Are Vegetarians healthier? Do they get less food poisoning etc?

Question

Are their teeth, skin, general health better? I have wondered about this for years now as I am sort of contemplating becoming a vegetarian. Is there anything unhealthy about it.eg. certain protein, mineral deficiencies? Do they get food poisoning, have health food scares etc.

Answer 1

On average vegetarians live 7 years longer than meat eaters and generally enjoy better health. If you become a vegetarian make sure you're eating good sources of protein. You can get them in any health food store. As far as food poisoning...I don't know, never heard of any statistics on that.

Answer 2

No, food poinsonsing can happen whether you are vehetarian or not but generally vegetarian is safer. Generally the bacteria comes from animals and the food had been in contact with some sort of contaminated animal product (example the spinach had been contaminated from a near by factory cow farm)

Any diet can be bad for your health, vegetarian or not, if you do not eat correctly. Actually most doctors recommened EVERYONE needs to take vitamins in todays age because people are to busy to cook healthy. I would recomened that too. Iron and protein are the most common worries among people with a vegetarian diet. These are really not a huge problem if you aren't eating chips and pop non-stop, especially on a ovo-lacto-vegetarian diet. (which means you eat eggs and dairy)
You can get both from lots of everyday foods like beans, spinach, bananas, avacado, brown rice, broccoli, tofu/soy products, figs, nuts and peanut butter, dairy, eggs, asparagus, zuchini, cauliflour. The possibilities are pretty endless. Even the fudge I was eating yesterday had iron in it. :P

The most important thing that vegetarians miss is B12. This is found in eggs and dairy but if you intend not to eat those you can also try nutritional yeast. Also a lot of foods are fortified with it including most cereals, soy milk, and premade veggie foods.

Personally healthier is everyones opinion, there is evedience to support both sides of the issue. You just have to review the facts and see which side has stronger points and makes sense to you. Personally I have ben a vegetarian for 11 years and my hair is down to my waist and don't have any health problems. As well my son has been vegetarian from the moment he was concieved. He has always been advanced, could read at the age of 3 and now at 4 is still ahead of everyone of his friends. He's not over weight, he is strong and active, and not to different from any other child except he doesn't ask for Spaggetti o's, Mc Donalds, and little debi snack cakes :P

Answer 3

Generally speaking, I would say yes. My husband is vegetarian and me and my daughter are not, but because of him we hardly eat meet. We do not take any vitamins or minerals from tablets but all fine and quite healthy. One big different after I eat much less meat is the hey fever used to annoy me in certain season has gone!! This is amazing to me ( if you have one, you can understand). If you eat all sorts of food like green veg, root veg, beans, fruits, pulses, etc... it should cover what you need, but as we eat fish a lot so this is not completely sure ( most of the vegetarian book's saying the same though). We order the organic vegetable box every week , they are great in so many ways( it's not expensive). I do not think you need worry about to become a vegetarian. I should be someday completely....
Go for it!!

Answer 4

I had food poisoning once before becoming vegetarian and it was horrific, I really wanted to die. We don't seem to get health scares with vegetables because they're more natural than farm reared animals that are pumped with chemicals to keep them disease free. For example, consuming meat from antibiotic-fed animals is creating super-bugs that human bodies can't defeat because they are becoming immune to the amounts of the drug that exists in some peoples bodies. Also, some people say you need to eat meat for protein but that's daft, baked beans have as much protein as a good steak.

Answer 5

Vegetarians are generally healtheir due to looking after themselves more. Vegetarians have to watch thier diet so that they don't lack in proteins and as such have a reasonably healthy lifestyle. If you take the average meat eater they don't really care what they are eating and usually eat whatever is handy at the time causing themselves problems in later life. If you balance your diet well and make sure that you are eating all the necessary food groups you will be fine whether you are a vegetarian or not.

Answer 6

There are subtle differences in the quality of the micro-nutrients between vegetarian and non-veg diets. The dis/advantages of either is the cause of many arguments. Being vegetarian myself (all my life), I can appreciate the benefits of this lifestyle choice in the same way non-veg people will back their choice too. If anything, I have had less cause for concern with regard to the likes of Foot & Mouth Disease, Mad Cows Disease and Bird Flu.

Answer 7

This really is a tough question to answer in generalities.

There are two distinctly different kinds of vegetarians. Those who simply cut out meat due to their love of animals. And those who want a healthier way to live. Who also love animals.

Those who have cut out meat ONLY because they love animals tend to continue eating the same SAD (Standard American Diet) way. They just change gears and use fake veggie meats which are highly processed and loaded in chemicals. Not really the way to go.

Those who have discovered that vegetarian and veganisms are better ways to live tend to be more involved with WHAT they eat and how to maintain optimum health. These folks, with their radiant skin, shining smiles and postive outlook are the best example of veg-heads. Best advocates for changing the world view of health by food.

I've been veg for 14 years now. I haven't needed a doctor once. When I was a meat eater I was in and out of the hospital all the time.

If you want to learn more check out the websites for Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine and McDougall Wellness Center.

Answer 8

Well, I can only answer from my personal experience. I was crippled with lupus for many years, and healed myself completely when I switched to a natural diet. I consider myself to be pescatarian, as I do eat fish and seafood, but no other meat or poultry. I consume only raw dairy-milk, butter and cheese. You can read more about my recovery on my blog if you like.
http://360.yahoo.com/profile-8un2KqU5fqcymrT5VxB0z8D4HEMAF4PLG8OJLQ--?cq=1

As for my hair, teeth, and skin...they have improved dramatically since going veggie. As for food poisoning, that can happen in many ways-unsanitary conditions in restaurants, etc. I hope you find the blog useful in helping you make a concious decision. I tell about the pitfalls of the standard american diet on my blog as well, and why raw dairy is better for you.

Answer 9

Yes it's healthier.Most of the foods that pose big risks for food poisoning if out of date are meat or fish products.

Answer 10

I would say that if you want to become a vegeterian, you must be thoughtful about it, so you would not encounter deficiencies in proteins, etc. I doubt it helps with food borne illnesses, though, as the most recent scares we/ve had have all been things vegeterians eat...spinach, peanut butter...