Is abstinence from meat a good idea for a teenager?

Question

Studies show that the "American diet" (which consists basically of meat with every meal) makes women more prone to Cancer. There seem to be less women with Cancer in countries such as Asia, where fish is the main dish.

Do teenagers really need meat to develope etc etc?

Answer 1

It's your choice, my dear. Teens need a good supply of protein in order to finish the developmental phase. Your body keeps growing and developing into your early twenties.

There are plenty of protein powders out there, but they tend to produce a bad side effect in one's kidneys.

If you enjoy meat, by all means, eat it, just make sure it is not barbequed, burnt, cooked on or in teflon pans or has a lot of fat. Make sure it has not spoiled. Those are the main culprits. Four ounces at the noon meal is sufficient for the day. Americans tend to overeat the meat.

If you plan on eating vegan, try the rice powder protein. Good luck.

Answer 2

You do not have to abstain from all meat in order prevent cancer. You should always make lean meat choices, such as fish, poultry (the light meats), and even tofu. Because you are still a teenager, your body is still growing and therefore there are greater nutritional demands on your body. You cannot remove protein from your diet and expect to be 100% healthy. Lack of protein can lead to weakness, fainting and mental stress. Your body NEEDS the amino acids found in meat in order to function properly. Now, I am not saying you ought to meat steak every night.. but please make an effort to take in sufficient protein each day. Eggs, Peanut Butter, Beans/Tofu, Fish (especially Salmon), and chicken are all great sources of protein.

Answer 3

No, there are a lot of healthy alternatives to meat.

Plenty of starchy carbohydrates especially whole wheat - bread, rice, pasta ,

Whole grain, breakfast cereals, chapattis, couscous and potatoes.

Plenty of fruit and vegetables - at least five portions every day.

Lots of dairy products, such as milk, yoghurt, cottage cheese and pasteurised cheeses.

Enough protein can be found in fish, eggs, beans and pulses such as green, black eyed, crowder field... peas.

Not too many fatty and sugar-rich foods.



Other important dietary habits to follow during adolescence include:

Drink at least eight glasses of fluid a day.

Eat breakfast - it can provide essential nutrients and improve concentration in the mornings. Choose a fortified breakfast cereal with semi-skimmed milk and a glass of fruit juice.

Take regular exercise, which is important for overall fitness and cardiovascular health, as well as bone development.

Try this link below for some good recipes

Answer 4

*No one Needs meat. Make sure, however, that you are getting enough iron. Taking a vitamin is not a bad idea. The iron found in vegetarian food is often non-heme iron, which his a lower absorption rate than heme iron.

*There is a correlation between amount of fatty meat taken in and cancer.

*Remember, fish is a meat, although usually not fatty (and the percentage of more desirable fats is higher in seafood, in general, than in non-seafood meats).

*No one needs meat! (although, if you go without ANY meat, you will need a b-12 supplement or spirulina to avoid pernicious anemia).

Answer 5

No, you can develop just fine within a vegetarian diet. Or, as you say, you can include fish and chicken if you like and just reduce the amount of red meat that you consume. You will still be healthy!

Answer 6

Avoiding meat is fine so long as the person has a suitable alternative source of protein, like peanuts, beans, etc.

Avoiding meat and not ingesting protein is where people start getting in trouble.

Answer 7

No, the only reason why people need meat is becuase of ther protein. However people can substitute with soy, fish, nuts and the like.

I think it's good to have a small amount of meat. It's not good to have a large amount of it

Answer 8

You gots to eat the protein. You could avoid Red meat but you should eat fish,eggs,chicken,turkey and lean pork.
Protein is a building block and you need it for better health.
You cannot build even one ounce of muscle without protein.
The carbs and fats that you eat will only be used for energy and fat storage.
So, once again, you gots to eat the protein.

Answer 9

No,you don't need to eat meat...I'm a vegan teen...

“It is the position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada that appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases.”

“Well-planned vegan and other types of vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence. Vegetarian diets offer a number of nutritional benefits, including lower levels of saturated fat, cholesterol, and animal protein as well as higher levels of carbohydrates, fiber, magnesium, potassium, folate, and antioxidants such as vitamins C and E and phytochemicals. Vegetarians have been reported to have lower body mass indices than nonvegetarians, as well as lower rates of death from ischemic heart disease; vegetarians also show lower blood cholesterol levels; lower blood pressure; and lower rates of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and prostate and colon cancer.“

-ADA’s and Dietitians of Canada position on Vegetarian and Vegan diets

BTW....the whole protein thing is a myth..most Americans consume way too much protein.

Answer 10

You don't need meat to develop normally. That idea is based on cultural bias, not scientific fact.

My wife is a licensed dietitian with a Masters in nutrition and she has been a vegetarian for life.