The only real benefit one gets from being vegetarian or vegan is healthier skin. If you look at them through a health stand-point, they get enough protein from certain grains but it's the lack of certain 'B' vitamins and calcium that is damaging to their system.
What benefits do you get from being Vegetarian?
- Thread starter Appleshampoo
- Start date
Edited to be simpler and to further clarify:
I have been living as a temporary Vegan, though I have always been someone who mainly eats as 'organic' as possible. Mostly it's been something I've always wanted to try, just to see how it was. For about a year, I haven't consumed meat or animal by-products. Partly for the sake of the guilt I feel about the treatment of animals, that I can't deny. Though there are meats and animal by-products, that have come from animals who are well-treated, and are killed humanely. Their meat also treated well and delicately from animal to store shelves. These meats and by-products are far more easily accessible, but are considered a bit more expensive. Also, I wanted to try it because it forced me to find different foods that I now absolutely adore. I may not have searched them out, if I hadn't been forced to. Hummus being a prime example.
Some of the 'benefits' of Veganism for me have been: I felt better overall for most of the day, and I appear to be less tired during my usual schedule. However, I found this to be temporary. Probably because I increased my vegetable and water intake by 100%, while before I was hardly eating any of it before. I probably felt better because I was getting more of what I needed, not because I stopped eating meat and animal by-products. However, I am becoming increasingly tired, even though I am following Vegan diets to a 'T' to make sure I get everything I need, I've also been getting far more depressed. My BODY doesn't seem balanced. Most Vegan and Vegetarians diets are carbohydrate dependent, or their carbohydrate intake increases considerably. Which mostly breaks down right into sugar that the body doesn't need, and should probably be eaten less then anything else.
This isn't something I planned on doing long-term, 'until the end of my days' thing. But I've enjoyed the self-experiment,the different way of living, an extended palette, and plenty of new things to enjoy and add into a new diet.
I have been living as a temporary Vegan, though I have always been someone who mainly eats as 'organic' as possible. Mostly it's been something I've always wanted to try, just to see how it was. For about a year, I haven't consumed meat or animal by-products. Partly for the sake of the guilt I feel about the treatment of animals, that I can't deny. Though there are meats and animal by-products, that have come from animals who are well-treated, and are killed humanely. Their meat also treated well and delicately from animal to store shelves. These meats and by-products are far more easily accessible, but are considered a bit more expensive. Also, I wanted to try it because it forced me to find different foods that I now absolutely adore. I may not have searched them out, if I hadn't been forced to. Hummus being a prime example.
Some of the 'benefits' of Veganism for me have been: I felt better overall for most of the day, and I appear to be less tired during my usual schedule. However, I found this to be temporary. Probably because I increased my vegetable and water intake by 100%, while before I was hardly eating any of it before. I probably felt better because I was getting more of what I needed, not because I stopped eating meat and animal by-products. However, I am becoming increasingly tired, even though I am following Vegan diets to a 'T' to make sure I get everything I need, I've also been getting far more depressed. My BODY doesn't seem balanced. Most Vegan and Vegetarians diets are carbohydrate dependent, or their carbohydrate intake increases considerably. Which mostly breaks down right into sugar that the body doesn't need, and should probably be eaten less then anything else.
This isn't something I planned on doing long-term, 'until the end of my days' thing. But I've enjoyed the self-experiment,the different way of living, an extended palette, and plenty of new things to enjoy and add into a new diet.
Woooow. I assume you watched that shit 'documentary' Supersize Me by Morgan Spurlock and thought everything in it was true. It isn't, in fact, most of it is complete bullshit. Go give Fat Head a watch, especially if you did indeed watch Supersize Me.Navvan said:
Eating meat is not bad for you, it has never been bad for you, ever. What is bad for you is eating all the preservatives and stuff they put into food. You know, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, soybean oil in general etc.
Well you stay on God's good side apparently. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.323708-God-is-Chicken?page=1]Appleshampoo said:
In all seriousness I have no idea, I'm a dedicated meat eater XP
Actually I format my opinion on my understanding of biology and biochemistry to which I have degrees in. However I think you took my simple statement a bit out of context as it was in reply as to "eating meat is good for you". The only health benefits of eating meat is that it contains the nutrients that your body can not manufacture, and that can be hard obtaining with a no-meat diet.kortin said:
There are risks associated with eating to much meat that aren't associated with eating to many vegetables even in people of a healthy weight. For example, if you have a pre-disposition to heart problems your doctor will likely tell you to eat less meat/fat to reduce saturated fat levels. I am aware of individual studies that create some controversy in this area, but that is currently the established belief. There are also other benefits associated with a reduced or no meat diet, but I could rattle on for more time that I have with that.
I would also like to note that I'm actually an avid meat eater and by no means a vegetarian. I like meat and feel the risks aren't so great so long as one maintains control over their diet and leads a active lifestyle. However I recognize that meat consumption is a risk factor for somethings and a plant based diet has some benefits.
Sometimes when I eat Chinese food the chicken will get stuck in between my teeth, so I guess that's a benefit you'd get...One less food to make flossing harder...
In all honesty, eating a healthy omnivore diet has the most benefits, but going vegetarian is better than eating an unhealthy omnivore diet. I was a vegetarian for 2 years, you avoid fastfood a lot more. The biggest advantage was that for me, just eating healthier foods because I was paying attention to what I was taking in. Now I'm back to eating meat, just in smaller quantities and paying attention.
Vegan isn't smart though, I'd avoid that. Waaay too easy to do it wrong and the benefits compared to vegetarian are debatable.
In all honesty, eating a healthy omnivore diet has the most benefits, but going vegetarian is better than eating an unhealthy omnivore diet. I was a vegetarian for 2 years, you avoid fastfood a lot more. The biggest advantage was that for me, just eating healthier foods because I was paying attention to what I was taking in. Now I'm back to eating meat, just in smaller quantities and paying attention.
Vegan isn't smart though, I'd avoid that. Waaay too easy to do it wrong and the benefits compared to vegetarian are debatable.
I so agree with this statement!similar.squirrel said:
I use to be veggie for about four years. I realised that you can not shove your beliefs down other people's throats. many will not listen and think your just being preachy and no one like preachy people.
you need to see in yourself that you are doing better for yourself not the world.
I stopped becuse I became enemic and I got fed up with it. one day I will go back to it. but now adays I don't wat it as often as I use to.
I'm a bit of a douche, obviously. Most vegetarians have some form of superiority complex.
I eat what I eat because I was raised pescatarian. I feel no need to start chewing cows, so I don't. Like most people wouldn't start eating things just because. It's never caused any problems for me anyway, and people ask me stuff!
... Damn, I guess that despite being white, male and teenager I'm often a minority anyway. Pescatarians in general are, I guess.
I eat what I eat because I was raised pescatarian. I feel no need to start chewing cows, so I don't. Like most people wouldn't start eating things just because. It's never caused any problems for me anyway, and people ask me stuff!
... Damn, I guess that despite being white, male and teenager I'm often a minority anyway. Pescatarians in general are, I guess.
Meat's always made me feel sick, so I don't touch it. I've been Vegetarian for nine years now, and I truly enjoy it. It let's my body feel light and healthy. Maybe it's just me, who knows.
There are so many delicious meals that you can make meat-less, and I still have fun making them! I don't exactly support animal slaughter, but we are the superior race for a reason, so I don't really mind. Me and my friends have a agreement: I don't tell them that they should be Vegetarian, and they don't tell me that I should eat meat.
There are so many delicious meals that you can make meat-less, and I still have fun making them! I don't exactly support animal slaughter, but we are the superior race for a reason, so I don't really mind. Me and my friends have a agreement: I don't tell them that they should be Vegetarian, and they don't tell me that I should eat meat.
Apart from an overinflated ego and a sense of moral superiority? That's all I've seen from my two vegan roommates and goddamn they are fucking pretentious.
Nice thread, I've wanted to try a Meat free month for me, the other-half and my toddler for a while.
Nice to hear about it from Veggies, the though of no meat makes me sad, the only reason I've get to try this month is because apart from the Quorn stuff, I can't think of things to replace meat with (apart from veg, but that gets boring after a while)
Nice to hear about it from Veggies, the though of no meat makes me sad, the only reason I've get to try this month is because apart from the Quorn stuff, I can't think of things to replace meat with (apart from veg, but that gets boring after a while)
I know someone who does not like the idea of killing so does not eat meat
I know someone who simply does not like the taste
I know someone who loves animals so why eat them
I know someone who does not like animals so why eat them
I know someone who is a Buddhist and so is not a meat eater
Everyone has different opinions and beliefs, that applies to every and anything. There are no Pros or Cons with being a vegetarian, the only hard thing to find is protein but then again that is not all that hard to find in certain mushrooms and nuts. Also quorn can be quite good I get a lot of that.
I think it is worth mentioning that vegetables are usually cheaper than meat.
The healthiest way to eat is to eat a variety of foods and have a balanced diet. That also means not just eating meat.
I know someone who simply does not like the taste
I know someone who loves animals so why eat them
I know someone who does not like animals so why eat them
I know someone who is a Buddhist and so is not a meat eater
Everyone has different opinions and beliefs, that applies to every and anything. There are no Pros or Cons with being a vegetarian, the only hard thing to find is protein but then again that is not all that hard to find in certain mushrooms and nuts. Also quorn can be quite good I get a lot of that.
I think it is worth mentioning that vegetables are usually cheaper than meat.
The healthiest way to eat is to eat a variety of foods and have a balanced diet. That also means not just eating meat.
and you think eating the food of my food, letting them poor animals starve, is not cruel?lRookiel said:
HYPOCRITE!
we "cruel" beef-eaters just shoot them or fry their brains or whatever, but starving... man, that takes time.
also, you are aware that plants are living things, too? and just ripping them out of the earth and maybe chopping them to small bits is human?
YOU are the monster, not the beef-eaters!!
...
......
or, we both are, if we were honest
What "science people" tell you to eat meat?Appleshampoo said:
Not these guys.American Dietetic Association said:
It's not really about health benefits for me. The truth is that I can be healthy without killing animals for food. Because that's true, killing animals for food becomes throwing away their sentient lives and experiences for a dinner preference. Meat consumption becomes very much like foxhunting - unspeakable in full pursuit of the uneatable (or, in this case, the nutritionally redundant).
Let's be honest:s0p0g said:
1) If you're concerned about having enough food for animals then stop forcibly breeding the animals. You really have the problem backwards: we're not eating the animals' food; We're wasting food on animal protein.
2) Plants don't have brains. Animals, aside from corral - which most of us aren't morally concerned about, do. No brains = no sentience. We're not morally concerned about the experience of braindead patients - their other cells might be alive, but that's clearly not what's important.
There we go. No more intellectual dishonesty.
In terms of getting bored I'd suggest that you, rather than simply chucking Quorn/Linda McCartney stuff into everything:FamoFunk said:
i) Get to know your herbs and spices.
ii) Get acquainted with Indian and Persian cuisine, there's plenty of dishes there which've never had a meat component. The same goes for proper Italian food, though to a slightly lesser degree.
iii) Generally get inventive with recipes you find online.
There's plenty of stuff out there, and remember that meat substitutes aren't the only things that have protein and iron in them; you'd most likely be better off (and pay less for) lentils, beans, (small amounts of) cheese, spinach and other leafy greens.
I hope that helps.
To get you started with a very rich meal containing no meat whatsoever:
Veggie Borscht [http://laurasrecipebook.blogspot.com/2011/05/vegetarian-borscht.html]. You may wish not to give your toddler the wine-glass of vodka I suggest at the end, though.
[ /offtopic ]
The hygiene rules are beside the point though. You can make the argument that they - too - are outdated, but that's hardly an important discussion (not that I personally care all that much about humane slaughter, but oh well.)jam.on.the.toasts said:
Compared to modern methods, slitting the throat of an animal, however neatly, isn't all that humane though.
I'm too lazy to actually get involved with most of this topic, but on this subject I'd hugely recommend the book 'Meat: A Benign Extravagance' by Simon Fairlie, which discusses this in detail, and the statistics behind it, e.g. that it takes 10 kilos of grain to produce 1 kilo of beef, or that it takes 100,000 litres of water for 1 kilo of beef. A lot of the statistics are fairly dubious, and don't take into account various other important factors. The author is advocating reduced meat-eating and more small-hold farms, plus a return to feeding pigs domestic waste (which obviously makes them much more efficient, but was banned in the EU after the swine flu and foot and mouth scares). It's all-round a really interesting read.peruvianskys said:
The agricultural arguments certainly hold up, but then, the same could be said for various food luxuries... coffee, tea, etc.