I gave up meat one month ago, but even before that started a friend started telling me (and is continuously telling me even now) that vegetarianism is not healthy, that humans need meat because we can't get all the nutrients that we need only from vegetables, eggs and cheese (I don't want to image what she thinks of vegans). That she cuold never give up meat cause she likes it so much and it's healthy, not excessively, but it's good to eat it. That without meat, our body becomes weak, that this is why Japanese people (we are currently in Japan) were so weak before the foreigners came.
The Japanese were 'weak' before the foreigners came?
Given that one of the highest points of vegetarianism within Japan's history was during the Kamakura period, which is also the time when Japan repelled the Mongols twice..... I would say your friend might be misinformed.
The banning of eating animals was something many leaders, up until about the Edo period did. While it wasn't vegetarianism as we would see it today, your friend may not be entirely informed on the subject.
(I'm not saying I am, by the way. I know a little bit about Japanese history, but not much. In the process of learning though
).
And all kinds of stuff. Basically, vegetarianism is not healthy and we shuold eat meat. She does have a valid point: if we don't eat meat, we don't get everything that meat and nothing else provides. Because humans are used to meat, so is it bad if we don't eat it?
I would like a response that can help me both keep healthy as much as possible and that I can also give to people who tell me that vegetarianism is not healthy.
Humans used to do a lot of things that were 'technically' good for us. I mean, invading another land gives you more land and resources, which is technically 'good' for us. But just because we can do something, just because it can benefit us, doesn't mean we need to keep repeating that action. This is especially true, if we're going to be able to get the same results, while minimising harm.
We can be healthy, happy and strong on vegetarian and vegan diets. There's a lot of body builders and athletes who can attest to that. It does take some planning though and depends on what you have available to you, where you are.
This was the first website I found that helped me plan my diet-
http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/
I strongly recommend checking out the 'My Vegan Plate' link as that was the simplest way for me to see how to plan my eating.
I also recommend the book "Becoming Vegetarian". It's lengthy, but it can help you answer a lot of the concerns around going vegetarian and even vegan.
Given you're in Japan, why not tailor your response to the questions that might come your way while you're there?
The Okinawan diet is touted as one of the major contributing factors for why people from Okinawa live longer than anyone else in the world. Not only do they live longer, but they're healthier. Where someone in the West will have developed heart disease or stomach cancer, the Okinawans seem to be free of those things. Their diet is very close to vegan and vegetarian diets. In fact, I know of vegans who eat the way those from Okinawa do just minus the animals.
Congratulations on going vegetarian and PLEASE do let us know if you find any tips/tricks or things to look out for while being veg in Japan. One day, I intend on going over there but I'm still a little worried I'll be living off ramen and rice the entire time!