are vegetarian's and vegan's as healthy as meat eaters?

Question

I am one and I think that I am healthy! But, I want someone elses opinion!

Answer 1

I think the healthiest people eat a balanced diet. As long as you are getting everything you are supposed to have, I don't see one as being healthier than the other.

Answer 2

Well, we have less heart disease, obesity, diabetes, kidney disease and cancer... so I'd say we're healthier. It really depends on the individual; some meat eaters may eat very little meat and lots of fresh fruits and veggies and whole grains and be very healthy, whereas some vegans may exist on refined flour and sugar and be unhealthy. Properly planned, a vegetarian diet is healthier (and we live longer.) Personally, I started out as a junk food vegetarian when I was a teenager but that was more an age thing; now that I'm an adult I've done some nutritional research and started eating much healthier. I'm sick far less than anyone I know.

Edit to add to puppy lover: Ruth Heidrich, 6 time Ironman triathlon champion, woman and vegan, would totally disagree with you!

Answer 3

I believe that vegetarian's can be as healthy as meat eaters. A well balanced and thought out diet is what keeps people healthy. A balanced diet does not need meat, just the correct intake of nutrients(which can be obtained without meat).

I do not think meat is healthy because most people who eat meat do not balance their diet with fruits, vegetables, grains, limited meats, etc. The food pyramid recommends 5.5oz a day of lean meats, maximum(which is a little bigger than a pack of playing cards). I have yet to meet someone who eats a small piece of meat(forget lean meat) when they are having dinner. Most people eat a huge steak for dinner, and have eaten bacon for breakfast, etc.

However, just like their are unhealthy meat eater, there can also be unhealthy vegetarians. Some vegetarians do not balance their diet properly(which is not hard with a little research). Just like a omnivore cannot be healthy living on an excessive amount of meat, a vegetarian cannot be healthy living on large amounts of pasta, or veggie burgers.

The key to both types of diets(omnivore and vegetarian), is variety, and balance. The proper amounts of each nutrient and of each food group.

Answer 4

It really depends on your overall diet- not necessarily if you eat meat or not.

I'm a vegetarian, not a vegan, and I really need to be aware of the variety of foods I eat, mainly making sure I get enough protein from different, healthy food items. Having a good vegetarian diet takes a little bit of experience that you'll gain over several years. Having said that, I do believe that vegetarians and vegans, in general, are healthier and experience greater longevity than meat eaters. Meat can be tough on the human system to process and literally slows us down.

Generally, meat eaters tend to consume more energy rich foods, don't exercise as much as they should and aren't as aware of their overall health. However, anyone who eats a balanced diet and gets an appropriate amount of exercise, regardless of eating meat or not, is healthy.

Answer 5

I had a few health problems before switching. I would have fainting spells due to a clogged main artery leading to my brain which would cut off oxygen to my brain as well as high cholesterol which runs in my family. This was when I was only eating chicken as I did not like any other meat. Since switching I have not had a fainting spell and my cholesterol is much much lower. My doctor was very surprised at the results and even considered looking into some research in vegetarian diets. Also, my protien levels went up not down like so many people say. I also have more energy and feel better about myself.

Answer 6

I'm a meat eater, but I think vegan's and vegetarians are just as healthy. All you get from meat is high protein which you can get from soy. So why not switch?.. Sweety, I've been trying but I'm 9 months pregnant and I get these weird cravings for red meat. Maybe after the baby. :-)

Answer 7

I think it depends on the person. You can be a healthy vegan/vegetarian or an unhealthy one. You can also be a perfectly healthy meat-eater.

I read somewhere, that in general, the healthiest people are those who eat fish but no other meat, then vegans because they don't get the fat and cholesterol from dairy. If you are a vegan, you do need to be sure that you're getting enough calcium, zinc, iron and other nutrients that might be limited in your diet.

Answer 8

Vegetarians and vegans are more healthy than meat eaters because allot of meat such as cows, pigs, chicken, have sickness, and people feed them drugs. But on the other hand vegans, and vetarians can be sick to if they don't eat organic food. I do know people are saying you need protein so it's not healthy, but thats not true whatsoever. Because i have been a vegan almost all my life and i have only got sick 3 times in my life, and you can get protein from soy DUH!!!

So yes Vegans and Vegetarians are for healthy.

Answer 9

Vegetarians & vegans are healthier, its shown in many studies and they suffer from less illness too

vegan usually have 15 years extra healthy life & veggies about 7.5

protein is important as mentioned but its so easy to get, beans, nuts, soya, fruit & veg and we only need a little bit

to feed cows up they give em soya for protein - just very bad stuff - not the good stuff

just bypass the cow & eat whats needed

for official figures check out
http://www.drjoeesposito.com/index.html
or any of the veggie groups for nutritional advice

proof of this is my daughter - compared to her meaty friends she is much healthier, rarely ill, never needs drugs & the correct weight

I went veggie years ago after many years of illness and found that dairy was causing my astma & poor digestion, dropping the meat meant my weight got to normal and my vegan diet means Im never ill & again no drugs & havnt seen my Dr in 15 years

get healthy - go veggie

Answer 10

Whether you are vegan, vegetarian, perkitarian(sp?) or omnivore your health cannot be so easily summed up. I think they're as healthy as each other as long as they get enough of all things. If anything, meat eaters are more likely to have high fat levels but vegtarians are quite likely to have low protein- if they don't eat the right types of foods.
Personally, I'm an omnivore.

Answer 11

Yes, at least as healthy and sometimes more so. It is possible to have a bad diet and be vegetarian if you eat a lot of junk food and don't eat enough fresh fruits and vegetables.

My wife and I are vegetarian and she is a registered dietitian with a masters in nutrition.