Just because you're a vegetarian doesn't mean you're fit and healthy... I know some people who are 'vegetarian' yet they are fat and overweight. White flour, sugar, and the 'meatless' foods they consume is the reason I assume.
Every Veg I know is extremely fit and healthy. Those that prefer to eat as you suggest are junk food eaters, not Vegetarians. There is a difference.
The vegan at work here is translucent. When he gets sick, he almost dies, he is so sick. I don't think he is doing it right though. For meals he will eat 4 heads of lettuce, and thats it. The other vegetarians I ask thinks thats stupid.
Again...this guy is not eating a proper Veg diet...lettuce alone or whatever he is doing is just as bad as eating a potato diet. There are idiots at every level.
You poor herbivores. I can't imagine a life without steak, bacon, salmon, pork chops, ribs, chicken wings, fried chicken, turkey, ham, prime rib, battered cod, lobster, roast beef, tuna, hamburgers, pepperoni, shrimp, and all the things that require ground beef.
That create high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity among an array of other ailments.
The world is full of diets that prove it.
Anyhow, I existed as a 340 pound vegetarian for 20 years. You can CLAIM that a "junk food eater" is not a vegetarian, but that doesn't make it so. I ate what I wanted, whenever I wanted - pizza, ice cream, cake, pasta, cookies.... but since it had no meat, any dictionary will tell you that's a vegetarian.
I will concede that most vegetarians are healthier than the average Joe, but that's not necessarily because the vegetarian diet is healthier. It's because MOST vegetarians are more strict about their health and are more apt to exercise more and avoid junk food.
That said, I have converted to a more healthy diet of mostly fruits and veggies. I still have quite my share of the "fake meats", like veggie burgers or vegetarian chicken nuggets. My uncle was told that his cholesterol was off the charts, so I helped him reduce his meat intake by half and his doctor is pleased with his progress. So there definitely are health benefits to reducing your meat intake.
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Every Veg I know is extremely fit and healthy. Those that prefer to eat as you suggest are junk food eaters, not Vegetarians. There is a difference.
The people you know are fit and healthy because they eat a good diet, NOT because they are vegetarian. There are plenty of non-vegetarians who eat well and guess what, they too are extremely fit and healthy.
Are you an expert in the field or just shooting from the hip? The latter right?
There's a reason that there's so much concern as a vegan/vegetarian about getting adequate protein, iron, calcium, and other vitamins and minerals. You're removing two entire food groups!
The correlation between vegetarians and better health compared to meat eaters is not because avoiding meat is some kind of miracle cure. Honestly, if you have the will power to control your diet to eliminate so many good, healthy things then you may as well do your research and have a full, well-balanced diet; your long term health will likely be better. (Why? because of what I just mentioned; you may be deficient in certain vitamins and minerals that keep your clock ticking)
Yes, beef is high in saturated fats and you could improve your diet by not eating any. But you're also removing fantastic, low calorie, filling, nutrient filled foods like poultry, fish, and skim milk products (vegan). There's no blanket solution to health. You need balance to live to your potential age as determined by genetics.
Just curious, and I ask this seriously. Are you a guy who just recently converted to being a vegetarian?
Because that's what it sounds like.
Nope. But every now and then I like to chime in on the overall benefits of a veg diet...and there are many.
I also understand that posting my thoughts on an Alberta all beef discussion board is like committing Hari Kari.
Anyhow, I existed as a 340 pound vegetarian for 20 years. You can CLAIM that a "junk food eater" is not a vegetarian, but that doesn't make it so. I ate what I wanted, whenever I wanted - pizza, ice cream, cake, pasta, cookies.... but since it had no meat, any dictionary will tell you that's a vegetarian.
I will concede that most vegetarians are healthier than the average Joe, but that's not necessarily because the vegetarian diet is healthier. It's because MOST vegetarians are more strict about their health and are more apt to exercise more and avoid junk food.
That said, I have converted to a more healthy diet of mostly fruits and veggies. I still have quite my share of the "fake meats", like veggie burgers or vegetarian chicken nuggets. My uncle was told that his cholesterol was off the charts, so I helped him reduce his meat intake by half and his doctor is pleased with his progress. So there definitely are health benefits to reducing your meat intake.
well you know...and I know...that you lived a lie...you were a junk food eater, not a vegetarian....it is so easy to fill yourself on empty calories.
You are right though...many benefits. My cholesterol was off the charts, I was on Cholesterol reducing drugs and that barely kept me at the limit. That was a direct result of a diet that consisted of high fat...<meat and oils>.
and for those who think Im preaching...Im not...I could care less what you eat, but if you think a veggie diet is bad for you or if you think you cant be strong while on the diet, Ive got some fairly high profile vegetarian friends who are triathletes, marathoners, etc, Id like you to meet.
Since I changed to a veg diet I lost all the weight that was a result of that high fat diet and have held steady now for quite awhile with little to no effort outside of exercise.
Oh one other thing...this also has nothing to do with saving the animals...
You could eat only chocolate every day for a month and still lose weight and improve cholesterol and blood sugar, so long as you burn more calories than you take in, as well as the gain in health (ie cholesterol) from losing weight is bigger than the loss in health from eating the same thing everyday.
Potatoes have a high GI, so it's not like it's some sort of miracle food either way.
Actually it kinda is. Potatoes contain every nutrient needed for the human body except for calcium, vitamin A and vitamin B. So compliment potatoes with milk and you do get pretty much everything the body needs. Peasants in Russia knew that centuries ago. Just ask Vlad
When I moved to Nunavut I added Caribou to my diet. Caribou is a very lean meat and very tasty! When I started hunting Caribou and making it a major part of my diet I lost a ton of weight. My entire lifestyle changed so I won't say it was just the caribou, but damn it sure is tasty!
I do, however, believe that when you become a vegetarian you really focus more on your eating, which, in turn, can lead to a healthier lifestyle.
Also I would like to add that Cheese is old and senile.
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You poor herbivores. I can't imagine a life without steak, bacon, salmon, pork chops, ribs, chicken wings, fried chicken, turkey, ham, prime rib, battered cod, lobster, roast beef, tuna, hamburgers, pepperoni, shrimp, and all the things that require ground beef.
$20 says you can't find a dictionary to support your conclusion.
It doesn't matter if its in the dictionary or not. That's why I said...you know and I know it was a lie. You were a junk food eater that didnt eat meat, that doesnt support the fact your diet was healthy.