What are the health benefits of being vegetarian or vegan?

[Lydia1]

I know there are lots of reasons to cut meat out of your diet. The one I personally find the most reasonable is for your health. I have met several people who have become vegetarian or vegan for "health reasons".

So I'm wondering, what are these health benefits? Is meat not healthy? Why does cutting meat from your diet make you a healthier person?

 

[SirBash]

I love meat... I could never go vegan... I hate veggies..... Meat products and meats are about 85% of my diet and i feel great!

 

[SpyWizard]

mmmm you are making some assumptions such as that lifestyle or eating style is more healthy than ??? what ??? the typical american diet/??? i'd have to say yes it is..

to say it is a healthy diet?? no it is not..

my son in law used to be an athlete, after 2 yrs he's got the body of a woman with no strength, no stamina, and no endurance.. he's finally starting to try and be a "runner" however his recovery time from a 5k is like 10 days.. that tells me his body takes way too long to recover and repair.. why?? because even as a vegetarian he hates veggies.. and thus his real diet is primarily bread and cheese...

can we all say...ex-lax ??

 

[TamiBellon]

I think a TRUE Vegan doesn't eat meat because it's from an animal. I'm not sure it actually has anything to do with "health" at all.

Vegetarians do eat eggs (and may possibly drink protein drinks) - which Vegans do not - I think they mostly do it as a "fad" kind of thing to appear healthy. jmo

These are also people who will - for the most part - not even be able to CONSIDER getting on a stage as far as bodybuilding goes. They have a low protein intake/higher carb intake/lower caloric intake - which amounts to skinny-fat.

Personally, I think they're all off their rockers. If you look at our teeth, they have a design that was intended for the ripping and tearing of meat, just like our "club 'em & eat 'em" ancestors. Lean meats ARE healthy - they provide iron, zinc, omega-3's, b vitamins, selenium, vitamin d and, of course - PROTEIN.

Would you want to eat an ALL protein diet? Probably not. You would definitely be setting yourself up for failure as far as binging on other things go, but when included in a balanced diet, yes, it's a good thing.

Everyone is different and responds to diets differently as far as macros go, but I think lean meats should be included in everyone's diet. Again......my opinion.

 

[jklooking]

I think a TRUE Vegan doesn't eat meat because it's from an animal. I'm not sure it actually has anything to do with "health" at all.

Vegetarians do eat eggs (and may possibly drink protein drinks) - which Vegans do not - I think they mostly do it as a "fad" kind of thing to appear healthy. jmo

These are also people who will - for the most part - not even be able to CONSIDER getting on a stage as far as bodybuilding goes. They have a low protein intake/higher carb intake/lower caloric intake - which amounts to skinny-fat.

Personally, I think they're all off their rockers. If you look at our teeth, they have a design that was intended for the ripping and tearing of meat, just like our "club 'em & eat 'em" ancestors. Lean meats ARE healthy - they provide iron, zinc, omega-3's, b vitamins, selenium, vitamin d and, of course - PROTEIN.

Would you want to eat an ALL protein diet? Probably not. You would definitely be setting yourself up for failure as far as binging on other things go, but when included in a balanced diet, yes, it's a good thing.

Everyone is different and responds to diets differently as far as macros go, but I think lean meats should be included in everyone's diet. Again......my opinion.

1. Not always. You can not eat meat and not be into the politics of it.

2. Vegetarians have a million and one sub cultures. It is all on what they decide they can eat. Some politics, but not always.

3. You're right about not being body builders, but some vegans aren't built like homeless people. See Mike Mahler and Mac Danzig.

4. You only have 4 teeth for tearing, 28 for grinding and crushing. You alimentary canal is long, carnivores are short and have enzymes for digestion of D-protein. Humans do not. Carnivores have acidic, not enzymic saliva. Humans do not. Carnivores will get sick if they eat anything other than meat. You will not.

Humans are omnivores. All primates are omnivores. If you have more tearing teeth and claws, spit like an alien, and got sick eating anything other than meat, you would be a carnivore. You are not. NO human EVER is or was.

Biology does not agree with your assessment of humans being carnivores. You eat meat because you choose to. Just please don't try and claim physiology as proof of your decision, because it is not. Personally, I use buffalo when I make nachos, but that's just me.

Hippy propaganda here if you care:

http://www.eatveg.com/anatomy.htm

http://www.veggie123.com/veggie/chapter7/

cheers!
JK

 

[joe d]

a healthy diet will have a small amount of animal protein in it. it is not healthy to never consume any animal protein. eggs, milk, fish, beef, chicken, turky or something. just nothing like the 300-500g we as bb'ers are used to seeing. its more like 20-50g.

 

[jklooking]

a healthy diet will have a small amount of animal protein in it. it is not healthy to never consume any animal protein. eggs, milk, fish, beef, chicken, turky or something. just nothing like the 300-500g we as bb'ers are used to seeing. its more like 20-50g.

Tell that to the people I listed in #3 above, along with:

[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegan_Athletes[/ame]

cheers!
JK

 

[Websy21]

I love meat... I could never go vegan... I hate veggies..... Meat products and meats are about 85% of my diet and i feel great!

Me too, you couldn't make me one with a gun to the head.. you'd have no option but to pull the trigger! I need/love meat!

Also, I think the question should be what are the health risks being a vegan, not benefits if you ask me!

 

[SirBash]

Me too, you couldn't make me one with a gun to the head.. you'd have no option but to pull the trigger! I need/love meat!

Also, I think the question should be what are the health risks being a vegan, not benefits if you ask me!

MY thoughts exactly... If I was forced to never eat meat.. I would probably die.. Or live off of peanuts and apples only...........

 

[Websy21]

MY thoughts exactly... If I was forced to never eat meat.. I would probably die.. Or live off of peanuts and apples only...........

Peanuts and apples, currently my pre workout snack is bascially that. A mass protein bar (better protein bar with power butter) with an apple = AWESOMENESS!

 

[Needtogetaas]

I think a TRUE Vegan doesn't eat meat because it's from an animal. I'm not sure it actually has anything to do with "health" at all.

Vegetarians do eat eggs (and may possibly drink protein drinks) - which Vegans do not - I think they mostly do it as a "fad" kind of thing to appear healthy. jmo

These are also people who will - for the most part - not even be able to CONSIDER getting on a stage as far as bodybuilding goes. They have a low protein intake/higher carb intake/lower caloric intake - which amounts to skinny-fat.

Personally, I think they're all off their rockers. If you look at our teeth, they have a design that was intended for the ripping and tearing of meat, just like our "club 'em & eat 'em" ancestors. Lean meats ARE healthy - they provide iron, zinc, omega-3's, b vitamins, selenium, vitamin d and, of course - PROTEIN.

Would you want to eat an ALL protein diet? Probably not. You would definitely be setting yourself up for failure as far as binging on other things go, but when included in a balanced diet, yes, it's a good thing.

Everyone is different and responds to diets differently as far as macros go, but I think lean meats should be included in everyone's diet. Again......my opinion.

lolololol

 

[joe d]

Tell that to the people I listed in #3 above, along with:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegan_Athletes

cheers!
JK

theres no need. when it comes to healthy eating we have learned this our whole lives. i started learning the food chart in 1st grade i think. if a grown adult still thinks they know better than everyone else in the world including all the generations of doctors then they will never learn.

 

[jklooking]

theres no need. when it comes to healthy eating we have learned this our whole lives. i started learning the food chart in 1st grade i think. if a grown adult still thinks they know better than everyone else in the world including all the generations of doctors then they will never learn.

You mean the food chart that has changed since it was first introduced in the 1960s, by the USDA, which is controlled by companies with a monetary interest in what you eat?

Oh, and the fact that people have subsisted throughout history on no meat, without the USDA, and without a monetary interest in this choice, but survive somehow?

http://nutrition.suite101.com/article.cfm/problems_with_the_food_pyramid

Modern medicine is a farce. They're quick to prescribe you something that lines their pockets before telling you to actually eat better. Since science changes based on who's paying for the results.

Next time you see an ad for some lawyer trying to get in on a lawsuit because a pharmaceutical company pushed a drug out and it hurt people rather than caused them good, remember it was their doctor that told them it was ok for them.

It's your money, they'll tell you anything you want to believe. Just like college.

cheers!
JK

 

[joe d]

so now we are on the conspiracy thoery? and its not about health any more its just survival now???? i dont think this needs to continue.

 

[Squataholic]

I was vegetarian and vegan for 11 year combined. I was on all type of vitamins and different diets prescribed to me. Anytime anyone around me was sick I would get sick but 5x worse. I was always getting sick. I was also anemic and VERY thin, not skinny fat, I was freaking bones. It wasnt that I didnt like meat, but I didnt like the things that were in it or how the animals are treated.
Since then I changed my views and I eat meat now, but for me it was a good experience and I learned a lot from it. I also shouldnt have did it starting at the age of 8. Maybe thats why Im so short!!!!!!!!

Eh whatever, I dont regret it.

 

[jklooking]

I was vegetarian and vegan for 11 year combined. I was on all type of vitamins and different diets prescribed to me. Anytime anyone around me was sick I would get sick but 5x worse. I was always getting sick. I was also anemic and VERY thin, not skinny fat, I was freaking bones. It wasnt that I didnt like meat, but I didnt like the things that were in it or how the animals are treated.
Since then I changed my views and I eat meat now, but for me it was a good experience and I learned a lot from it. I also shouldnt have did it starting at the age of 8. Maybe thats why Im so short!!!!!!!!

Eh whatever, I dont regret it.

Nothing wrong with short.

 

[Lydia1]

I know there are lots of reasons to cut meat out of your diet. The one I personally find the most reasonable is for your health. I have met several people who have become vegetarian or vegan for "health reasons".

So I'm wondering, what are these health benefits? Is meat not healthy? Why does cutting meat from your diet make you a healthier person?

 

[Australian made]

I've never met a single person who was a vegetarian for health reasons. If there was any studies out there showing being a vegetarian was the healthiest way to live, there'd be a few hundred studies showing you why including meat in your diet is the healthiest way to live.

 

[Websy21]

I've never met a single person who was a vegetarian for health reasons. If there was any studies out there showing being a vegetarian was the healthiest way to live, there'd be a few hundred studies showing you why including meat in your diet is the healthiest way to live.

EXACTLY, we are carnivors. People aren't vegitarians for health reasons!

 

[asstastic]

I was vegan for a while, almost a year raw vegan. I had my reasons, ethical reasons among others which i gave up on. always wanted to experiment around with it.

i will say this...

i felt EXTREMELY healthy. I have a terrible immune system. ALWAYS fall sick. being a vegan, for a year i did not get sick, no sniffles, went thru a northeast winter without a sore throat, NOTHING. i think fruits n veggies help your immune system work a lot better. also less bacteria going into your body.

BUT - THAT SAID - physique was HORRIBLE. for obvious reasons, I lost ALL of my muscle, and gained lots n lots of fat. overall my weight went down but that;s cuz i lost all my muscle DUH. i didn't really care as i felt GREAT. but having nothing but sugars and fats all day (raw fruits, raw salad, nuts, some veggies raw chopped up thrown in a blender) - makes you FAT attack.

few things to note
health felt great
BUT
need a fresh supply of food
i felt like jay cutler, like a food eating MACHINE programmed to eat
i had SO much energy, great intellectual drive, always felt great.
BUT i need food every hour n a half to two hours. i'd just keep making awesome smoothies. but if i went more than two hours without eating - felt extremely lethargic.

also - SHAT SO MUCH. five times a day.

it's a waste of time.

BUT TRY IT OUT - worth an experience!