Vegetarians... Why?

[nickdakick]

apoppin your point on protein is right. In the other posts I just wanted to point out that a low protein diet in general is not healthy, no matter where the protein comes from.

 

[AndyHui]

Health reasons.....

I also feel that the diet seems "cleaner"....

I can live with the taste.....although my mouth still waters at the thought of a nice steak.....but I'd end up a complete wreck if I ever managed to finish one....oh well.....I save that for holidays...

 

[apoppin]

nickdakick, what do you mean bu "low"? The requirement for protein is way overstated in "official" guidelines,

Anyway, you are right - a LOW protein diet is not good. And vegetarians must insure their diet is adequate to insure sufficient intake of fats (flax seed oils, etc.) and vitamin B-12 especially.

Generally vegetarians are very conscious of what they eat and dietary requirements if they chose vegetarianism for health reasons.

 

[kami]

*puts a $250 12 oz. steak in front of apoppin*

are you gonna eat that?

 

[AndrewR]

I tried vegetarian for awhile, and it does help to lose weight. As for the health benefits, consider the impact on the health of those around you -- vegetarians tend to fart hurricanes.

On the monk issue, I think it's seriously flawed to point to their lifespan as a result of their diet. They also spend their days in quiet contemplation without the stress most people endure and without exposure to a myriad of contagions that most of us encounter every day. Plus, they stay physically active. Their diet, I think, is a small portion of their secret.

 

[BoberFett]

If man was meant to be vegan, we'd have mouths full of molars.

 

[apoppin]

Just back from a glass of fresh organic carrot juice. mmmm, delicious.


A $250 steak???!!! Where you get that kind of money for a steak? Who but the Japanese would pay that (if they do).

Our family used to raise the finest organic grain and grass fed cattle (anywhere). I remember telling my mom at an early age, "not steak again, can't you make anything else."

And I suffered as a child from chronic constipation, and a host of other illnesses. I am much healthier on a plant-based diet now than in High School. At age 39 I went on to surf Pipeline (for years) as part of the regular crew. Something I couldn't do in my 20s.

I am sure one steak wouldn't hurt me at all. I have no moral objections to eating animals. But the link between vegetatianism and a heathier, less disease prone life is clear. I won't give up how well I "feel" just for "taste". To answer the topic question, I don't feel "deprived".

EDIT: We do have plenty of molars for grinding plants. If man was "meant" to eat meat, he'd attack living animals, rip out their throats and consume them raw.

 

[prontospyder]

Also...I read in some book that our long digestive system is very similar to other plant eating animals so we can digest plants better...unlike meat eating animals who has short digestive systems so they can get the rotting meat out as fast as possible.

 

[kduncan5]

The more vegitarians there are, the more steak there is for me! -kd5-

 

[Howard]

LOL

"The word 'vegetarian' is an ancient Indian word for 'lousy hunter'"

- Somebody on this board

 

[JellyBaby]

Vegetarians are fine. I happen to be a happy omnivore myself.

Now if you eat plants to achieve a healthier lifestyle, that's great! But if you consume plants for ethical reasons alone, we need to talk.

 

[vi edit]

It sucks dating a vegetarian if you aren't one yourself :|

Pretty much rules out fast food, steak houses, and many of my favorite bars

 

[CyberSax]

There's 3 categories of vegetarians.

1) Those who are vegetarians for religious reasons (like the Jain sect).

2) Those who are vegetarians for political reasons (like those nuts at PETA).

3) Those who just don't like the taste of meat.

The first and third reasons make sense to me. I never understood the second :Q

 

[apoppin]

Cybersax, you are missing the important 4th reasons: Those of us who do it for health reasons.