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I am new to being a vegetarian,and was wondering if there is any health benefits from it?
any healh benefits?
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Research has shown that people who follow a vegetarian diet are at a lower risk for obesity, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, diverticulosis, renal disease, some cancers (including lung and breast), and gallstones. Vegetarian diets have also been shown to benefit people who already have type 2 diabetes. That only for the physical benefit!
Just plan your meals to balance them properly.
Just plan your meals to balance them properly.
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I didn't feel any particular health benefits when I went veg, but at the time I already ate a ton of veggies and other healthy stuff. I did feel better in my head not eating meat and meat always made me feel a little ill. Though I didn't feel any different on a veg diet, I agree with the above stats Marjoram posted, because vegetarian diets have been shown to lower your risk for all kinds of stuff. So maybe unknown to me I was healthier - or will be in the long run.
When I went vegan I noticed some bigger health changes, because I did used to eat a lot of cheese and that's not healthy at all. I feel a lot less laggy now and have far fewer cramps during period time (TMI I know, but true).
When I went vegan I noticed some bigger health changes, because I did used to eat a lot of cheese and that's not healthy at all. I feel a lot less laggy now and have far fewer cramps during period time (TMI I know, but true).
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One benefit I noticed (though like Jennifer, I didn't notice any drastic ones) was getting into the routine of planning my meals, rather than just grabbing something on the spur of the moment.
When I first went vegetarian, I did a lot of looking into what my nutritional needs were and how I could get them into the meals I was cooking. I never bothered when I ate meat and was probably not very healthy because of that lack of knowledge/awareness.
While there are some great options for vegetarians when it comes to takeaways and food courts, the majority don't understand what 'vegetarian' means, or they just don't care. So, it's easier to bring food from home, which is usually healthier. (I say usually, my Oreo truffles are nowhere near healthy but they're lovely!!!!)
When I first went vegetarian, I did a lot of looking into what my nutritional needs were and how I could get them into the meals I was cooking. I never bothered when I ate meat and was probably not very healthy because of that lack of knowledge/awareness.
While there are some great options for vegetarians when it comes to takeaways and food courts, the majority don't understand what 'vegetarian' means, or they just don't care. So, it's easier to bring food from home, which is usually healthier. (I say usually, my Oreo truffles are nowhere near healthy but they're lovely!!!!)
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Most of the benefits aren't the sort of thing you'd "feel", instead they are lower risks for various diseases. But one thing to keep in mind, much of the research here predates all the new veggie junk foods that have come out over the last decade or so. So while there are clearly benefits to eating a diet of primarily whole plant foods, how many benefits extend to those eating a more processed veg diet is unknown.
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I just came across this article which is most interesting:
Vegetarianism can reduce risk of heart disease by up to a third
http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2013/130130.html
Vegetarianism can reduce risk of heart disease by up to a third
http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2013/130130.html
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Those are some pretty impressive statistics considering the sheer number of people affected by heart disease.Originally Posted by AndrewJamesKL
I just came across this article which is most interesting:
Vegetarianism can reduce risk of heart disease by up to a third
http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2013/130130.html
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Precisely LedBoots... Not to mention the innocent animal lives saved!Originally Posted by LedBoots
Those are some pretty impressive statistics considering the sheer number of people affected by heart disease.
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Yeah, probably the same article in BBC. Tons of health benefits, even more if you are vegan bec your unhealthy fat and cholesterol intake goes to pretty much zero, and dairy is hard on the digestive system and linked to cancer.
Vegetarians 'cut heart risk by 32%' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21258509
Vegetarians 'cut heart risk by 32%' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21258509
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I initially thought that the only reason for becoming a veg*n was to improve one's health. I have since learned that in some circles, non-ethical veg*ns are looked down upon even more than omnivores.
I once was on an airplane and the 300 pound Indian man next to me could barely fit in his seat. We both got the vegetarian meal. He said to me, "Just because I am a vegetarian does not mean that I am a healthy eater." He continued, "My family was very excited to learn that McDonald's uses vegetable oil for deep frying. We now go there for french fries all the time."
I once was on an airplane and the 300 pound Indian man next to me could barely fit in his seat. We both got the vegetarian meal. He said to me, "Just because I am a vegetarian does not mean that I am a healthy eater." He continued, "My family was very excited to learn that McDonald's uses vegetable oil for deep frying. We now go there for french fries all the time."
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I went vegetarian when I was just a kid so I've been vegetarian (or vegan) for almost my entire life and can't compare it to being nonveg. However, my husband went veg in his 20s and he say a tremendous change. He was very unhealthy (fat, high cholesterol, high blood pressure) and going veg changed all that. He isn't in perfect health (neither am I) but he's far healthier now than he was as a meat-eater.
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Response to that concept: http://www.vegansoapbox.com/plant-based-diets-health-and-moderation/Originally Posted by logic
one thing to keep in mind, much of the research here predates all the new veggie junk foods that have come out over the last decade or so. So while there are clearly benefits to eating a diet of primarily whole plant foods, how many benefits extend to those eating a more processed veg diet is unknown.
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Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo! My vote is no. That last mock meat thread spun my head silly.Originally Posted by LedBoots
Are we going to talk about mock meats again?
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I went vegetarian in 1990 when I was 42 years old. I have enjoyed the benefits since then but now that I am 66 years old, the benefits are really starting to show. Most of the people my age that I know have acid reflux, obesity, heart disease, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. They have digestive problems (I won't get too graphic). I don't have any of those problems. My eyesight has actually improved (I am not required to wear glasses to drive any more) and my eyes show no signs of glaucoma or cataracts. Both my grandmothers had cataract surgery by my age. In other words, the benefits seem to fight the so-called normal signs of aging.
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I have recently learned of ethical omnivores who are also "in it for the animals first", but whose diet is far healthier than those veg*ns who eat too much veg*n junk food. These ethical omnivores feel that eating a humanely raised organic chicken is healthier than eating a bunch of fake chicken nuggets. Although I personally will not eat meat, poultry or seafood (or fake versions either), I tend to agree with them.Originally Posted by ElaineV
I went vegetarian when I was just a kid so I've been vegetarian (or vegan) for almost my entire life and can't compare it to being nonveg. However, my husband went veg in his 20s and he say a tremendous change. He was very unhealthy (fat, high cholesterol, high blood pressure) and going veg changed all that. He isn't in perfect health (neither am I) but he's far healthier now than he was as a meat-eater.
Response to that concept: http://www.vegansoapbox.com/plant-based-diets-health-and-moderation/
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Are these people following the cave man diet?Originally Posted by ewcollins
I have recently learned of ethical omnivores who are also "in it for the animals first", but whose diet is far healthier than those veg*ns who eat too much veg*n junk food. These ethical omnivores feel that eating a humanely raised organic chicken is healthier than eating a bunch of fake chicken nuggets. Although I personally will not eat meat, poultry or seafood (or fake versions either), I tend to agree with them.
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I guess I appreciate that they advise eating less meat and dairy overall, AND I'd much rather have someone hunt down animals to eat who are raised better than factory farm animals, but I just can't wrap my head around the idea of ethical meat. If you applied that theory to human lives people would freak. I mean, I guess a human treated ethically right up until they're killed and eaten would be better for said human than being treated badly, then being killed and eaten, but in the end, the terms humane or ethical just can't ever apply to meat IMO. I find it disturbing that the EO website has pictures of cute little pigs posted too!
The one thing EO has really going for it I would think is that I bet some of those EO folks will eventually go veg. I used to only buy eggs and dairy from the more "ethical" sellers until I couldn't deal with the idea that more ethical eggs and dairy aren't that much better than non-ethical. Then I quit eating that stuff.
So far as health, I don't know for sure, but the link Elaine posted makes a lot of sense. Slipping up with vegan junk food once in a while is a better, more ethical deal and likely healthier than slipping up with meat based junk food.
Ethical omni? I'd never heard that official term, so I looked it up. There's actually a term - http://www.go-eo.org/GoEO/Welcome.html. Crazy!Originally Posted by ewcollins
I have recently learned of ethical omnivores who are also "in it for the animals first", but whose diet is far healthier than those veg*ns who eat too much veg*n junk food. These ethical omnivores feel that eating a humanely raised organic chicken is healthier than eating a bunch of fake chicken nuggets. Although I personally will not eat meat, poultry or seafood (or fake versions either), I tend to agree with them.
I guess I appreciate that they advise eating less meat and dairy overall, AND I'd much rather have someone hunt down animals to eat who are raised better than factory farm animals, but I just can't wrap my head around the idea of ethical meat. If you applied that theory to human lives people would freak. I mean, I guess a human treated ethically right up until they're killed and eaten would be better for said human than being treated badly, then being killed and eaten, but in the end, the terms humane or ethical just can't ever apply to meat IMO. I find it disturbing that the EO website has pictures of cute little pigs posted too!
The one thing EO has really going for it I would think is that I bet some of those EO folks will eventually go veg. I used to only buy eggs and dairy from the more "ethical" sellers until I couldn't deal with the idea that more ethical eggs and dairy aren't that much better than non-ethical. Then I quit eating that stuff.
So far as health, I don't know for sure, but the link Elaine posted makes a lot of sense. Slipping up with vegan junk food once in a while is a better, more ethical deal and likely healthier than slipping up with meat based junk food.
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I was previously unaware of such a group or category. I thought it was marketing tactics by the meat industry, latched onto by cave man diet promoters. I haven't looked at all their writings, but health seems to be an afterthought for E.O.'s. I can't help but grin at this title, but I suppose this is the category of animal welfarists.
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The writer says, "By spreading the word to meat-eaters that they have the power to go EO and change not only their lives, but the lives and suffering of so many billions of animals, I believe I am doing more for animal rights than if I continue to exclusively promote a vegan lifestyle."
Consider this - http://www.go-eo.org/GoEO/Vegan_Corner.html .Originally Posted by Jennifer C
Ethical omni? I'd never heard that official term, so I looked it up. There's actually a term - http://www.go-eo.org/GoEO/Welcome.html. Crazy!
The writer says, "By spreading the word to meat-eaters that they have the power to go EO and change not only their lives, but the lives and suffering of so many billions of animals, I believe I am doing more for animal rights than if I continue to exclusively promote a vegan lifestyle."
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