VEGETARIANS ANSWER!! helllppp?

Question

I am a vegetarian.... I really love animals and I hate to think that anyone out there is eating them -- not meaning to make non vegetarians mad tho! ok. so I want to be a vegan...because i believe that innocent animals should be killed on our fault!! but the problem is...idk wut to do. How would I get protein? it would be really unhealthy...and..well...milk and yogurt and nuts are wut i use now to get my protein..but i couldn't have milk and yogurt anymore.... first of all..should I become a vegan? second of all..how would i get my protein???

Answer 1

While becoming a vegan is the most sure way of not contributing to animal suffering, a responsible vegetarian can accomplish the same thing.

I am a lacto-ovo vegetarian. HOWEVER... I get eggs from my own free-range hens and I only buy organic, hormone free dairy. While I can't be completely assured of how the cows are treated, I can assume that it's much better than most of the commercial dairy farms out there who pack their cows full of hormones and antibiotics so they can withstand the horrid living conditions they are subjected to.

So... if you insist only on buying organic/ free-range eggs and dairy, you can be at least fairly confident that you are not contributing to the mistreatment of animals. If you have the option, get these items from a local dairy in which you KNOW how the animals are cared for and that they're actually allowed to graze in a field somewhere instead of standing shoulder-to-shoulder in their own feces.

That said, there are plenty of ways vegans get the nutrients they need... but since I'm not vegan, it's probably best to get that advice from others on this forum. Good luck with your decision!

Answer 2

MYTH: "Vegetarians get little protein."

FACT: Plant foods offer abundant protein. Vegetables are around 23% protein on average, beans 28%, grains 13%, and even fruit has 5.5%. For comparison, human breast milk is only 5% (designed for the time in our lives when our protein needs are as high as they'll ever be). The US Recommended Daily Allowance is 8%, and the World Health Organization recommends 4.5%. If thats not enough then how does a 75lb calf become a 1000 to 1500 pound adult cow in less than 4 years? how does a mother cow make such rich milk for a calf to grow so fast? from eating plants of course! you would have to starve yourself to not get enough protein. Most americans consume at least 2 times the amount of protein required, too much protein in ones diet can lead t osteoporosis and many other health problems. To learn more about it read the links.


MYTH: "Beans are a good source of protein."

FACT: There is no such thing as a special "source of protein" because all foods -- even plants -- have plentiful protein. You might as well say "Food is a good source of protein". In any event, beans (28%) don't average much more protein per calorie than common vegetables (23%).

MYTH: "Milk is necessary for strong bones."

FACT: McDougall: "Where does a cow or an elephant get the calcium needed to grow its huge bones? From plants, of course. Only plants. … People in Asia and Africa who consume no milk products after they're weaned from their mother's breast grow perfectly healthy skeletons in the normal size for their race. A consistent conclusion published in the scientific literature is clear: Calcium deficiency of dietary origin is unknown in humans. Dairy products contain large amounts of animal proteins. This excess protein removes calcium from the body by way of the kidneys. Knowing the physiological effects on calcium metabolism of eating excess protein explains why societies with the highest intakes of meat and dairy products--the United States, England, Israel, Finland, and Sweden--also show the highest rates of osteoporosis, the disease of bone-thinning."

The only thing you may want to worry about if you are going vegan is taking vitamin B12. This vitamin is found bacteria, it is also found in meat, milk and eggs the animals get their B12 from ingesting soil, feces (gross I know!) and plants with bacteria or soil on them. Because humans like to clean their food, wash their hands etc we destroy the B12. B12 can be got in vitamin pills, unless you are eating animal products. The human body needs only a very small amount of this vitamin, but needs it none the less. Everything else can be got without a problem on a vegan diet. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables (you can't realy overdo fruits and veggies!) enjoy a wide variety of whole grain and seed foods, eat some nuts, some beans and legumes, soya products are good as well, and take vitamin B12 just to make sure (=

and last of all dont worry! you will get more than enough protein unless you are starving yourself. I have been vegetarian for 7 years, became vegan 2 weeks ago and loving it! So glad I made this choice. Do some more research if you are still concerned. Otherwise good luck and take care!

Answer 3

I went from veg lac-to ovo to vegan 20 months ago.
My protein comes from lentils, beans, vegan mock
meat, and whole grains such as spelt, aramath,
barley, wheat berries, steel cut oats, oat groats,
quinoa, millet and flax. Rice and almond milk
are good substitutes for dairy. I also consume 1/4
cup of nuts and seeds (pumpkin and sunflower)
a day. There are several vegetarian vitamins that
include b2, b6, b12. Also whole foods carries
brown rice protein supplement, soy protein
supplement, and a soy free vegetarian supplement.

Also I should mention that organic split peas are
an excellent protein source.
Calcium iron and zinc are found in green leafy
vegetables, oranges, almonds and kidney beans.

From these sources I am able to get 160 to 180
grams of protein a day. That's not including the
protein that I get from 3 servings of broccoli, 4
servings of greens, 1 of mushrooms, 2 of cauli-
flower and 2 of carrots. I average 190 to 195
grams of total protein and about 160 to 180
of high grade protein. I consume that much
because I weight train and run also.

If you have anymore questions just email
me at [e-mail].

Answer 4

- tofu and other soy products
- beans
- nuts and seads (including butters such as peanut butter or tahini or sunflower seed butter, etc.)

It's hard to make the change, but once you've aquired new eating habits, it's pretty easy to continue.

Make sure you get vitamin B12 either from a vitamin pill or from fortified soy milk or other fortified foods. It is not naturally found in any plant sources. It is made by bacteria, but most people get it from animals (all animal products have it) as animals get it from the bacteria.

There is a book called 'Becoming Vegan' by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina which has tons of good nutrition information for vegans. Your library might have it.

Answer 5

A vegan diet does not need any suppliments if you eat a balanced diet of fruit, nuts, pulses and veggies.

"technical difficulties" explains the route cuase of many vegan diet problems. It's very easy to be a vegan in any country, including the USA. People eat junk whereas you shoudl cook from raw ingredients, veggies, fruit etc..... Keep away from processed food - thats a lesson for all of us regardless of our diet choice.

we run a vegetarian and vegan guest house and no-one has died on us yet.

There are plenty of vegan website with nutritian information.

Answer 6

beans , lentils and soya products will be your best sources of protein, apart from vegetables and fruits ofcourse. Buy a good book on vegetarian cooking because if you are turning vegan you need to watch for vitamin b12 too , which is in moderation in vegan diet.

Answer 7

Great job!!!!

You can get protein capsules... but I wouldn't recommend it. As long as you eat nuts, nut products, soy and soy products you should be good. Also try to eat more beans and yeast extract (marmite in England). Those are great sources of protein. As for B12, have fortified juices (make sure that it's artificial B12) and yeast extract. Lots of vegans also have supplements, but some supplements are natural. :-(

Once again, great decision!

Answer 8

Protein is in everything and that should be the least of your concerns. It's impossible not to get enough unless you live in a 3rd world country. All vegetables, grains, beans etc. have protein.

Answer 9

Well Milk,cheese and eggs do not harm the animal they are a by product that would other wise go to waste - but if you don't want to eat these things any more ther is Tofu, nuts and legumes - try a site like VegWeb to get recipes and see your Dr or a Natrupath for advice on vitamin supplement and a balanced diet advisory based on your health needs. Good Luck!

Answer 10

soy protein, from nuts, from Vitamins like B12 and other B complex vitamins, etc. You can't get protein from dairy, because it comes from an animal. Vegan's can't have any dairy whatsoever.