Going to the doctor about vegetarianism?

Question

Actually, i'm going for my physical.
But while in the car to go there I was planning on telling my mom that I want to be a vegetarian.
I've asked before and she said that i need a balanced diet so no.
And she'll say no again. But if I have a doctor to tell her that its a good choice then maybe she'll say yes.
But i've heard that there are old-fashioned doctors that still think that being vegetarian is unhealthy. How would I tell if they were old-fashioned, like if they're old? Also what do I need to tell my mom in the car, that'll some how convince her too.

Answer 1

Many doctors are mis-informed or biased about veggie diets, just like the rest of us.

You cannot tell what your doctors view would be until you asked.

Personally, i think its a dodgy strategy. You have little to gain and lots to loose.

discussing something "in the car" is a classic evasive strategy, its not the place to negotiate or try to to explain something to someone.

Education for your mom would be better, if she is open to it. Her saying you need a balanced diet is perfectly correct, you can easily achive this on a veggie diet.

There is a lot of information out there that shows a balanced veggie diet is perfectly healthy.

Try asking her to read some of the informatrion packs. The veggie society have packs for new veggies, teen veggies and parents so there is bound to be something there for you and your family:

http://www.vegsoc.org

EDIT: Skully, how can you possibly make those judgement on someone who you have never met, have no clue what they are like and have no clue on how they behave, what thier standing in the community is, or any other measure of thier lives. . All you are doing is laying out random insults that, to be honest, appear very childish.

Skully appears be making some sort of connection with doctors as if they are in a professional capacity to comment. Aren't you in mentral health or something ? Please make it clear rather than try and create respect by association. Who told you doctors were experts on a veggie diet ? Have they 150 years experience of it like the VS or IVU ?

don't hang on the doctors words, please explain how your 40 or whatever years expereince of seeing a balanced vegetarian diet leads you to believe its not suitable for young people.

And i really don't think you should now be starting to claim "My own interest is the social aspect of vegetarianism", you have done little but lay out insults over the past months so it seems your social interest extends to how far you can insult vegetarians.

Answer 2

Doctors are required very little nutritional training in med school, that's why there are dieticians in hospitals, because the doctors do not know. Plus, although vegetarianism has always been around, it is starting to get more press now, so the chances are your doctor just never got to learn about it and was just pumped full of information about the food pyramind that has meat and dairy as a part of it. If you have any sort of deficiency, like iron, then your doctor is probably giving you the "simple solution" to eat meat again, but really, you can get those nutrients on a vegetarian diet too. But if you have no deficiencies in anything, then there is no basis for him putting down veganism besides the fact that he eats meat and doesn't like vegans.

Answer 3

99.9999999999% of people who say it's any more difficult to be a vegetarian than a "regular" meateater are full of you-know-what. There are vegan babies, vegan triathletes, vegan rockstars, vegan chefs, vegan doctors, and there's always me, too. It's not hard to be vegan, so why in the world would it be hard to be vegetarian?

Admittedly, you can't eat just cheese pizza and onion rings and french fries and be healthy, but you're no more likely to do that on a vegetarian diet than you are on a meat-eating diet.

I know you aren't talking about veganism, but the argument is even better when you point out that even a vegan diet is healthy. Take a look at The Vegan Sourcebook (at a library or amazon.com) and also look up the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (on Google). Both should help you. Good luck :)

Answer 4

A GP is just that, a *general* practioner and as such their knowledge about specialist areas is often lacking. I know of doctors who have advised their patients, incorrectly, that they need meat for iron and protein.

I suggest you print out some information from the web to show your Mom. The American Dietetic Association is a great place to start. There are loads of websites and books out there which can help you to learn all you need to know about veggie nutrition and help convince your family that a veggie diet can be healthy. Good luck!

PS I was 11 when I turned veggie and used to have regular check-ups at my Mother's insistance - they have never revealed any nutritional deficiencies. I am now 30 and have never experinced any adverse effects from my vegetarianism, on the contrary, I am without a doubt the healthiest one in my family.

I have a few friends of Indian descent who have been veggie all their lives and are all well educated, well paid high achievers. Do not listen to people who tell you a veggie diet cannot be healthy in your youth, it is usually small-minded prejudice that will be motivating these types of comments.

Answer 5

I'm sorry to tell you "Most" doctors have very little diet ~ food ~ nutritional education. You may get lucky & yours will be different. Or he may send you to a dietian(not usually all that good but at least they know food).
Here is a doctor run Vegan Site;
http://www.drmcdougall.com/
This man Dr. John McDougall is 1 of the top heart, cancer,immune disease doctors in the world.
Here is an article on Veggie Sources of Protien from his archives:
http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2007nl/apr/dairy.htm
The monthly newsletter is free, delve into the archives & self educate.
I hope this helps & good luck. Remember in your frustration with your mother she is doing what she has been "taught" is best for you. It is going to take awhile for the new studies to get out to the public(& be accepted) of just how much better being a Veggie & a Vegan are for people.
Slainté(to your health)

Answer 6

Doctors study pills, not diet nor nutrition.
They study symptoms and which pill goes with which symptom.
The only doctors that know anything about food/nutrition/health are the ones who have taken the time to study it on their own.
Doctors are not required to study such things to become doctors.

Just ask your doctor straight out -- what do you think about the vegetarian lifestyle -- from a doctor's point of view?

Answer 7

It does seem strange, but most medical schools do not require any courses in nutrition.

The recognized nutrition experts in health care are dietitians. Here is a web site from the American Dietetic Association that might be helpful.

http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/advocacy_933_ENU_HTML.htm

I had a similar problem when I was young; my mother was a nurse and she was very much against my becoming a vegetarian. Ironically, my mother had very bad eating habits and was morbidly obese. I was unable to actually become vegetarian until I was an adult.

Answer 8

Its all rubbish, I've been veggie for 20 years, I never get ill, and we're probably less likely to get bird flu! hehe
U might want to point out to your mum that you can get protien and iron from beans, pulses, nuts, and vegetables, and I've never heard a dietician say 'make sure you eat plenty of meat!'
xx

Answer 9

Well. It isn't up to them is it? It is your choice, and your choice alone. Their opinion does not matter.

If they think that being a vegetarian is bad for you, then let them live in their ignorance.

Life is too short to try to change the minds of people that don't want to listen.

Answer 10

if u want to say bye bye to meat then u must eat a lot of vegies cuz u aint getting those proteins from meat anymore ...so make sure u can sustain a balanced diet :D