Is turning vegetarian a way to eating healthy?

@zandi458 (28102)
Malaysia
August 14, 2008 3:31am CST
I have long thought of turning slowly to vegetarian diet as I have heard that veggies are healthful food. But having most of my life feasting on meats and poultry,it might take me longer time to assimilate my tastebud. Whether you are choosing to eat vegetarian dishes as a permanent diet or as part of a healthier lifestyle, Vegetarian Recipes is packed with ideas to tempt the most committed carnivore. More and more people are committing themselves to this change of diet out of religious obligations or for health reasons. Do you think our body would lack nutrients if we go vegetarian and would it not shock our system if we change our diet totally?
12 people like this
40 responses
• United States
14 Aug 08
I am have been a vegetarian for 4.5 years now and well never turned back to meat and also I never got my bladder cancer back yet so maybe theres alittle magic in those veggies and I get all my required nutrients oh and my skin has been clearer
4 people like this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Aug 08
Great, you have found a good diet that has foil the cancer in you. this is a good encouragement for me to seriously embark on a vegetarian diet.
2 people like this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
14 Aug 08
I have read some where going totally a veggan is harmful to you for what is in the meat but here is and aticle that may help you http://www.vegetarian-nutrition.info/updates/vegan-diets-pros-cons.php also I have a friend that was totally vegan till she tryied Buffallo meat which is much better for you than beef but hard to get and cost a little more!
3 people like this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
15 Aug 08
Sorrto hear that . Ilike the bugers but cant find it every where or often!
1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Aug 08
Buffalo meat is in abundant in where I stay. But this is not good if one is to consume it frequently. It can cause havoc to our blood pressure.
1 person likes this
• United States
14 Aug 08
No, going vegetarian is not that healthy. There is protein in meats that is not in any vegetable that humans need in order to truly live a healthy life. All people need a well-balanced diet or else there systems will just go into shutdown mode. Eating all meat can be bad with no vegetables or fruit, and eating just fruits and vegetables without meat can be bad. There has to be a balance.
3 people like this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Aug 08
Exactly we need balanced diet. But being vegetarian does not deprive us of the nutrients our body needs, there are a lot of supplements out there to aid in our deficiency should it arises when we turn vegetarian.
1 person likes this
@SHAMRACK (8576)
• India
14 Aug 08
Dear friend, I am a pure vegetarian and I too had an hesitation or starting trouble to be one but I took it as a challenge and became a vegetarian. The only one we need to be vegetarian may in my is just will power and controlled diet. I used to eat chicken items more but gradually I began to reduce it and like this. Now I hope much of fever, or any other diseases are not got as before when I used to be non-veg. More over I do also have more of vegetarian foods that I began to like more than non-veg. Also it is known that it helps to have better mind too.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Aug 08
This is a great news for a vegetarian. I hope to be like you and take on more vegetarian food.
1 person likes this
@NettyB (335)
• United States
15 Aug 08
My daughter has been a vegetarian for almost 3 years now. She lost 10 lbs and does not seem sany worse for the wear in any way. We have discovered some new recipes and I got her a subsciption to The Veg Times, a very good magazine. I do not eat as much meat as I used to because of her diet, and I have also lost 10 lbs.I found out that I am perfectly happy without meat and I can prepare meals MUCH quicker when I do not have to cook a meat item to go along with.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Aug 08
This is one good news for me as I am dying to reduce my XL size. This is one good advantage of a vegetarian diet.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
14 Aug 08
I know plenty of vegetarians and they are indeed healthy and strong.A good number of vegetables are packed with vitamins and minerals the body needs to cope.People these days do shift to being vegetarians for various health reasons. Personally, being the seafood and steak lover that I am, I don't think I can muster the courage to give up my meat though there are days that I can exist on vegetables and fruits.However, if you want to be a vegetarian, it would be good to do it gradually to allow your body to adjust to the change you are subjecting it to.Good luck!
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Aug 08
I have lived most of my life eating meat based food and should I have measured the amount of meat I have consumed todate, I think I have more or less swallowed a big fat cow in me. Time has come that I be cleansed of this bad eating habit as it has caused me more illness like high BP and obesity which I might not be suffering if I have eaten more vegetables and fruits.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
15 Aug 08
You could definitely use more vegetables if you are hypertensive and obese.Garlic can do wonders for you as well as bitter gourd,spinach,red beet, and lettuce.They all help lower blood pressure.Cayenne pepper hastens metabolism and helps manage weight.It is also a useful first aid for those who suffer heart attack.
1 person likes this
@youless (112586)
• Guangzhou, China
15 Aug 08
I think so. At least it'll be healthier to people who eat meats only. But I still think the balance diet is the healthiest. That means to say more vegetables and less meats diet. I love China
2 people like this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Aug 08
I am already cooking more veggies now.
@ltsaxcash (197)
• United States
15 Aug 08
It would be healthy but many vegetarians dont get enough protein. I know you can get protein from beans and vitamins but vegetarians often dont get enough. Instead of completely cutting out meat I would only eat lean turkey, chicken and fish. When prepared correctly these meats can make very nutritious meals along with lots of fruits and veggies.
2 people like this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Aug 08
It is not necessary to be strictly vegetarian as we still give allowance in white meat like chicken etc so that we are not deprived of certain nutrients in our body.
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Aug 08
oh i thought you wanted to completely cut out mea
@snowy22315 (182197)
• United States
14 Aug 08
I think it is better for you. It provides plenty of fiber for your diet. It also has less saturated fat and cholesterol. I have been a vegetarian on and off, mostly off becasue I start craving meat afterawhile. Right now I am only veg. like one day a week because it easier and cheaper for me to do that.
2 people like this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Aug 08
It is also good to be a moderate vegetarian and not being a strict vegetarian as it gives us chance to explore our tastebuds.
1 person likes this
@Barbietre (1438)
• United States
15 Aug 08
I know the Vegetarians will say it is the healthiest way, but I beleive ridding ourselves of junk food and food with additives and sugars is just as good. I went low carb 6 years ago and I am healthy as a horse, sugar is a killer. I certainly eat alot of veggies, but also get plenty of protien from meats, poultry and fish and dairy. Just try and eat more natural foods and you will also feel great.
2 people like this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Aug 08
There is many contradictions to being a vegetarian but I agree that eating natural foods is the answer to good health. I am trying to rid my addiction to sweet foods.
1 person likes this
@guybrush (4658)
• Australia
15 Aug 08
I don't eat a lot of meat, but I couldn't go completely vegetarian. I like a little bit of chicken or fish - though I wouldn't mind going without red meat if I had to. It's interesting that people coming out of health food stores all look really unhealthy - I don't think it's a good thing to stuff ourselves with vitamins, either. I know vegos say they can make interesting food without meat, but I'm afraid it looks (and smells) pretty boring to me. As for tofu ... wtf?
2 people like this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Aug 08
Just slowly taking out red meat from the diet will help and going strict vegetarian might make us look sickly. I like the artificial meat sold at the vegetarian store. It taste good to me.
1 person likes this
@savypat (20216)
• United States
15 Aug 08
If you don't have a good reason to do this take sometime to really think about it, replacing meat in the vegetarian diet is very difficult also a lot of dishes take a lot of preperation. Instead of replacing meat we have cut way back and only eat it about 3 time a week, this mean we eat vegetarian dishes the rest of the time, but we are retired and can spend the extra time. We couldn't have done this when we both worked.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Aug 08
Probably will only take vegetarian food say 3 times a week should be sufficient.
@reckon21 (3479)
• Philippines
14 Aug 08
I thought before of eating only vegetables,rice and fish. But the problem is I'm always craving for meat and poultry. Anyways my mother always see to it that there's plenty of vegetables during every meals we have in the table.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Aug 08
It is good that your mom encourage you to eat vegetables by always having it on the table.
1 person likes this
@icegermany (2524)
• India
15 Aug 08
if u want to change vegetarian its nothing harm to the body but its like how u control urself against nonveg food. i dont think so there is any harm in eating nonveg food , it also contains good nutrition but what i believe is u should have nonveg with some gaps n also take veg food. its not that u need to have only veg or only nonveg. i take hallaled nonveg as its better dont contain diseases n also coz i m a muslim n suggest all of u here to take hallaled meat n it doesnot harm ur body n can only provide u nutrition, if u dont believe me just ask the person who knows the difference between halleled meat n justcut meat n then u will know the difference n u will understand why i m telling u this. so in general i think a person can have any food veg or nonveg but he need to take the right food n also in right quantity n on right time.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Aug 08
I am aware of halal food as I am from a muslim country. Vegetarian eating has a total different concept compared to the normal food that we're eating. But it is not easy to be a strict vegetarian as we have to forgo many food that once become our favourite and concentrate more on no meat food. I assume that all meat slaughtered be it halal or non halal come under strict supervision from the authorities concerned, diseased animals are not fit for human consumption so it is not being slaughtered.
@bugbaby (1787)
• Indonesia
14 Aug 08
i think not really good if we change totally our system to vegetarian, we must get that system step by step because our body need adaptability.
2 people like this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Aug 08
I believe that we need to go step by step. Drastic change will only upset our system.
1 person likes this
@wachit14 (3595)
• United States
14 Aug 08
Not all vegetarians have a healthy diet and it shouldn't be assumed that all vegetarians are healthy. I've known vegetarians who not only make unhealthy choices, but they were quite overweight. I do think that people who choose to be vegetarians can be very healthy and get all the nutrients they need, but they need to do a lot of research before they begin making that choice. Afterall, potato chips are considered a vegetarian snack, but that's not a healthy choice.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Aug 08
Maybe it all depends on how one prepare the vegetarian food. The recipe must be right and not overloaded with fattening food items.
1 person likes this
@Bluepatch (2476)
• Trinidad And Tobago
14 Aug 08
I think that is a bit of a misconception. Eating healthy means eating healthy foods which don't have to be all veges. Just make sure everything you eat is healthy and you will solve the problem. Avoid fast foods.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Aug 08
We all can be eating healthy but what I mean is eating healthy in non meat based food, mostly on vegetables and fruits.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
15 Aug 08
Hi! I think it's nice to eat lots of vegetables for one's health but I think there are also important nutrients in meat and poultry that vegetables cannot provide. If you totally switch to vegetarian food, you'll miss proteins. Even though beans are the source of protein for vegetarians, beans are high in uric acid and can make a pure vegetarian prone to many conditions such as joint pains, gout, arthritis, etc. You can try and look for a food pyramid guide off the internet and see how you can balance your diet well with vegetables and meat in it. Hope this helps and have fun on your way to a healthier lifestyle! :)
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Aug 08
thanks for the valuable information. To compensate for the lack of minerals in our body, we can add supplement in our food by buying in the pharmacy.
• Philippines
17 Aug 08
Hi again! I was just studying for my nursing licensure exam this November. If you have decided to turn to a complete vegetarian, you might want to keep track of your Vitamin B12. It's one of those things you can miss. It is important because it helps in the formation of the red blood cells in the body responsible for carrying the oxygen needed by your body's cells. You can get it from milk and other dairy products. :)
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Aug 08
I do not see why you would have to stop eating meat all together.. why not just eat meat a couple times a week. I have seen a unhealthy vegetarian as well. She would eat every dessert and pastry under the sun.. So just stopping meat from your diet does not always mean healthier.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Aug 08
I agree with you but eating meat is neither healthy. I am a great meat eater before thats why I have been taking BP pills for years.So I intend to change my diet and refrain from eating beef.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Aug 08
I see1 Well if you liked fish I would eat that if I were you! Salmon is a very good one! I am sorry tohear about your BP. I hope that you get that under control!
1 person likes this
@krkchn (160)
• Philippines
15 Aug 08
There are some nutrients that we get from animals that we cannot find in vegetables. We can live healthy lives eating vegetables but meat-eaters would come out superior in terms of strength and intelligence.
1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Aug 08
You're right but we can take supplements where there is lacking in our body.
@krkchn (160)
• Philippines
15 Aug 08
oh yea, i forgot about that.
1 person likes this