Curious about health?

Question

Just Curious?
Alot of vegans and vegitarians say that being so has nothing to do with animal rights and its a lifestyle and health choice. But then eat things like tofurkey, veggie roast, tofu burgers and tofu bacon, take vitimin suppliments, veggie chocolate mousse, etc. From what I have heard tofu by itself is pretty bland, so they must put some type of chemical in it to make it taste like these meat products. When I was 6 I learned about the 4 basic food groups and a balanced diet, and since adulthood have adhered to said diet plan. I don't eat sweets and excersise daily, I am rarely ill and am as fit as a butchers dog, yet you read many questions on this site and in other vegitarian research, about people with dietary problems and malnutrition since becoming veggie. Not everyone I'm sure, but enough to raise my eyebrow. So how does eating chemicals and lab produced suppliments equate to more healthy than the real thing? No need to be derogatory, it's just a simple question.

I pass no judgement on peoples dietary habits or anything else for that matter, unless asked, but most only want to be told what they want to hear, so not too many ask my opinion anymore, because I'm a realist and enjoy playing devils advocate.

The reason I ask this question is because there was a recent question that I answered and it was stated by many that the choice to go veggie was a health choice and had nothing to do with animal rights, and I should do some research if I thought this was the case, so expanding on the reseach I had already done, as I thought about it before, I found alot of people take suppliments and eat meat flavored tofu and soy, chemicals are used to provide these, so I'm curious of the logic behind it. Your right I am very lucky to have a strong constitution and metabolism, but I work at it.

Well,all the tofurkey and veggie bacon eaters must be avoiding this question as none have defended their chemical diet.The majority of people have a poor diet.With a balanced diet, meat or veggie, you should never need a suppliment or vitamin,although I know many people take these.I even know a veggie that's porky, not fat, but porky. And a poor veggie diet is what people see as weedy and pale. Gorging on meat isn't healthy, so I can see people feeling better, if they stop eating meat, but an alcholic feels better after he stops drinking too. Moderation is the key, and it's mostly red meat that makes you lethargic. Lean white meat is healthy and fish is very healthy, especially for brain development in children, there have been studies on this. World records, that was interesting, but a veggie diet doesn't make you a better ball player, that may have something to do with coaching, nor a better tennis player, no wimbleton wins for him. I know I have good genes, my great grannys 103.

I think both diets if not used responsibly, have the ability to be unhealthy. A couple of you have recognized this, it's too bad the rest of the militants can't. No wonder there is such animosity. Just look at the answers, nothing derogatory, yet still thumbs down for some people, including 2 thumbs down for my simple innocent question. Who ever you are, your sad. How can we ever achieve religous, racial, communal, stability, acceptance, and tolerance if we can't even have an open minded discussion about diet. Talk about the human condition. Cheers to everyone who answered, except the thumbs downers, your still sad.

Answer 1

That's a good point. I'm a vegetarian but don't eat the fake meats as I'm not a fan of chemicals (although I don't think all meat substitutes are bad I have seen some natural non chemical ones) - you have to be so careful these days they put so much rubbish in food! I think that some people automatically think that if it's vegetarian then it is healthy so they don't think about it any further - the packaging is usually made to look all wholesome etc etc. Also, it's important to research properly to see what you need to have a balanced diet without meat and a lot of people don't bother.

Answer 2

I don't eat meat because I don't like the taste-therefore I don't touch meat substitutes. Over the years I've even got used to avoiding meat products, as Veggie versions of cheese etc are readily available. I don't entirely agree with Vegetarians who feel animals shouldnt be eaten - life on this planet involves a food chain, so bowing to Mother Nature I have no problem with people who choose to eat meat. I too am very healthy - I never see a Doctor, my homeopath treats my common ailments if and when they arise. I walk 2 miles to work and back each day and swim a mile 5 times a week. I've never been sickly due to diet - in fact conditions such a Asthma improved drasically after I switched diets in my teens.
You have to admit that modern society produces and consumes more meat than Mother Nature intended. Human life started with a kill for the clan that would last a few days, diet was substituted with berries, seeds and nuts etc before another kill was made. Nowadays you can eat meat at every meal. The average 6lbs of undigested meat in an atypical US male at death shows that too much meat is NOT a good thing, plus I have to say from an animal welfare point of view many modern farming methods are verging on animal cruelty, with production being the business of the day - not farming - too much supermarket meat ends up uneaten in dumpsters.
Statistically Vegetarians live longer than meat eaters. A healthy diet should be vitamin and mineral balanced - that doesn't decree where the vitimins or minerals come from. Some sources are richer than others but not necessarily better

Answer 3

I can see being a vegitarian because of cruelty to animals, but not for health reasons, and really you can find organic freerange products all over the place these days, some butcher shops even have ethically slaughtered red meats. As far as taking a pill everyday to maintain nutrition and support a pharmacutical company who won't even give life saving drugs at a cheap price, making billions off the suffering of others is something I will not do, especially when it's been proven that a balanced diet means you should NEVER need a vitimin. As for putting chemicals in my body, pass. I try to buy as much organic food as possible, just to reduce the chemical, hormone, pesticide content in my families diet. You will always find chemicals in your diet but you can definitly reduce it. Saying chemicals are healthy is a fallacy. We eat alot of fish, chicken and turkey and the red meat is kept to a minimum. As for fish not being meat, that is just stupid. May as well say a cow isn't meat, it's a cow. And fish are killed probably the most inhumanely, netted and thrown uncerimoniously into a hold onto a pile of ice to suffocate or beaten with a stick until it stops flopping around. It equates to throwing a cow in a lake to drown, or beating a lamb to death with a stick. There is no real argument for your question, as chemicals are not healthier than the real thing, but alot of vegitarians I'm sure like the taste of meat products and anything can be justified in the name of a cause.

Answer 4

I know a number of people who don't eat meat after having discovered they 'feel better' without it- which is a personal preference and fine by me, I think people are aware that meat substitutes are often lower in fat than the actual meat- although not always I'm sure. You are quite right that natural foods are better than highly processed foods be they meat or veggie and you can use soya and tofu on there own and flavour them with your own herbs and spices rather than using chemically laden shop bought versions. I am a veggie and I do enjoy veggie sausages, however I only buy cauldren organic ones after trying a number of varieties and finding that I can feel the chemical 'film' on my teeth after eating them. My feeling about them is that they are just a part of a healthy and varied diet, they're something I consider a treat and more often cook my food from scratch than eat processed foods. As you say, there are many unhealthy veggies living on chips and chocolates just as there are many healthy carnivores eating a variety of meats as well as fruit and vegetables, it is not about, in my opinion, whether you are veggie or not, but about what consideration you give to your diet and the variety of foods you choose.

Answer 5

I don't buy any meat replacement / substitute foods, since I don't really feel that meat is missing from my diet. I can't dispute however that they're very popular. I think it's mainly just clever marketing and probably aimed more towards people who gave up meat for ethical reasons, but who still crave the taste of bacon or beef. They tend to be made using dairy products and eggs, so are not viable for vegans anyway.
A few people I've noticed comment about vegetarians and vegans eating sausages and burgers as if it's hypocritical to do so, but sausages and burgers are just shapes and not cuts of meat. If the companies make them people will eat them. As far as ingredients are concerned, it takes me hours to shop because I check all the labels, and stay away from dodgy chemicals and e-numbers.

Answer 6

names are given to foods so they have a comfortable label, but most of these foods are what they say. yeggie roast.... veggies roasted in a pan, tofu burger.... tofu pattie grilled and put on a bun. what is wrong with that? didn't say pretend meat! veggie choc mousse? who says it didnt come first and someone changed recipe to dairy? Tofu is bland by itself, but is pure protein, and can take on any taste you marinade it in. Why are meats peppered,marinated, stewed etc, but to change the taste. Personally, I dont eat tofu bacon, tofurkey, or animal named meals, but I use gluten to make textured shapes(shops call meat, chicken, fish etc) to cook with my rice,noodles, steamed, wok cooked veges. I have many allergies, life threatening ones, I am allergic to all seafood(iodine), dairy products, lactose, gelatin, wool, bees, eggs and many man made drugs. My doctors are so pleased that on my vegan diet, at first by necessity and then by life choice(like you I made up my own mind) I am keeping so much better than my younger years when I was constantly in hospital. No matter what diet we choose, there are always people who will be not eat healthy, meat eaters included, and need supplements. Most foods today have chemicals, eggs, hormone fed beef, GM crops, so please dont say because a food is labeled by marketing company as a meat name, we want the taste of animal, we buy nutritional value, or I do anyway.

Answer 7

A lot of meat eaters also take vitamins and various supplements.
Also, I think a lot of vegetarians are health conscious individuals to begin with.
Further, a person can be a vegetarian and still eat lousy. Too many sweets, not enough water, too much fat, not enough fiber. A vegetarian diet does not automatically insure a healthy diet.

Answer 8

Nick good morning now let me say you are a very lucky person to be so fit there are a lot of folk out there who would give you their last penny for your good health. Now I don't exactly get your letter are you commending the veggie or condemning them I'm not a veggie i like my meat too much but my late wife was as she could not equate with the slaughter of animals and i admired her for her stand but I think as you suggest that meat must be beneficial to the body in some way as i myself feel a lot of veggies look pale and do indeed get more local virus infections than most. Happy new year and keep up the exercises I do myself and if i missed a day it wouldn't be the same

Answer 9

I find it difficult to define (fish is not meat it is fish) because I don't like meat. However anaemia requires me to eat the occassional piece of chicken - no I don't enjoy it. I hate animal cruelty and try to eat RSPCA welfare/organic chickens only The thought of something dying for my welfare does fill me with horror but I maintain my health because of it's sacrifice.

I eat Quorn and soya mince and all other "meat style" products are eaten by myself and my son. Neither of us can understand why people would eat fatty beef or lamb mince in preference to Quorn or soya mince which tastes good looks good and does not fill the pan with vile fat.

I only eat cholesterol lowering spreads, do not drink milk unless it is soya and eat cheese or yoghurt made from milk or soya.

Maybe I get the best of both worlds. However I am not a pescetarian any longer as I need iron for blood doning etcetera and to keep me fit. However in my job - even when I am on a long spell away I retain my vegetarian diet absolutely. Fish and chicken is reserved for when I can obtain it at home from a source close to cultivation or capture.

I am neither one thing nor the other. However I would take lab produced Quorn or Soya over meat any day of the week. Quorn chicken style dippers taste far better than chicken any day of the week.

Answer 10

No we don't need those fake meat products. People just like them because they like the taste of meat. Those who are not comfortable eating or cooking bean-containing ethnic foods will naturally gravitate towards fake meats, as they are the only 'Western' or fast food version of beans (soybeans in this case). Whether as fake meats, refried beans, tofu, dhal, etc, a vegetarian absolutely has to consume beans and nuts.