana it is tough to find anything but pizza, and you may have to pick off the pepperoni!) or small restaurants
--harassment by defensive, guilt-ridden, or envious meat eaters. This can get really tiresome, as they will try to "convert" you, even if you don't make any comments about meat at all.

Answer 8

Pros--new foods to explore, no stomach upset from hard to digest meats.

Cons--lots of gas from digesting vegetables. Lowered energy levels. Difficulty finding sufficient protein.

I tried it for a few months and couldn't continue because my blood sugar problem requires meat protein or fish.

Answer 9

Pro's: You don't feel that something died for you to have a taste in your mouth.
You feel (and are) healthier
You feel proud that you can stick to a decision
You eat more exciting food because you have to - you can't just eat chicken or beef everyday

Cons: erm, I'll get back to you if I think of any...

Answer 10

Pro: Vegetables are really good for health.
Con: Vegetables are not only the food that gives energy to the body.