Will being a vegetarian become bad for my health due to the fact i am still growing?

Question

i have decided to be a vegetarian (i'm 14) because i now realize (in my opinion) it is morally wrong to eat meat, so will it effect my growth? and do you have any tips for a newbie vegetarian?

Answer 1

yes i guess so, because you need also the nutrients coming from meats?

Answer 2

I would avoid it until you are older. Your body is still growing and developing at this age and it is very, very hard to replace the goodness of meat with supplements and vegetables. I was vegetarian for a year when I was your age, and even though I did everything the doctor suggested (that's another thing - you absolutely must contact a health care professional), I was weak, underweight, I had no energy and just before I decided it wasn't worth it I fainted twice. And I was doing everything by the book. 5 years later, my iron levels are still too low. That could just be me, but my 12 month vegetarian stint certainly didn't help. There are better ways to make clear your opinions on animal rights, such as petitioning and limiting your intake to the minimum recommended level if you insist. Cutting out meat entirely will only cause you problems. Also, one person not eating meat is not going to stop people eating meat globally. We have evolved to be omnivores - it's what we do. The way we slaughter livestock is completely humane 99.99% of the time, despite what sensationalist websites will tell you. Seriously, there are better ways to fight for animal rights.

Answer 3

No, you can be a healthy vegetarian from conception, to infancy and all the way into adulthood.

Anyone who tells you that meat contains nutrients which are exclusive to that source is severely lacking in knowledge regarding human nutrition.

Just an FYI to some of the other answerers, the vast majority of doctors ARE NOT dietitians. Don't be naive enough to believe the contrary.

Answer 4

To all these people saying it's a bad idea:

I was always raised vegetarian (now recently vegan). And I wasn't much of a dairy or egg fan anyway. How do you explain the fact that I'm still alive and a reasonably good achiever? Shouldn't I be dwarfed, skinny and breaking bones all over the place? Oh, and my brain should be irreversibly damaged according to that "Doctor". Oh My God, I've never eaten meat, I must be inferior to everyone else, right? Should I apply for disability insurance? *end sarcasm*

Answer 5

im 14 also and i have been a vegetarian for about three years. its the best thing ive ever done.
i will admit im only four foot eleven, and yes, it might affect your growth.
if you are involved in any sports you need to make sure you take iron everyday
i run track and have had a lot of problems with being tired and stuff but its all worth it
good luck (:

Answer 6

Congrats on deciding to go veg! The American Dietetic Association, one of the leading nutrition experts in the U.S., writes: "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."

Going veg shouldn't have a negative impact on your growth... many Indians are raised as vegetarians and they grow normally. Just make sure you're having more than carbs and junk food. Eat fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, grains, and faux meats. Here's a list of some of the best faux meats: http://www.vegcooking.com/guide-favs.asp

These sites have lots of tips for wannabe & newbie vegetarians:
http://www.vegcooking.com/makingthetransition.asp
http://www.tryveg.com/cfi/toc/

Veg site for teens:
http://www.vegetarianteen.com/

Good luck!!

Answer 7

Limiting meat intake is a good idea. There are negatives that come with a high meat intake. Vegetarianism is not any better though than having a high meat intake. Meat has more benefits than negative factors and it can't be fully replaced with supplements or substitutes.
There is one simple fact that vegetarians seem to forget. Humans have eyes in the front which means they were designed to hunt. Plants don't need to be hunted.
Please tell me that you're doing it for health reasons and not for "animal rights" because I'd suggest you ask yourself what gives animals more rights than plants. If you're doing it because of genetic engineering of animals, think again because plants have been genetically engineered far more than animals have.

Answer 8

Be sure to take a multivitamin every day. You need to include protein from other sources in your diet, such as peanut butter, peanuts, beans, lentils, etc. See source for recipes, tips and reasons for being a vegetarian.

Answer 9

My boy's Dr. said that growing bodies & developing brains needed nutrients ect found only in meat. During this stage of life a prolonged lack of those could cause irreversible brain damage.

Answer 10

Not necessarily, my wife and most of her family were raised vegetarian and they don't have any unusual health problems.

Answer 11

Consult a physician and/or discuss with your parents rather getting anecdotal answers here.

Any unqualified adult giving nutrional and dietary advice with potential health and well being impacts outside a profssional setting is being irresponsible.