is it possible some people NEED to eat meat?

Question

I was vegan and vegetarian for about three years in my early twenties and during that time I stopped menstruating. As soon as I started eating meat again I became normal, and ever since then if I go back to my vegetarian diet my period stops again. I am wondering if it could be physically possible that my particular body NEEDS meat in order to function properly. They say you can get the same nutrients from non-meat products as you can from meat products, but I am wondering if based on my findings it could be true that meat gives the body certain nutrients that no other substitute food can provide. The human body is such a mystery to me, but obviously there must be some evidence of something in the difference that meat-eating provides in my life, i.e. able or unable to bear children!

Answer 1

No I don't think anyone needs to eat meat, you can get just about everything you need nutritionally on a vegetarian diet. There are also plenty of studies suggesting eating meat might actually be detrimental to your health (eg. google chicken and bladder cancer). Are you sure you weren't just eating less while you were a vegetarian? Often periods can stop if you're not getting enough food and correct nutrients. I take some vitamins and fish oils just incase I'm not getting enough of some nutrients you could maybe try that if you would like to be vegetarian again. If it happens again speak to your doctor, there might be an underlying reason unrelated to diet for it.

Answer 2

You likely were not getting enough of some nutrient or another. Meats can provide your body with iron, zinc, phosphorous, sulphur, and potassium, and B vitamins. It is also an excellent source of all-important protein. Your body needs this things to function properly.

Regardless, the problem was not that you were not eating meat. The problem is that you failed to replace the meat with the proper foods to replace its nutritional value. Any old vegetable is not going to replace these things. I am not an expert on nutrition, but I do know that there are vegetables and beans and nuts out there that provide all these nutrients, with much less fat and calories. Most nuts, for example, provide a great source of protein, while potatoes, bananas, and lentils can provide you with B vitamins and potassium. And iron can be found in lentils, leafy green vegetables, and tofu.

I might add that I am a meat-eater, myself. I am neither for, nor against the vegan lifestyle. I admire them for their healthy attitudes and care for animals! But it is not for me. Maybe it is not for you, either. Regardless, you are definitely wrong about the nutrients in meat not being able to be replaced. They most certainly can! It is not like all vegans out there are having fertility problems. You were likely just not eating enough of the right foods. There could possibly be another cause. You really should discuss this with your doctor.

Answer 3

Meat provides so much protein, which is an essential for your body. Almost all vegetarians do not get enough protein once they stop eating meat. Your body probably couldn't ajust to the lack of protein in your body. Vegans have it twice as bad because they don't eat cheese or milk or eggs which also have protein in them.

Answer 4

Well if you think about it, meat is really made up of just a bunch of chemicals. Anything in meat can be found in something else, or manufactured. However this is very difficult to do and requires lots of research and effort. Certainly many things found in meat are necessary for one's health, and it's ALOT easier to get those things simply by eating meat.

Answer 5

there is nothing in any meat that we cant get from veg only some form of omega3 or 6 oil that can only be found in fish.
being vegetarian or being on any diet means you have to watch what you eat, you might not have been getting enough protene or enough of something.

Answer 6

Red Meat is essential for muscle growth. Humans are carnivores, that is why we have incisors. Also, when is the last time you saw a healthy vegan? They always look like they have one foot it the grave and the other on an organic banana peel.

Answer 7

All i know is that meat is really important to all people and you should atleast eat it in 40 days it helps muscle growth in some way but eating meat is really important good protein

Answer 8

I eat meat for the protein,and i really need it for the Iron.I am anemic.I didn't know being a vegetarian stops your period.

Answer 9

my mom cant live without eating meat.